PREVIEW: Cougars Clash with ‘Jacks

HOUSTON – The Houston Football team starts its 2025 season with a midweek tilt against Stephen F. Austin inside TDECU Stadium on Thursday. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. on ESPN+.

GAME 1 – STEPHEN F. AUSTIN

Houston (0-0, 0-0 Big 12) vs. Stephen F. Austin (0-0, 0-0 Southland)
Thursday, Aug. 28 | 7 p.m. CT
TDECU Stadium | Houston, Texas
Broadcast: ESPN+
Radio: KPRC 950 AM

COOG FEST – PREGAME ACTIVITIES

Come early and bring the whole family! Outside the stadium, stop by the Rodeo Round Up Corral near the Kids' Zone for western-themed fun:
- Mini lasso practice area
- Line dancing lessons
- Belt buckle coloring wall
- Western photo ops
- A visit from Howdy!
Take the kids to the Kids' Zone to enjoy the inflatables and fun near Gate 2!
Hang out with your friends in the Bud Light Backyard Beer Garden between Schroeder Gate 1 and Gate 2.
The student tailgate, sponsored by Student Affairs, Coca-Cola and H-E-B: All students are invited to stop by the student tailgate tent outside of Gate 2. Hang out with your friends and enjoy tailgate games, TVs, video games, food and giveaways!
Show up for Coogs on Parade on Cullen Blvd. at 5:50 p.m. The Spirit of Houston will perform and have a parade through Cougar Alley.

IN-GAME ACTIVITIES

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Photo Station at section 135 – Snap a pic and enter to win four season tickets to the 2026 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo! Open until the end of halftime.
Performances by the Spirit of Houston!
On field recognition of Houston Softball team.
Cheerleaders and Cougar Dolls on hand to entertain you!
Special Football Operations Center ribbon cutting presentation.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

Houston is one of five Big 12 schools with multiple quarterbacks that have 10+ Division I starts and one of three with 13+ DI starts, giving Head Coach Willie Fritz two viable options at quarterback in his second season at the helm. Conner Weigman started 13 games at Texas A&M over three seasons and Zeon Chriss-Gremillion started seven games for the Cougars in 2024 and six at his previous school, Louisiana. Arizona State has 39 combined starts between its quarterbacks Seam Leavitt (13) and Jeff Sims (26) and TCU has 32 combined starts between Josh Hoover (19) and Kyle Seals (13).
The Cougars will rely on first-year Defensive Coordinator Austin Armstrong to help maintain one of the best defenses in the country that allowed the ninth-fewest first downs nationally (214) and just 324.8 yards per game a season ago, ranking 25^thnationally, and 22.9 points per game, which ranked 40^th nationally. Houston is expected to be aggressive in its coverage and lean into its personnel in hopes of replicating Armstrong's defense at Florida which ranked ninth in red zone defense (0.725) and 13^th in turnovers gained (25).
UH's 106 wins since the start of the 2011 season rank fourth in Texas, trailing only Texas A&M (112), TCU (112) and Texas (111).
The same themes from a year ago apply this fall as the Cougars preach a culture under Fritz. Team themes include going 1-0 each day both on and off the field. Between the lines, "Coogs don't beat the Coogs" echoed across the speakers at practice as Houston placed an added focus on ball control and limiting penalties.

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW

The cranes in the distance are gone – on Monday, July 28, UH football athletes moved into the $130 million Memorial Hermann Football Operations Center. The facility is a one-stop-shop for University of Houston Football, featuring amenities including state-of-the-art sports performance centers, an academic support services suite, a leading-edge locker room facility, student-athlete flex space and office space to house the Houston Football coaching and support staff. The FOC will also provide additional premium seating to TDECU Stadium with 14 suites, a 450-seat club section with access to an 11,000-square-foot club and 300-seat roof terrace facing inward to John M. O'Quinn Field.
Houston is 20-0 against FCS teams with the Cougars' most recent win against Grambling in 2021 (W, 45-0) with Houston holding Grambling to three first downs, 0-for-14 on third downs and just 102 total yards of offense.
Thursday marks UH's earliest season opener by date, one day earlier than the previous earliest season opener of Aug. 29 in 2014 when it debuted TDECU Stadium vs. UTSA. It marks the 10^th time Houston has opened its season in the month of August. UH is 6-3 in those previous nine games. Thursday marks exactly 271 days since Houston last took the field against BYU (Nov. 30, 2024).
Coach Fritz and quarterbacks coach Shawn Bell went into the portal and picked up a prized piece in former five-star quarterback Conner Weigman from Texas A&M. Weigman spent three seasons with the Aggies where he started 13 of 15 games and threw for 2,694 yards and 19 touchdowns with a 13-0 touchdown-interceptions ratio over his first six collegiate games.
Houston begins its 80^th season (1946-present) and third in the Big 12 Conference when the Cougars host Stephen F. Austin on Thursday. The Cougars are 42-35-2 all-time in season openers, including a 12-5 mark since 2008. As a head coach, Willie Fritz is 23-9 during openers.

SCOUTING SFA

Stephen F. Austin earned a 7-5 record in 2024, including wins over #22/RV Lamar and #11/#12 Abilene Christian.
The Lumberjacks struggled on the road last season, finishing with a 2-4 record away from Homer Bryce Stadium in Nacogdoches, Texas.
In last year's season finale, SFA claimed a 32-19 win over #11/#12 Abilene Christian.
The Lumberjacks are entering their 99^th season of collegiate football in 2025 and the seventh under Head Coach Colby Carthel, who has guided SFA to a 33-35 record. Stephen F. Austin was ranked #24/#23 in the two major FCS preseason polls.

LAST TIME AGAINST SFA

Stephen F. Austin won the last meeting between the two programs, 21-13, on Nov. 6, 1948.
Houston completed 6-of-11 passes for 84 yards in the game, while advancing 203 yards on the ground.
Jack Gwin and Carroll Selby scored the Cougars' two touchdowns in the contest.
Stephen F. Austin tallied 48 passing yards and 199 rushing yards to score three times.

A HOUSTON WIN WOULD ...

Move Houston to 2-2 all-time against Stephen F. Austin and be the Cougars' first win over the Lumberjacks since the first all-time meeting in 1946.
Move Houston to 48-32 in home openers.
Move Houston to 21-19 in Thursday games and 11-4 since 2015.
Move Willie Fritz to 24-9 in season openers during his tenures as head coach.

PARKING
Due to construction as well as expected additional weekday congestion around campus, fans are encouraged to view our parking map to plan their gameday journey.

SEASON TICKETS
University of Houston Football season tickets are on sale for the 2025 season. For as low as $150, fans can get in on the excitement of Year 2 of the Head Coach Willie Fritz era with pivotal matchups against Stephen F. Austin, Colorado, Texas Tech, Arizona, West Virginia and TCU. To purchase season tickets, click here.

TWO-GAME MINI PLAN
Want some flexibility? Buy a two-game mini-plan which includes the Colorado game and one game of your choice between Stephen F. Austin, Arizona, West Virginia or TCU. Mini plans start at just $85. To purchase a mini-plan, click here.

SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Football by purchasing season tickets, and by joining The Huddle which provides financial support directly to Houston Football for needs beyond its operating budget.

STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarFB 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 Football. Fans can also follow the team on Instagram at uhcougarfb.

–– UHCougars.com ––

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