University of Houston Athletics
2011 Conference USA Football Schedule Released
2/10/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
Feb. 10, 2011
The University of Houston announced Thursday the completion of its 2011 football schedule as released by Conference USA. It features six home contests against rival Rice, East Carolina, Marshall and SMU. Eight games will be played within the state of Texas with road trips to open the new football stadium at North Texas and to El Paso for a league match-up.
With the new television agreement with Fox, game dates are tentative and could be adjusted to accommodate national exposure.
"We really feel this is a great schedule for our fans," said head football coach Kevin Sumlin. "There are some good rivalry games and high-quality opponents which will make for a great spectator experience."
UH is coming off a season where it saw an 82 percent increase in season-ticket holders and five sellout crowds at Robertson Stadium. In the past three seasons under Sumlin, the Cougars have an impressive 14-3 record at home.
As previously released, UH begins the year hosting Pac-10 foe UCLA in a return game from 2010 when the Cougars traveled to Los Angeles. Houston will be the headliner for the opening of North Texas' New Stadium at Mean Green Village in the second week of the season.
The third game of the non-conference will take place in Ruston, La., against WAC foe Louisiana Tech for the first meeting since 1995. The Cougars then return home for the final game before Conference USA play to host the Georgia State Panthers.
"We are excited to once again host a BCS conference team at Robertson Stadium in what we think will be an exciting open to the 2011 season against UCLA," Sumlin added. "This is a team with national recognition which should be a great event for the City of Houston."
After four straight non-conference games, the Cougars will open up league play at UTEP, followed by three consecutive home games hosting East Carolina, Marshall and Rice. ECU and Marshall haven't been on the regular-season schedule since the 2008 season; however the Pirates and Cougars met in the 2009 Conference USA Championship game. Houston will be the home team for the 38th edition of the Bayou Bucket Classic with cross-town rival Rice on Oct. 29.
UH will then travel to UAB and Tulane and return home for Senior Day and the season finale against SMU. The Cougars were victorious in both sites in its last visit to Birmingham and New Orleans, respectively.
The Cougars will close out the regular season on the road in Tulsa, Okla., to take on the C-USA West Champion Tulsa Golden Hurricane.
The Athletics Department will work in conjunction with the UH Alumni Association, the Division of Student Affairs and the Student Government Association to determine the date for the 65th Houston Homecoming.
2011 Houston Football ScheduleDate Opponent Time Series StreakSept. 3 UCLA TBA UCLA leads 3-2 L3Sept. 10 at North Texas TBA NT leads 7-5 W2Sept. 17 at Louisiana Tech TBA UH leads 3-2 L2Sept. 24 GEORGIA STATE TBA First Meeting --Oct. 1 at UTEP TBA Tied 4-4 W1Oct. 8 EAST CAROLINA TBA ECU leads 6-4 L1Oct. 22 MARSHALL TBA Tied 1-1 L1Oct. 29 RICE TBA UH leads 26-11 L1Nov. 5 at UAB TBA UAB leads 4-3 W2Nov. 12 at Tulane TBA UH leads 12-4 W7Nov. 19 SMU TBA UH leads 15-9-1 W5Nov. 26 at Tulsa TBA UH leads 19-17 L1
