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Hughes' Second Portal Jump: Oregon to Houston
27 Mar
Summary
- Makhi Hughes transferred from Oregon to Houston after one season.
- He rushed for 2,779 yards and 22 touchdowns with Tulane.
- Oregon's running back depth limited Hughes' opportunities in 2025.
Makhi Hughes, a highly touted running back, is set to play for the Houston Cougars in 2026 after transferring from Oregon. Hughes spent the 2025 season with the Oregon Ducks, where he saw limited action, carrying the ball only 17 times for 70 yards and no touchdowns. This limited role was attributed to the strong performance of freshmen running backs Jordon Davison and Dierre Hill Jr.
Prior to his time at Oregon, Hughes had a prolific career with the Tulane Green Wave from 2023 to 2024. During his two seasons at Tulane, he accumulated 2,779 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns, along with 243 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns. He was recognized as First-team All-AAC in both of those seasons. After the 2025 season with Oregon, Hughes entered the transfer portal, seeking a more prominent role with Houston.
The Houston Cougars are coming off a significant turnaround in 2025, their second season under coach Willie Fritz. The team improved from four wins in 2024 to ten wins in 2025, tying for fourth place in the Big 12 conference. This improvement mirrors the competitive landscape of the Big 12 since conference realignment, with Texas Tech winning the conference and reaching the College Football Playoff in 2025 after a 12-win season.
