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No. 5 Houston Cougars Face No. 14 Kansas Jayhawks in Big 12 Showdown
Cougars look to avoid third straight loss and keep Big 12 title hopes alive
Feb. 23, 2026 at 6:22pm
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The No. 5 Houston Cougars will face a tough road test against the No. 14 Kansas Jayhawks on Monday night at Allen Fieldhouse. Houston is coming off back-to-back losses and is looking to avoid a third straight defeat for the first time since the 2016-17 season. Kansas is also coming off a loss, having suffered their largest home defeat to an unranked opponent since 1973. The Cougars will aim to win their second straight game at the notoriously tough Allen Fieldhouse and keep their Big 12 title hopes alive.
Why it matters
This game has major implications for the Big 12 regular season title race, as both teams are currently in the hunt. Houston is 7-4 in Quad 1 games this season, so a win at Kansas would be a significant resume-building victory. The Cougars are also looking to avoid their first three-game losing streak in nearly a decade, which would be a major setback in their quest to return to the national championship game.
The details
Houston is coming off back-to-back losses, including a defeat at home to a conference rival that had title implications. The Cougars now face a tough road test against a Kansas team that has historically been dominant at home, with an .876 all-time winning percentage at Allen Fieldhouse. However, the Jayhawks are also coming off a lopsided home loss to an unranked opponent, so both teams will be looking to bounce back from recent adversity.
- The game is scheduled for Monday, February 23, 2026 at 8 p.m.
- This will be the third and final test of a three-game AP top-15 gauntlet for Houston.
The players
Kelvin Sampson
The head coach of the Houston Cougars, who is in his third season with the team.
J'Wan Roberts
A graduate forward for the Houston Cougars who scored 24 points in the team's double-overtime win over Kansas last season.
Mylik Wilson
A graduate guard for the Houston Cougars who hit a game-tying 3-pointer at the end of overtime to send last season's matchup with Kansas to a second overtime period.
L.J. Cryer
A graduate guard for the Houston Cougars who led the team with 22 points in their wire-to-wire win over Kansas last season.
Melvin Council Jr.
A guard for the Kansas Jayhawks who played in their recent home loss to Cincinnati.
What they’re saying
“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”
— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident
“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”
— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee
What’s next
The Big 12 regular season title may not be the focus now, but it is still far from off the table for the Cougars, who, at 7-4 in Quad 1 games, will enter their final remaining opportunity in the regular season.
The takeaway
This game is a crucial test for both teams as they look to bounce back from recent losses and keep their Big 12 title hopes alive. The hostile environment of Allen Fieldhouse will present a major challenge for Houston, but a win would be a significant resume-building victory and keep the Cougars in the hunt for the conference crown.
