Conner Weigman throws 4 TD passes, runs for 2 scores as No. 25 Houston beats Georgia Southern 42-28

STATESBORO, Ga. (AP) — Conner Weigman threw four touchdown passes and ran for two scores, leading No. 25 Houston to a 42-28 win over Georgia Southern on Saturday in coach Willie Fritz's return to Statesboro.

Fritz, Houston's third-year coach, led the Eagles from 2014-15.

“It was a tough game for me,” Fritz said. “There were a lot of my old players here, and there's a lot of coaches over on their side that I know well. I'm just glad we were able to come out here with the W. I'm proud of that.”

Houston (3-1) scored touchdowns on its first six possessions. In addition to his two rushing scores, Weigman threw TD passes to four receivers, hitting tight end Traville Frederick Jr. along with wide receivers Koby Young, Amare Thomas and Trent Walker. He finished 17 of 22 for 239 yards, and Re'Shaun Sanford II led the Cougars on the ground with 120 yards.

Georgia Southern (1-3) overcame an early 14-0 deficit to briefly tie the game at 14-all. Max Johnson fired a 40-yard touchdown strike to Alex Taylor, and Ty Cummings scored on a 2-yard rush after the Eagles used a surprise onside kick to regain possession.

Houston entered the game ranked second nationally in third-down conversion rate and improved on its numbers with a stellar performance. The Cougars were 8 of 9 on third down, bringing their season total to 32 of 45 for a stunning 71.1% conversion rate.

“I think it's just our practice habits,” Young said. “It was a big emphasis to finish in the red zone and to finish hard third downs, and it's good to see that we're getting better at it.”

Houston: The Cougars entered the game ranked seventh nationally in total offense and showed no signs of slowing down. Houston amassed 441 total yards, its fourth consecutive week going over 400.

Georgia Southern: Johnson had his best performance of the season, keeping the Eagles in striking distance most of the afternoon. He completed 26 of 38 passes for 284 yards with three touchdowns, lifting Georgia Southern's offense to a solid response after the Eagles just three-second half points last week.

Sanford eclipsed 100 yards rushing for the first time in his career, getting into triple digits with 23 yards on the final drive of the game.

“I felt like I had pretty good runs all throughout the day, so I had to have been close,” Sanford said. “But I was just more worried about getting the win and finishing the game.”

Sanford nearly doubled his rushing total for the season after entering with 132 yards through the first three weeks.

Houston: Returns to Big 12 Conference action next Saturday at home against UCF.

Georgia Southern: At Coastal Carolina next Saturday for its Sun Belt Conference opener.

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Georgia Southern running back Terrance Gibbs (1) runs for a touchdown against Georgia Southern in the first half of an NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in Statesboro, Ga. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Houston wide receiver Koby Young (2) makes a touchdown catch against Georgia Southern defensive back Chance Gamble (31) in the first half of an NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in Statesboro, Ga. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Houston tight end Traville Frederick Jr. (85) scores a touchdown against Georgia Southern defensive back Jakyri Jones (6) in the first half of an NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in Statesboro, Ga. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Houston tight end Traville Frederick Jr. (85) celebrates his touchdown against Georgia Southernm in the first half of an NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in Statesboro, Ga. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Houston quarterback Conner Weigman (1) celebrates his touchdown against Georgia Southern in the first half of an NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in Statesboro, Ga. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Aaron Nola's bid to save the Philadelphia Phillies' shaky playoff hopes by starting on two days' rest did not go well, and he was pulled after being rocked for three runs in the first inning.

With the Phillies' attempt at clinching an NL wild card teetering on an epic collapse, Nola was hit hard Saturday night on just about every ball in play and left trailing 3-0.

The Phillies turned to Nola on short notice after he struck out eight over 88 pitches and six innings in his last start Wednesday and took the loss as Philadelphia fell to Milwaukee 4-1.

The Phillies lost the next two games headed into Saturday and saw their NL wild-card lead over Arizona whittled to one game. Arizona plays Saturday night against San Diego.

The Phillies are 9-13 in September. Their magic number remained at two headed into Saturday.

Philadelphia had a 6 1/2-game lead over Arizona for the third NL wild card on Sept. 1 before going into a tailspin. The Diamondbacks got hot and took a six-game winning streak into Saturday’s game, and they hold the tiebreaker over the Phillies.

The Padres and Chicago Cubs have clinched wild-card spots.

AL hits leader Yandy Diaz hit a leadoff double and Nola hung a knuckle-curve that Junior Caminero hit for a two-run homer. Caminero’s 42nd homer gave him 101 RBIs.

Victor Mesa Jr. doubled and scored when Richie Palacios lined a 101-mph shot off the right field wall for the 3-0 lead.

The Phillies hoped Nola could make it at least once through the order. He instead lasted only 21 pitches. Tanner Banks pitched the second inning.

Should the race come down to Sunday, the Phillies will be forced to throw ace Zack Wheeler, which would burn him for potential Game 1 or 2 starts in the NL Wild Card Series.

Mattingly said the Phillies only briefly flirted with the idea of bumping up Wheeler a day.

Nola skipped his usual bullpen session Friday so he could take the mound against the AL East champion Rays. Mattingly said the right-hander throws 40-to-50-pitch bullpen sessions between starts and might not go much longer than that Saturday.

“If anybody's built for this,” Mattingly said, “it's probably Nola. He's a guy that's probably more old-school than anybody.”

The Phillies are in a bind with All-Star lefty Jesús Luzardo still on the injured list with left shoulder inflammation. Luzardo can be activated on Sunday and would be available to pitch if the Phillies need him.

The Phillies were shut out for the 12th time this season in Friday's 2-0 loss to Tampa Bay and have scored two runs over the last 27 innings. They have homered only once in their last 55 innings.

Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto entered in an 0-for-32 funk that’s dipped his average to .206.

NL batting leader and starting second baseman Luis Arraez is out indefinitely with a severely sprained left ankle. His absence sparked some lineup shuffling the last two games, with Bryce Harper back at first base and Bryan De La Cruz starting in right field. Bryson Stott was again at second base.

The Phillies could have clinched a wild card as early as Wednesday. They started Saturday — where heavy rain had a tarp on the field — suddenly in the conversation on the Philly sports scene as a team potentially poised to join the short list of worst collapses in franchise history.

Trea Turner was moved to the leadoff spot while Kyle Schwarber was dropped to second in the order.

“I just think there's pressure all the time,” Mattingly said ahead of the game. “I've always felt if you put pressure on yourself all the time to perform and hold yourself to a standard, this game is really no different than any other game. Obviously, we know there's a lot at stake. That's the beauty of kind of playing at a level all the time.”

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Philadelphia Phillies' Aaron Nola pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Philadelphia Phillies' Aaron Nola pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Philadelphia Phillies' Aaron Nola pitches during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)