Houston Cougars

The Houston Cougars play at TDECU Stadium in the heart of Space City, a program built on a tradition of fast, high-scoring offensive football. Houston has long served as a proving ground for future NFL talent and coaching stars, and its return to a Power conference with the Big 12 has reignited ambitions of national relevance. It's a program that thrives on tempo and swagger.

Houston football began in 1911 and became famous for the run-and-shoot offenses of the late 1980s under coach Jack Pardee, featuring Heisman winner Andre Ware. The Cougars spent stints in the Southwest Conference and Conference USA before helping found the American Athletic Conference in 2013. Houston's 2023 move to the Big 12 marked a return to Power conference football after decades outside the sport's top tier.