2016 UH football schedule released

HOUSTON – Houston will get an early chance to prove they belong in the national conversation when they open the season against 2015 College Football Playoff semifinalist Oklahoma.

Playing in the nation’s premier opening weekend game, the Cougars start the 2016 season by facing the Sooners in the Advocare Texas Kickoff on Sept. 3 at NRG Stadium.

Houston also has four games slated for national TV broadcast.

The Cougars open play at TDECU Stadium in the second week of the season, when they host Lamar on Sept. 10. Houston went 8-0 at home in 2015. They then head to Cincinnati for a Thursday night bout on ESPN against the Bearcats on Sept. 15.

UH's lone non-conference game of the season follows, on Sept. 24 against Texas State in San Marcos. Following that, UH hosts a Thursday night national broadcast on ESPN against UConn on Sept. 29.

A rematch of the game that decided the American Conference's West Division comes up next on the Cougars' schedule, as they face Navy in Annapolis, Maryland, on Oct. 8. This will be nationally televised on CBS.

A stretch of five in-state games comes up next on the schedule, as the Cougars host Tulsa on Oct. 15, visit SMU on Oct. 22 and then come home for three straight home games -- UCF on Oct. 29, Tulane on Nov. 12 and a Thursday night ESPN nationally televised game against Louisville on Nov. 17.

The Cougars travel to Memphis on Nov. 25, to take on the Tigers. The American’s second conference championship game is slated for Dec. 3, and will pit the winner of the West Division against the winner of the East Division at the home site of top division winner. 

Houston will look to become the first team to win outright back-to-back titles in the American after claiming the league’s inaugural conference championship game last season with a 24-13 win over Temple before topping No. 9 Florida State, 38-24, in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.

2016 Houston Football Schedule:
Sept. 3 vs. Oklahoma (Advocare Texas Kickoff at NRG Stadium)
Sept. 10 – Lamar
Sept. 15 at Cincinnati
Sept. 24 – at Texas State
Sept. 29 – UConn
Oct. 8 – at Navy
Oct. 15 – Tulsa
Oct. 22 – at SMU
Oct. 29 – UCF
Nov. 12 – Tulane
Nov. 17 – Louisville
Nov. 25 – at Memphis