Houston Football Home Game Kick Times Set for First Two
Date Published
At Houston's Third Ward, the first pieces of the 2025 home schedule are now locked in. Houston football kick times are set for the Cougars' first two games at TDECU Stadium, giving UH fans firm plans for early September weekends on campus.
The University of Houston announced the kickoff windows and TV partners for those first two home dates. That matters for tailgates, travel plans, and the first big home crowds of the season as Willie Fritz continues his rebuild with a full offseason behind him.
Houston will open its home slate on Saturday, Aug. 30, against Stephen F. Austin at TDECU Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m., and the game will air on ESPN+. One week later, the Cougars return to the same field on Saturday, Sept. 6, to face Rice at 6 p.m. on FS1.
Houston football kick times start with two night games
Those first two announcements give UH a pair of evening starts in Third Ward. The 6 p.m. opener against Stephen F. Austin sets up a traditional season-opening atmosphere under the lights, and the Sept. 6 meeting with Rice brings an in-state matchup to a national cable audience on FS1.
Rice adds some extra local flavor to the early schedule. Even in a busy fall sports market, a crosstown college game tends to draw attention across Houston, especially with both programs recruiting in the same region and playing less than 10 miles apart.
TDECU Stadium gets an early spotlight
Night kicks should help the home environment at TDECU Stadium during the hottest stretch of the year. Late August and early September in Houston can be punishing in the afternoon, so a pair of 6 p.m. starts offers a more manageable setup for students, alumni, and families heading to campus.
The TV split matters too. ESPN+ keeps the opener on streaming, while FS1 gives the Rice game broader reach. That second game should carry more visibility for a Houston team trying to gain traction early in the season and build some momentum at home.
More start times for the rest of Houston's 2025 schedule will be announced later as television windows are finalized. For now, the Cougars know their first two home Saturdays in Third Ward will both begin at 6 p.m., with Stephen F. Austin up first on Aug. 30 and Rice following on Sept. 6.
This article is a summary of reporting by University of Houston Athletics. Read the full story here.