It’s another massive Big 12 matchup on Wednesday night as the Houston Cougars head to Fort Worth to face the TCU Horned Frogs. Houston checks in ranked No. 10 in the latest AP Top 25 and sits at 17–2 overall, coming off a rare conference loss at Texas Tech. TCU enters at 13–7 and riding a two-game winning streak that includes an impressive road win at Baylor.
Houston has been one of the nation’s most consistent teams all season. Outside of a November loss to Tennessee, the Cougars ripped through opponents before stumbling in Lubbock. Even in that loss, the defensive identity remains clear. Texas Tech’s 90 points marked the first time since December 20 that Houston allowed 70 or more. With Arizona setting the pace in the Big 12, this game represents an important bounce-back opportunity.
TCU, meanwhile, appears to be stabilizing after a rough mid-season stretch. The Horned Frogs dropped four straight games against elite competition before responding with back-to-back wins. Offensively, Jamie Dixon’s group continues to move the ball well and score efficiently, especially at home, where the Fort Worth crowd has proven to be a real factor.
Houston Team Notes
Houston will return home after this game to host Cincinnati on Saturday, followed by another home date against UCF on February 4. The Cougars’ next road test comes February 7 at BYU. Defensive consistency and lineup continuity remain major strengths, with Kelvin Sampson sticking to the same starting five all season.
TCU Team Notes
TCU averages 80 points per game and 16.4 assists, showing improved rhythm on offense. After Wednesday night, the Horned Frogs head to Colorado on Sunday before returning home for consecutive games against Kansas State and Iowa State.
Houston vs. TCU: When and Where
- Date: Wednesday, January 28, 2026
- Time: 8:00 p.m. CT
- Location: Ed and Rae Schollmaier Arena
Houston vs. TCU: Where to Watch or Stream
- TV: ESPN2
- Streaming: FuboTV
Houston vs. TCU: Betting Odds
- Spread: Houston -5.5 | TCU +5.5
- Moneyline: Houston -250 | TCU +223
- Total: 135.5
Houston vs. TCU: Series History
- All-time series: Houston leads 50-26
- Last Meeting: Houston won 65-46 on January 6, 2025
Projected Starting Lineups
Houston Cougars
- #4 Kingston Flemings — 17.0 ppg
- #21 Emanuel Sharp — 16.1 ppg
- #7 Milos Uzan — 11.3 ppg
- #5 Chris Cenac Jr. — 9.2 ppg
- #11 Joseph Tugler — 8.4 ppg
Key note: Houston has started the same lineup in all 19 games this season.
TCU Horned Frogs
- #15 David Punch — 14.6 ppg
- #24 Xavier Edmonds — 11.7 ppg
- #1 Jayden Pierre — 11.1 ppg
- #2 Brock Harding — 8.8 ppg
- #3 Liutauras Lelevicius — 8.5 ppg
Key note: #5 Micah Robinson provides a scoring punch off the bench at 9.7 ppg.
Big 12 Outlook
A TCU win would add another layer of chaos to an already volatile Big 12 race. Houston typically responds with urgency after a loss, and Kelvin Sampson’s teams rarely slip twice in a row. Still, Schollmaier Arena will be energized for a matchup between two familiar conference foes. Expect a physical, defensive-minded game with real implications near the top and middle of the league standings.
The Big 12 rarely disappoints, and Wednesday night in Fort Worth should be no exception.