Charity game features Big 12-SEC pairing

Texas Tech, Mississippi bring high-powered offenses to season opener at NRG Stadium

Under owner Bob McNair, the Texans like to go beyond the boundaries of the NFL.

Team president Jamey Rootes said the organization was built on three imperatives. “To win championships, create memorable experiences, and do great things for Houston.”

One of the things that fits the latter is the AdvoCare Texas Kickoff, which is more than a college football game played at NRG Stadium. This year’s game matches Mississippi of the Southeastern Conference and the Big 12’s Texas Tech at 11 a.m. Saturday.

The game is expected to be competitive and provide excitement during college football’s first full weekend of the 2018 season. And, according to Rootes, the economic impact of the Texas Kickoff to the Houston area is projected to be around $50 million with 50,000 out-of-town visitors expected.

“Sports can be the front porch of a community and invite people in to see your city, whether it’s on television or they come here,” Rootes said. “And hopefully, they want to know more and become part of our community at some point in time.”

The Texas Kickoff falls under the umbrella of Lone Star Sports & Entertainment, an event marketing company affiliated with the Texans that also puts on an annual after-season bowl game at NRG. Both games are a charitable partner assisting the DePelchin Children Center, a Houston provider of children’s mental health prevention, and child welfare services.

Gary Petersen, a minority owner and limited partner of the Texans and Astros, as well as a graduate of Texas Tech, individually purchased 5,000 tickets for Saturday’s game for donation. Beneficiaries are going to Hurricane Harvey relief first responders, various military charities, and Houston-area youth-focused charities.

“It’s a great thing for all our charities and the city of Houston,” Petersen said. “A lot of cities around the country envy us. They wish they could do the same. But we’re such a big city and we’re able to do this and we’re excited about it.”

The Texans will give proceeds of the Texas Kickoff to its community partners: Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Houston, the Houston Texans YMCA, and the Houston Food Bank, as well as charities that support first responders.

“There’s a host of families and kids that have a chance to experience the top level of college football in NRG Stadium that otherwise wouldn’t have it,” said Rootes, who is also president of Lone Star Sports & Entertainment.

The game matches two teams that were 6-6 in the regular season in 2017 and can move the ball. Over 13 games, Kliff Kingsbury’s Red Raiders (6-7) scored 446 points, averaging 474.6 yards per game. Coach Matt Luke’s Rebels scored 394 points, putting up 462.3 yards a game.

“The exciting thing about the kickoff games, both teams enter with high expectations,” Rootes said. “You’re undefeated, and someone is going to walk out taking one step forward to where they want to go and somebody is not. You got evenly-matched teams. It should be a lot of fun.”

Mississippi will return for the 2020 Texas Kickoff to play Baylor. Teams for the 2019 game have not been finalized.