The University of Oklahoma Sooners and University of Houston Cougars will open the 2016 season in the fourth installment of the AdvoCare Texas Kickoff at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. The game will be the third matchup in the all-time series between the schools.
Texas A&M will take on Arizona State to start the 2015 season, signifying the high caliber of teams participating in the AdvoCare Texas Kickoff. On opening weekend of the 2014 college football season, then-No. 13 LSU beat No. 14 Wisconsin 28-24, while in 2013, then-No. 13 Oklahoma State topped Mississippi State 21-3.
“The AdvoCare Texas Kickoff has quickly become a premier Labor Day weekend college football tradition,” said Jamey Rootes, President of the Houston Texans and Lone Star Sports & Entertainment. “We look forward to welcoming the Oklahoma Sooners and their fans to Houston for the 2016 edition of the AdvoCare Texas Kickoff as they open the college football season at NRG Stadium against our hometown Houston Cougars.”
Oklahoma owns a 2-0 record against Houston. In 2004, then-No. 2 Oklahoma defeated Houston behind the reigning 2003 Heisman Trophy winner Jason White and freshman star Adrian Peterson.
Currently ranked No. 4 nationally, the Sooners have opened the 2014 season 2-0. Oklahoma is coached by Bob Stoops, who owns a 162-39 record, now in his 16th season in Norman.
“The greater Houston area has long been a stronghold of support for OU,” said OU Vice President and Director of Athletics, Joe Castiglione. “We are excited to showcase our program in one of the nation’s largest markets and an NFL venue that has hosted the Super Bowl.”
Houston has opened the 2014 season with a 1-1 mark and a full-slate of American Athletic Conference games ahead. Third-year head coach Tony Levine leads a UH program that will seek its 23rd postseason bowl berth.
“We have been and will remain committed to scheduling competitive non-conference opponents and that includes games in the City of Houston to reward our passionate fan base,” said Mack Rhoades, Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics at University of Houston. “When you look at the caliber of teams invited to the AdvoCare Texas Kickoff in the past, it’s a great honor to kick off the 2016 season against Oklahoma in what promises to be an exciting opener. I want to thank Jamey Rootes from the Texans and Lone Star Sports & Entertainment, Dave Brown from ESPN and Joe Castiglione from OU for helping make this series a reality.”
The game will mark the fourth year of a four-year agreement between Lone Star Sports & Entertainment and ESPN Events, a subsidiary of ESPN, to bring a top college football game to NRG Stadium during the Labor Day weekend to start the college football season.
“We continue to be pleased with the growth of the AdvoCare Texas Kickoff,” said Pete Derzis, Sr. Vice President & General Manager, ESPN Regional Television. “Both teams have a great fan following and rich history, which will continue to bring a high level of interest to our game.”
For more information on ticket packages for the AdvoCare Texas Kickoff, log on towww.advocaretexaskickoff.com. For information on luxury suites call 832-667-2160.