Cougars Open 2026 in Puerto Rico

HOUSTON – The Houston Baseball team will begin the 2026 season in paradise when the Cougars compete in the 2026 Puerto Rico Challenge against Wake Forest, Boston College, Manhattan and Washington Feb. 13-16 in Ponce or Caguas, Puerto Rico.

The Cougars will be one of eight teams to compete in the event, joined by three ACC squads in Wake Forest, Boston College and NC State, along with Washington, Indiana State, Seton Hall and Manhattan.

Houston will face Wake Forest for the first time since 2017 when the two clash in Puerto Rico. The Cougars won both games in 2017.

The Cougars break a 23-year hiatus from playing Washington when the Cougars and Huskies meet in Puerto Rico. Washington won the lone meeting between the two schools back in 2003.

Houston and Boston College square off for the first time since 1967 with the all-time series knotted at a game apiece. The Cougars won the 1967 meeting.

The Cougars are set to play Manhattan for the first time in program history.

In 2025, the Cougars posted a seven-win improvement in Big 12 Conference play from their 2024 debut in the league and won their first-ever Big 12 Conference Championship game by defeating Kansas State in the First Round of the tournament.

2026 will be the first time Houston has opened the season away from Don Sanders Field at Darryl and Lori Schroeder Park since 2022 when the Cougars opened the season in Scottsdale, Ariz.

ABOUT THE PUERTO RICO CHALLENGE
The Puerto Rico Challenge, entering its second year, will once again be played in professional-quality stadiums that are inspected and approved annually by the MLB Commissioner's Office. Both are equipped with TrackMan services for use by participating teams, and Rawlings returns as the official baseball. In Ponce, games will be played at Francisco "Paquito" Montaner Stadium, home of the Puerto Rico Winter League's Leones de Ponce. The venue seats 8,000, features new artificial turf, and is widely used by MLB players for winter training. In Caguas, games will take place at the newly renovated Yldefonso Solá Morales Stadium, which seats 10,000 and stands as one of Puerto Rico's most iconic baseball venues.

The Puerto Rico Challenge is owned and operated by JoGi Sports and MB Sports, sports marketing partners specializing in the production of premium sporting events. Headquartered in New York and Puerto Rico, the organizations are committed to showcasing elite talent and delivering exceptional experiences for participating teams, players, fans, sponsors, broadcasters, and hospitality partners alike.

SUPPORT THE COUGARS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Baseball by supporting LinkingCoogs – UH's very own NIL collective, and by joining the Dugout Club which provides financial support directly to Houston Baseball for needs beyond its operating budget.

STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarBB 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 Cougar Baseball. Fans can also follow the team on Instagram at @uhcougarbb.

– UHCougars.com –

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Cougars Open 2026 in Puerto Rico

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