University of Houston Athletics
Cougars Announce 2026 Non-Conference Slate
12/16/2025 5:26:00 PM | Softball
Houston hosts two weekend tournaments, five midweek tilts at Cougar Softball Stadium
HOUSTON – The University of Houston Softball team will play 14 home games as a part of a 28-contest non-conference slate, the program announced Tuesday.
The Cougars will host two home tournaments to start the year before a pair of tourneys on the road with nine midweek tilts throughout the season.
Four of Houston's non-conference opponents made the NCAA Tournament in 2025, including Michigan, then-No. 1 seeded Texas A&M and eventual national champions No. 6 Texas. The schedule features five games against four SEC opponents, three of which made the big dance last season.
The Cougars start the season with a three-day home tournament, hosting cross-town opponents Houston Christian (Feb. 5, Feb. 6) and Fairfield (Feb. 6, Feb. 7). Houston remains in town the following weekend as it co-hosts the Houston Classic where it will face Pittsburgh (Feb. 12), Lafayette College and Penn State (doubleheader on Feb. 13), Michigan (Feb. 14) and Incarnate Word (Feb. 15).
Head Coach Chrissy Schoonmaker's squad will then go on the road for the first time the following weekend for a tournament at McNeese where it will play two doubleheaders against both Missouri and McNeese (Feb. 20, Feb. 21) each day before wrapping up with a meeting against Louisiana (Feb. 22).
Houston then kicks off its midweek schedule with a quick trip up to Texas A&M (Feb. 26) before heading out to Austin for a fourth weekend tournament hosted by Texas.
The Cougars will open the Texas tournament with a pair of doubleheaders against St. Bonaventure and Texas (Feb. 27) as well as Incarnate Word and Prairie View (Feb. 28) before closing out the trip with an additional matchup the following day against the Lady Panthers (March 1).
Prior to starting conference play on March 6 at home against Texas Tech, Houston plays two midweek matchups hosting McNeese (March 3) before heading to San Antonio to face Incarnate Word (March 4).
Following their opening weekend of Big 12 action against Texas Tech, the Cougars will host a Tuesday bout against Lamar (March 10). After a second weekend of conference play at home against Kansas, Houston hosts a pair of non-conference foes in Texas State (March 17) and Kentucky (March 18).
The Cougars will have three remaining midweek non-conference matchups throughout the remainder of the season, traveling to Lamar (March 24) and Texas A&M Corpus Christi (March 31) before hosting Sam Houston State (April 24) in its final bout outside Big 12 action.
Houston has extended histories with many teams on its nonconference schedule but will be meeting Fairfield, Lafayette College and St. Bonaventure for the first time. The most frequent foe on the slate, Sam Houston State, has played 60 games against the Cougars all-time. Houston leads the all-time series, 35-15.
The Cougars hold winning all-time records against 11 of its 19 non-conference opponents, leading head-to-head records over Sam Houston (35-15), Texas A&M Corpus Christi (18-10), Texas State (17-14), McNeese (16-14), Lamar (15-5), Houston Christian (10-2), Prairie View A&M (7-0), Pittsburgh (3-2), Michigan (3-2), Incarnate Word (3-1) and Penn State (1-0). Houston and Kentucky are tied all-time at 2-2 through four meetings.
Season tickets are on-sale now for $90-125, less than $5 per game for the 26-game schedule at Cougar Softball Stadium. Houston's home schedule in Big 12 play includes Texas Tech, Kansas, UCF and Arizona State.
SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Softball by supporting LinkingCoogs – UH's very own NIL collective – and by joining the Diamond Club which provides financial support directly to Houston Softball for needs beyond its operating budget.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarSB on X, formerly known as Twitter, and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at Houston Softball. Fans also can follow the team on Instagram at @UHCougarSB.
− UHCougars.com −
The Cougars will host two home tournaments to start the year before a pair of tourneys on the road with nine midweek tilts throughout the season.
Four of Houston's non-conference opponents made the NCAA Tournament in 2025, including Michigan, then-No. 1 seeded Texas A&M and eventual national champions No. 6 Texas. The schedule features five games against four SEC opponents, three of which made the big dance last season.
The Cougars start the season with a three-day home tournament, hosting cross-town opponents Houston Christian (Feb. 5, Feb. 6) and Fairfield (Feb. 6, Feb. 7). Houston remains in town the following weekend as it co-hosts the Houston Classic where it will face Pittsburgh (Feb. 12), Lafayette College and Penn State (doubleheader on Feb. 13), Michigan (Feb. 14) and Incarnate Word (Feb. 15).
Head Coach Chrissy Schoonmaker's squad will then go on the road for the first time the following weekend for a tournament at McNeese where it will play two doubleheaders against both Missouri and McNeese (Feb. 20, Feb. 21) each day before wrapping up with a meeting against Louisiana (Feb. 22).
Houston then kicks off its midweek schedule with a quick trip up to Texas A&M (Feb. 26) before heading out to Austin for a fourth weekend tournament hosted by Texas.
The Cougars will open the Texas tournament with a pair of doubleheaders against St. Bonaventure and Texas (Feb. 27) as well as Incarnate Word and Prairie View (Feb. 28) before closing out the trip with an additional matchup the following day against the Lady Panthers (March 1).
Prior to starting conference play on March 6 at home against Texas Tech, Houston plays two midweek matchups hosting McNeese (March 3) before heading to San Antonio to face Incarnate Word (March 4).
Following their opening weekend of Big 12 action against Texas Tech, the Cougars will host a Tuesday bout against Lamar (March 10). After a second weekend of conference play at home against Kansas, Houston hosts a pair of non-conference foes in Texas State (March 17) and Kentucky (March 18).
The Cougars will have three remaining midweek non-conference matchups throughout the remainder of the season, traveling to Lamar (March 24) and Texas A&M Corpus Christi (March 31) before hosting Sam Houston State (April 24) in its final bout outside Big 12 action.
Houston has extended histories with many teams on its nonconference schedule but will be meeting Fairfield, Lafayette College and St. Bonaventure for the first time. The most frequent foe on the slate, Sam Houston State, has played 60 games against the Cougars all-time. Houston leads the all-time series, 35-15.
The Cougars hold winning all-time records against 11 of its 19 non-conference opponents, leading head-to-head records over Sam Houston (35-15), Texas A&M Corpus Christi (18-10), Texas State (17-14), McNeese (16-14), Lamar (15-5), Houston Christian (10-2), Prairie View A&M (7-0), Pittsburgh (3-2), Michigan (3-2), Incarnate Word (3-1) and Penn State (1-0). Houston and Kentucky are tied all-time at 2-2 through four meetings.
Season tickets are on-sale now for $90-125, less than $5 per game for the 26-game schedule at Cougar Softball Stadium. Houston's home schedule in Big 12 play includes Texas Tech, Kansas, UCF and Arizona State.
SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Softball by supporting LinkingCoogs – UH's very own NIL collective – and by joining the Diamond Club which provides financial support directly to Houston Softball for needs beyond its operating budget.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarSB on X, formerly known as Twitter, and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at Houston Softball. Fans also can follow the team on Instagram at @UHCougarSB.
− UHCougars.com −
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