Houston and Texas Tech to Square Off in 2021 Texas Kickoff

HOUSTON – The University of Houston Cougars and the Texas Tech University Red Raiders will move their 2021 matchup to Labor Day Weekend and meet for the eighth installment of the Texas Kickoff at NRG Stadium in Houston. The game will air on an ESPN network.  The two teams will meet for the first time since the Sept. 15, 2018 when the Red Raiders topped the Cougars, 63-49.

“With this year’s event unfortunately cancelled, we are incredibly excited to announce the 2021 matchup between two longtime Texas rivals in the University of Houston and Texas Tech University.  We look forward to continuing the tradition in 2021 of hosting another premier early season college football game at NRG Stadium,” said General Manager of Lone Star Sports & Entertainment David Fletcher.

Houston leads the all-time series, 18-14-1, with the first game taking place Oct. 6, 1951 when the Cougars defeated the Raiders, 6-0.

The game will mark the ninth year of the partnership between Lone Star Sports & Entertainment and ESPN Events, a division of ESPN, to bring a marquee early season college football events to NRG Stadium each year.

Lone Star Sports & Entertainment

Lone Star Sports & Entertainment is an event management company founded in 2003 that is closely affiliated with the NFL’s Houston Texans. Since its founding, LSSE has established itself as the leading sports event promoter in Houston with events that create a direct annual economic impact of more than $100 million for the City of Houston. In addition to the Texas Bowl and the Texas Kickoff, LSSE has emerged as a premier host for international soccer matches, including the 2017 Manchester Derby, Copa America Centenario, the 2010 MLS All-Star Game featuring Manchester United, the 2006 FC Barcelona U.S. tour, 2003 and 2008 matches between the United States and Mexico, and the 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cups.  LSSE has also reinvigorated the Battle of the Piney Woods presented by H-E-B rivalry between Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston State and has promoted major concerts featuring Taylor Swift and country superstars including George Strait and Kenny Chesney.

ESPN Events

ESPN Events, a division of ESPN, owns and operates a portfolio of 35 collegiate sporting events nationwide. The roster includes four early-season college football games, 17 college bowl games, 11 college basketball events, a college softball event and two college award shows, which accounts for approximately 400 hours of live programming, reaches nearly 64 million viewers and attracts over 800,000 attendees each year. With satellite offices in more than 10 markets across the country, ESPN Events builds relationships with conferences, schools and local communities, as well as providing unique experiences for teams and fans.

For more information, visit the official website, Facebook, Twitter or YouTube pages.

Media Contacts:   

Texas Kickoff: Allie LeClair at 832-667-2050; [email protected]
ESPN Events: Anna Negrón at [email protected] or 860-256-1757