PREVIEW: #21 Cougars Remain Home for Battle of the Bayous at NRG Stadium in Texas Bowl

HOUSTON – The #21 Houston Football team caps an extraordinary season on Saturday as it faces off against LSU in the Kinder's Texas Bowl at NRG Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 8:15 p.m. on ESPN, with the Cougars drawing a primetime slot against no other bowl games.

GAME 13 – TEXAS BOWL - LSU

#21 Houston (9-3, 6-3 Big 12) vs. LSU (7-3, 3-5 SEC)
Saturday, Dec. 27 | 8:15 p.m.
NRG Stadium | Houston, Texas
Broadcast: ESPN
Radio: KPRC 950 AM
Bowl Central: Click Here
Bowl Information: Click Here

TICKET INFORMATION

While Houston has sold out of its ticket allotment for the game, fans can still purchase tickets through the Texas Bowl by clicking here.
NRG and Lone Star Entertainment have moved to a mobile ticketing system. For ease of entry on gameday, fans are encouraged to download the Houston Texans app to load their tickets before arriving at NRG Stadium by clicking here.
- For those looking to directly access tickets without the Texans app, log into the Lone Star Sports and Entertainment Account Manager and log in with the email associated with your Houston Athletics account.
- If using the Texans app to access tickets, instructions are:
  - Go to the "More" tab at the bottom right
  - Switch from "Texans" to "LSSE" view (icons on left side of the screen)
  - Click on "Your Tickets" tab at bottom
  - Sign into your Ticketmaster account or create account using the email associated with your UH Athletics account
Parking is available in NRG lots on a first-come, first-serve basis on gameday. To guarantee parking, fans can purchase lot passes in advance through NRG Stadium's website. All lots will be cashless on gameday.
NRG Stadium is a cashless venue for parking and concessions and enforces a clear-bag policy for fans. For more information on NRG Stadium policies, visit their website by clicking here.

PREGAME TAILGATE

Beginning at 4:15 p.m., fans are encouraged to attend the All-Houston Tailgate in the gold lot at NRG Stadium. Admission is free with registration here!
Featuring a cashless Cash Bar and What It Do BBQ and We Love Spudz food trucks, the tailgate is the perfect place for pregame entertainment with the Spirit of Houston performing at 5:30 p.m. and a live DJ playing hits up until game time.
The team arrives at 6 p.m. right next to the tailgate, so come cheer them on as they enter NRG Stadium before the game!

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

Away from home, Houston's defense held opponent offenses to 18.3 points per game, the 14th in FBS, while scoring 31.0 points per game on offense, 25th nationally. On defense this season, Houston's defense ranked 19th nationally in Red Zone Defense and 37th in Defensive Efficiency.
Interior defensive lineman Carlos Allen Jr., leads FBS interior linemen with 75 tackles while cornerback Will James was the first Houston defensive back with 3+ interceptions and 4+ TFLs in the same season since 2015.
Houston quarterback Conner Weigman has thrown for the most yards by a quarterback in Year 1 of Coach Fritz's system amassing 2,475 passing yards in his first season playing for Coach Fritz. His 21 passing touchdowns are two from tying the most passing touchdowns by a Year 1 Fritz QB.
The Cougars offensive line has given Weigman ample time to throw the football the previous four games – posting a 93.2 offensive line pass block efficiency Week 8-11, second best in the Big 12. The 93.2 o-line pass block efficiency is the best combined rating over a 4+ week span by the Houston o-line since Week 6-10 of 2022 (94.2).

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW

Houston enters the Kinder's Texas Bowl ranked #21 in the College Football Playoff rankings with a 9-3 overall record, its best record since 2021, with wins over Top 30 teams Arizona and Arizona State. Houston is bowl eligible for the first time since 2022 and playing inside NRG Stadium for the 14th time.
Houston is ranked entering a bowl game for the 13th time in school history and the third time since 2015 (2015, '21, '25). The Cougars are looking for their third consecutive bowl win.
Head Coach Willie Fritz is a George Munger Coach of the Year Semifinalist and the Cougars had 11 All-Big 12 selections.
Houston's 90.7 Defense Grade by PFF (23rd nationally) outranks LSU's 88.0 (36th). The Cougars forced 21 fumbles in 2025, the seventh most nationally. Houston's 57 "havoc plays" (sacks, interceptions, fumbles forced) is 30th nationally. LSU ranks 47th (53).
The Cougars were the only team in FBS to go 6-0 on the road this season, the third time in school history they have gone 6-0 on the road. Houston won a ranked road matchup for the first time since 2017 when Houston beat #24 Arizona State in Tempe in late October.

SCOUTING LSU

LSU enters bowl season with a 7-5 record after posting a 3-5 showing in SEC play. The Tigers started the season at #9 before losses to Ole Miss, Vanderbilt, Texas A&M, Alabama and Oklahoma pushed LSU outside of the Top 25.
LSU will be coached by Interim Head Coach Frank Wilson in the Texas Bowl. He was previously the team's running backs coach.
Running backs Caden Durham and Harlem Berry split time at the position nearly 50-50 this season, earning 106 and 101 rushes, respectively. Durham posted 505 yards and three touchdowns while Berry collected 446 yards and two scores.
DJ Pickett highlights the team's defensive players in the contest. He's picked up three interceptions and 30 tackles on the season. Davhon Keys also helps lead the defense with 78 tackles this year.

LAST TIME AGAINST LSU

Houston last met the Tigers on the gridiron on Sept. 9, 2000, a 28-13 loss for the Cougars despite three forced turnovers, nine tackles for a loss and a blocked kick.
Jason McKinley led the way for Houston's offense, passing for 354 yards and two touchdowns. Brandon Middleton was a playmaker at wide receiver, catching eight targets for 175 and both of the Cougars' touchdowns while Brian Robinson nearly hit the century mark with 10 snags for 98 yards.
Wayne Rogers paced Houston's defensive effort with 12 tackles and a blocked field goal. Heard Robinson and Bachie McGruder each posted an interception, with the latter also breaking up three additional passes.

A HOUSTON WIN WOULD ...

Be Houston's first 10+ win season since 2021 (11 wins).
Be the Cougars' third consecutive bowl victory, tied for the longest bowl winning streak in school history.
Be Houston's 10th 10-win season in school history.
Be Houston's first win against LSU since 1999.
Be Houston's first win inside NRG Stadium since beating #3 Oklahoma 33-23 in 2016.

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STAY CONNECTED
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