Oregon State opens the year at TDECU Stadium. A Friday night road trip to Texas Tech follows two weeks later. And a closing stretch that runs through Utah, Cincinnati, and a late Friday night game in Boulder. The 2026 Houston Football Schedule puts real distance and difficulty in front of the Cougars before the year is out. Houston Cougars football opens at home, faces early road tests, and ends with a demanding late-season travel slate. Here is the complete 2026 Houston Football Schedule with dates, locations, times and television information.
2026 Houston Football Schedule
| Date | Logo | Opponent | Time | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday | vs Oregon State BeaversTDECU Stadium, Houston, TX | 12:00 PM ETESPN/Disney+ | Win 33-20 | |
| Saturday | vs Southern JaguarsTDECU Stadium, Houston, TX | 7:00 PM ETESPN+ | Win 77-6 | |
| Friday | at Texas Tech Red RaidersGalaxy Stadium, Lubbock, TX | 8:00 PM ETFOX | Loss 28-26 | |
| Saturday | at Georgia Southern EaglesPaulson Stadium, Statesboro, GA | 4:00 PM ETESPNU | Win 42-28 | |
| Saturday | vs UCF KnightsTDECU Stadium, Houston, TX | 12:00 PM ETESPN2 | Win 27-17 | |
| Saturday | at Kansas State WildcatsBill Snyder Family Stadium, Manhattan, KS | 3:30 PM ETFOX | Win 35-16 | |
| Saturday | vs Oklahoma State CowboysTDECU Stadium, Houston, TX | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Saturday | at Utah UtesRice-Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake City, UT | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Saturday | OFF | |||
| Saturday | vs Cincinnati BearcatsTDECU Stadium, Houston, TX | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Friday | at Colorado BuffaloesFolsom Field, Boulder, CO | 10:15 PM ETESPN | ||
| Saturday | at West Virginia MountaineersMountaineer Field, Morgantown, WV | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Saturday | vs Baylor BearsTDECU Stadium, Houston, TX | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Friday | vs Big 12 ChampionshipAT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX | 8:00 PM ETABC |
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Home Openers and Early Road Tests
Oregon State and Southern at home, then Texas Tech and Georgia Southern away
- Oregon State at TDECU Stadium
- Southern at home
- Houston vs Texas Tech 2026 on a Friday night
- Georgia Southern on the road
The Houston Football Schedule opens with two home games before a Friday night road trip to Texas Tech.
Mid-Season Home and Road Mix
UCF at home, Kansas State away, Oklahoma State at home, Utah away
- UCF at home
- Kansas State on the road
- Oklahoma State at home
- Utah on the road
- Bye week
UCF visits before Houston hits the road for Kansas State. Oklahoma State returns the Cougars home before the Houston Big 12 schedule 2026 sends them to Utah.
Cincinnati at Home and Late Travel
Cincinnati at home, Colorado late, West Virginia away, Baylor at home
- Cincinnati at TDECU Stadium
- Colorado at 10:15 p.m. ET
- West Virginia on the road
- Baylor at home
Cincinnati visits on November 7. Houston then heads to Colorado for a late Friday night kickoff, followed by a trip to West Virginia. Baylor closes the regular season at home.
Houston Football Home Games 2026
Six home dates at TDECU Stadium:
- Oregon State
- Southern
- UCF
- Oklahoma State
- Cincinnati
- Baylor
The 2026 Houston Football Schedule features an early home start, significant mid-season road tests, and a late stretch that includes Utah, Colorado and West Virginia. How the Cougars handle the Friday night trip to Texas Tech, the road game at Utah, and the late Friday night in Boulder will shape the entire season.
FAQ
When does Houston play its first game on the 2026 schedule?
Houston Football Schedule 2026 opens at home against Oregon State on Saturday, September 5, at TDECU Stadium.
When is Houston vs Texas Tech 2026?
Houston vs Texas Tech 2026 is set for Friday, September 18, on the road at Galaxy Stadium in Lubbock, kickoff at 8:00 p.m. ET on FOX.
How many home games does Houston play in 2026?
Houston has six Houston football home games in 2026 at TDECU Stadium: Oregon State, Southern, UCF, Oklahoma State, Cincinnati and Baylor.
What is Houston’s toughest stretch on the 2026 schedule?
The run from Texas Tech (road) through Utah (road), with Cincinnati and a Friday night trip to Colorado following in November, makes up the toughest stretch on the Houston Big 12 schedule 2026.
