UH Big 12 schedule 2023: Houston Cougars host national championship runners-up TCU, Texas Longhorns

The Coogs and the Longhorns last faced off in 2002.
Wednesday, February 1, 2023
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Circle those calendars, Coogs fans...and Houston-based UT alums. The Houston Cougars' debut football season in the Big 12 is packed.
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The conference released on Tuesday UH's schedule for its first year in the Power Five league. Each matchup, including Houston's non-conference opponents, holds some type of intrigue, especially with University of Texas and University of Oklahoma remaining in the Big 12 despite their impending departure for the SEC.

SEE MORE: University of Houston cleared to join Big 12 Conference on July 1, 2023

You'll find below each opponent, the matchup date, and what you should know about the matchup:

  • Sept. 2: vs. UT-San Antonio.

What you should know: Completes home-and-home series with Roadrunners a season after UH survived a three-overtime fight in 2022.

  • Sept. 9: at Rice.

What you should know: New conferences, but the Bayou Bucket rivalry remains. Owls, who essentially replace UH in the American Athletic Conference, host the Coogs after falling to their cross-town rival by a touchdown last season.

  • Sept. 16: vs. TCU.

What you should know: Houston's first-ever Big 12 opponent. UH hosts a buzzsaw matchup with the national championship runners-up, the Horned Frogs.

  • Sept. 23: vs. Sam Houston State.

What you should know: Bearkats draw the Coogs as part of their debut season in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) after years in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).
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  • Sept. 30: at Texas Tech.

What you should know: The rivalry continues. The Red Raiders took down the Coogs in 2022 during an overtime thriller. Houston actually holds the series lead at 18-15-1.

  • Oct. 7: Idle


  • Oct. 12 vs. West Virginia.

What you should know: Coach Dana Holgorsen meets a familiar foe. The Coogs' sideline general coached the Mountaineers for seven seasons before signing on with UH in 2019.

  • Oct. 21: vs. Texas.

What you should know: Arguably, the biggest matchup on Houston's 2023 schedule. The game renews a Southwest Conference rivalry that dates back to 1953. The last time the teams faced off was 21 years ago.

  • Oct. 28: at Kansas State.

What you should know: Like West Virginia, UH faces the Wildcats for the first time ever. Kansas State defeated TCU to win the Big 12 and crack into a New Year's Six bowl game last season.

  • Nov. 4: at Baylor.

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What you should know: Another throwback to the SWC days. The teams last faced off in 1995 when the Bears claimed a 40-point blowout of the Coogs.

  • Nov. 11: vs. Cincinnati.

What you should know: Two AAC mates continue their rivalry in the Big 12. 2023 marks the first Big 12 seasons for UH, Cincy, Central Florida, and BYU.

  • Nov. 18: vs. Oklahoma State.

What you should know: UH renews a mini-rivalry with head coach Mike Gundy and the Cowboys. Houston holds a 10-9-1 advantage dating back to 1951.

  • Nov. 25: at Central Florida.

What you should know: The season ends on the road with a former AAC mate. UCF holds a 7-3 advantage all-time over the Coogs.



The only tickets available for UH games at TDECU Stadium are through the school's season-ticket priority waitlist. The team encourages anyone who's interested in being part of Houston's inaugural Big 12 season to contact the Houston Athletics Ticket Office at 713-GO-COOGS (462-6647) or visit the school's ticketing website.







Season tickets go on sale Feb. 20. Single-game tickets were not yet announced.
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