Convenience Big Store: Tonight's the night as UH's Power Five football wait finally ends

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Today's starting lineup

The night UH fans and administration have been awaiting for nearly 27 years is just hours away. The Cougars will host TCU in their first Big 12 football game tonight, a journey that took decades after the breakup of the Southwest Conference. Here's what to watch for on the field as the Cougars look to rebound from a ghastly loss to crosstown foe Rice. Off the field, UH scores a naming-rights deal with Memorial Hermann for its new football operations facility.

UH/TCU isn't the only college football action in town tonight. Rice hosts Texas Southern in a rare matchup between the two Houston schools. Elsewhere, Texas A&M welcomes Louisiana-Monroe to College Station while Wyoming visits Texas. We also have previews of other other games around the state.

Another game against a 100-loss team brought another confounding loss for the Astros, who dropped their series opener Friday in Kansas City against the woeful Royals but stayed in first place thanks to Texas' and Seattle's losses. Cristian Javier's problems with surrendering home runs arose yet again.

Things were already touch-and-go with the Texans' offensive line, but the situation (and ability to protect C.J. Stroud) could get even worse if Laremy Tunsil is out Sunday against the Colts. Meantime, Stroud's status is questionable after he landed on the injury report Friday.

A monster nine-touchdown night from Cypress Ranch QB Owen Cossette against Cypress Woods highlights the fourth Friday of high school football this season. Please scroll down for more coverage from around the Houston area.

Stat of the day: 10,150. Days since UH played a league game as a member of a major football conference. The most recent one came Dec. 2, 1995, at Rice in the Cougars' Southwest Conference finale.

Greg Rajan, Texas Sports Nation editor

greg.rajan@houstonchronicle.com

UH's Big 12 Opener

Houston Cougars head coach Dana Holgorsen stands in front of the team as they prepared to take the field before the start of the first half of an NCAA football game at TDECU Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022 in Houston .

Photo by: Karen Warren/Staff Photographer

Decades in the making

A look at key moments in UH's nearly 30-year path from the Southwest Conference to the Big 12, with the Cougars making their debut official tonight against TCU.

5 things to watch vs. TCU: What to keep an eye on when UH hosts TCU in the fifth conference debut in program history.
Hall call for new look: The Cougars' Columbia blue jersey will be on display at the College Football Hall of Fame for a limited time.
Put a name on it: UH announces a naming-rights deal with Memorial Hermann for the $130 million football operations facility that will begin construction at the end of the season.
Pick 'Em with Woody Williams: Former UH and major league pitcher Woody Williams is the guest picker for this week's college football's games.

College Football: Week 3 previews

Rice Owls head coach Mike Bloomgren is seen during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game at Rice Stadium, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, in Houston.

Photo by: Jason Fochtman, Staff Photographer

Staying local

Rice, fresh off a double-overtime upset of UH last week, will host Texas Southern today in just the second meeting between the two Houston schools.

Texas A&M vs. Louisiana-Monroe: The Aggies, smarting from a losss at Miami, return home for another chance to get ready for SEC play.
Aggies mailbag: After a disappointing Texas A&M showing in Miami, Brent Zwerneman answers readers' questions about Jimbo Fisher and the state of Aggie football.
Texas vs. Wyoming: Texas is fully locked in on today's opponent Wyoming, moving past the result of last week's watershed win over Alabama.
Around the state: A look at today's notable games involving Texas-based programs, including Baylor seeking to end a six-game losing streak dating to last season.

Astros / MLB

Houston Astros center fielder Chas McCormick chases after a solo home run hit by Kansas City Royals' Nelson Velazquez during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Photo by: Charlie Riedel/Associated Press

Royal letdown

The Astros drop their series opener Friday in Kansas City, meaning Houston has lost three of its past four games against the majors' only two 100-loss teams.

Long ball a big problem: Home runs continue to contribute to Astros starter Cristian Javier's second-half skid, as evidenced against the Royals.
Repertoire changeup: Reliever Hector Neris has become more comfortable with his four-seam fastball and using it more as his go-to pitch.
Paint it green: The Astros are making an "adjustment" to the batter's eye at Minute Maid Park after it became a talking point for the team's home struggles.
Paying tribute: With Roberto Clemente Day being observed Friday around MLB, eight members of the Astros wore No. 21 jerseys to honor the legend from Puerto Rico.
Dugout Download podcast: Matt Kawahara and Steve Schaeffer discuss the Astros' potential No. 3 starters if they make the playoffs and Kyle Tucker's pursuit of a 30/30 season.

Texans / NFL

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) is chased out of the pocket during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023, in Baltimore.

Photo by: Brett Coomer, Staff Photographer

Crumbling protection

The Texans' offensive line could go from damaged to decimated if Laremy Tunsil is out, reducing the already shaky protection for rookie QB C.J. Stroud.

Stroud iffy: Rookie quarterback C.J. Stround is considered questionable for Sunday's home opener against the Colts after showing up on the injury report.
Back on top, for once: The Texans haven't been favored in a game since 2021, but that drought is poised to end this weekend.

Soccer

Michelle Alozie #22 of the Houston Dash celebrates her goal with Diana Ordonez #11 during the first half against the Orlando Pride at Shell Energy Stadium on June 03, 2023 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

Photo by: Carmen Mandato/Getty Images

It's been a while

The Dash defeated Racing Louisville on the road for its first regulation win since early June and Sarah Lowdon's first victory as interim coach since taking over for Sam Laity.

Eye on playoffs: The Dynamo, presently fifth in the MLS Western Conference standings, look to begin a playoff push tonight against first-place St. Louis City in their return from international break.

High School Football

Cypress Ranch quarterback Owen Cossette (6) makes a gain on a keeper play in front of Cypress Woods defenders during the first half of their District 16-6A high school football game held at Cy-Fair FCU Stadium Friday, Sept. 15, 2023 in Cypress, TX.

Photo by: Michael Wyke/Contributor

One-man gang

Cy Ranch quarterback Owen Cossette dominated, throwing for 479 yards and eight touchdowns while running for another score in a shootout against Cy Woods.

Willis 63, Conroe 14: DJ Lagway led the charge as Willis romped past Conroe in the programs' first meeting as unbeatens through three weeks in more than 50 years.
Dickinson 37, Klein Oak 8: Dickinson's defense is stout all night in helping the Gators notch their third consecutive win.
Columbus 48, North Forest 0: Columbus remains unbeaten with a dominant effort on both sides of the ball.
Area roundup: A rundown of other notable games around the Houston area Friday night.
Friday's scoreboard: Check out high school football scores from the Houston area and across the state of Texas.