Houston opens the 2026 season at home against Oregon State at noon on ESPN, the first of two straight home games before a Friday night trip to Texas Tech starts Big 12 play. Willie Fritz’s third Cougars team begins ranked 23rd in the preseason poll after a 10 and 3 season that ended with a Texas Bowl win over LSU and the program’s first final ranking since 2021.
Six home games at TDECU Stadium, six on the road across three time zones, and a schedule that includes the program’s first ever visits to Colorado and West Virginia.
| Date | Opponent | Time · TV | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, Sep 5 | vs Oregon State | 12:00 PM · ESPN | — |
| Sat, Sep 12 | vs Southern | 7:00 PM · TBD | — |
| Fri, Sep 18 | at Texas Tech | 8:00 PM · TBD | — |
| Sat, Sep 26 | at Georgia Southern | TBD | — |
| Sat, Oct 3 | vs UCF | TBD | — |
| Sat, Oct 10 | at Kansas State | TBD | — |
| Sat, Oct 17 | vs Oklahoma State | TBD | — |
| Sat, Oct 24 | at Utah | TBD | — |
| Sat, Oct 31 | Bye week | — | — |
| Sat, Nov 7 | vs Cincinnati | TBD | — |
| Sat, Nov 14 | at Colorado | TBD | — |
| Sat, Nov 21 | at West Virginia | TBD | — |
| Sat, Nov 28 | vs Baylor | TBD | — |
All times Eastern. Kickoff times and networks for TBD games are announced roughly 12 days out. The Texas Tech game was moved to Friday night. The Big 12 championship game is Friday, December 4 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
The Opener
Oregon State comes to TDECU Stadium for a noon kickoff on ESPN, a heat management plan in effect for the early September start, and a Houston side that returns quarterback Conner Weigman from a ten win season. It is the Cougars’ third straight year opening at home. Our how to watch page has the details.
Three Games That Define the Season
At Texas Tech, Sept. 18. A Friday night conference opener in Lubbock against the team ranked 12th in the preseason and one of two 2025 final top 25 teams on the schedule. Houston’s Big 12 title path runs through this one first.
At Utah, Oct. 24. The other ranked opponent, and Houston’s first trip to Salt Lake City since 1977. Utah opens the season 21st and the game comes in a stretch of two road games in three weeks before the bye.
Baylor, Nov. 28. The regular season finale at home for the second straight year against the Bears, whom Houston beat 31 to 24 in Waco to close 2025. It is the only game against a Texas opponent besides Texas Tech, and the first year since 2020 without Rice on the schedule.
New Places
Houston has never played at Colorado or West Virginia, and the two come back to back in November, the second set of consecutive road games on the schedule. The trip to Georgia Southern on September 26 is the first meeting between the programs and the only opponent on the slate Houston has never faced. Fritz’s teams have now played six home games and six away for three straight seasons.
How the Schedule Sets Up
Four conference home games, UCF, Oklahoma State, Cincinnati and Baylor, against five on the road. The bye lands on Halloween weekend after the Utah trip, and three of the last four games are against teams that finished in the bottom half of the Big 12 in 2025, which is where a good September turns into a title game appearance. Houston played two teams that won ten games last year and four that won six or more.
The 2025 season produced the program’s tenth ten win year and a fourth place Big 12 finish, and the roster returns enough that the preseason ranking treats Houston as a contender rather than a surprise. Our Week 1 schedule has the full opening weekend.
The Bottom Line
Houston opens Saturday, September 5 at home against Oregon State and closes November 28 at home against Baylor. Six home games, a Friday night trip to Texas Tech, a bye on Halloween, and first ever visits to Colorado and West Virginia. The Cougars start the season ranked 23rd in Willie Fritz’s third year.