Houston football to face LSU in Texas Bowl on Dec. 27

Houston football will have a shot at its first 10-win season since 2021, as the Cougars will take on the LSU Tigers in the Texas Bowl at NRG Stadium on Dec. 27 at 8:15 p.m.

The Cougars’ bowl destination was made official early Sunday afternoon, with LSU getting announced as the opponent moments after, per on3’s Brett McMurphy.

“There’s a lot of things that can help us build this program based on playing in this Kinder’s Texas Bowl,” coach Willie Fritz said when he met with media Sunday afternoon.

A five-win improvement from just a season ago, the Cougars exceeded preseason expectations, going 9-3 in the regular season and finishing fourth in the Big 12 standings, after being projected to finish last. 

2025 marked a drastic turnaround on the road as well, with Houston going a spotless 6-0 away from home for the first time since 2021, and only the third time in program history. 

For their next game, the Cougars will have to make just a brief, 20-minute drive from TDECU Stadium.

“We have a ton of alums here. I just hope we have an outstanding crowd, get a bunch of people there,” Fritz said.

Houston has played in the Texas Bowl once before, in 2007, when it took on the TCU Horned Frogs, losing 20-13 in front of over 62,000 fans at what was then Reliant Stadium.

Meanwhile, the Tigers are coming off a tumultuous regular season.

Head coach Brian Kelly was let go midseason following a 49-25 rout at the hands of Texas A&M at home, dropping LSU to 5-3 on the season after beginning 4-0.

Just days after Kelly was relieved of his duties, LSU’s athletic director Scott Woodward was ousted amid criticisms from Louisiana’s governor Jeff Landry over Kelly’s 10-year, $95 million contract, while stating Woodward would not be involved in the search for a new coach.

Lane Kiffin was hired on Nov. 30, following a controversial end to his tenure at Ole Miss, though he will not coach the bowl game. It will instead be interim coach Frank Wilson, who will finish off the season for the Tigers.

Houston has played LSU three times in program history, having last played the Tigers in 2000, a 28-13 loss in Baton Rouge, La.

This will be Houston’s 31st bowl game in program history, and first since beating the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns 23-16 in the Independence Bowl in 2022.