Future schedule includes series with BYU, Boise St.

The University of Houston found no takers from the Power Five conferences, so it added two of the biggest names from the Group of Five.

On Thursday, UH announced home-and-homes eries with BY U and Boise State. The Cougars also completed their 2018 non-conference schedule with a home game against Texas Southern.

The BYU series begins Oct. 17, 2020, at Provo, Utah, followed by an Oct. 7, 2023, game at TDECU Stadium. The teams last played during the 2013 and 2014 seasons, with BYU winning both meetings.

UH will open the 2021 season on Sept. 4 against Boise State at TDECU Stadium in the first meeting between the schools. The Cougars will play at Boise, Idaho, on Sept. 7, 2024.

In November, Hunter Yurachek, UH’s vice president of intercollegiate athletics, said the school’s recent success has made it difficult to schedule, and some Power Five programs see UH as “too formidable of an opponent.”

The addition of TSU — to be played Sept. 29, 2018, at TDECU Stadium — is part of a deal between the schools to allow UH’s men’s and women’s basketball programs to use TSU’s H&PE Arena this season while Fertitta Center undergoes a $60 million renovation. The schools, separated by just a few blocks, have met once in football — a 59-6 victory by UH in 2007.

UH also announced three date changes for previously scheduled nonconference games.

A Sept. 23, 2023, home game against North Texas has been moved up to Sept. 26, 2020, while a 2020-21 home-and-home series against Georgia Southern has been pushed back to 2026-27. The Cougars will play Sept. 26, 2026, at Statesboro, Ga., and at home Sept. 18, 2027.

Hawaii Bowl likely possibility

UH is “trending towards” playing in the Hawaii Bowl, a source with knowledge of the school’s planning said.

While the source said there is a chance things could change, all indications are that the Cougars ill play in the game on Christmas Eve (7:30 p.m. CST) at Honolulu.

The Boca Raton and St. Petersburg Bowl are other possible options.

Potential Hawaii Bowl opponents include Boise State, Fresno State and Colorado State.

Bowl announcements will be made Sunday night.

Houston (7-4), which finished second in the American Athletic Conference West Division, is bowl eligible for a fifth consecutive season.

The Cougars have played in the Hawaii Bowl once before — a 5448 triple-overtime loss to Hawaii in 2003.