There is no doubt that 2025 provided a great deal of excitement about the potential of the Houston sports scene. We saw both the Rockets bolster their roster and expectations by adding Kevin Durant, while Prairie View made the right hire in bringing on football coach Tremaine Jackson. The Texans are also on the right track in Year 3 of the DeMeco Ryans and C.J. Stroud era.
But will 2026 be the big payoff for all three of Houston’s major sports franchises? Do the Astros have a young star in the making? Can Kelvin Sampson elevate the University of Houston Cougars from highly ranked to national champions?
These are all burning questions as we highlight the ones to watch in 2026.
DeMeco Ryans
Texans head football coach
Houston has experienced winning World Series and NBA Championships, but the title that would mean the most is a Super Bowl championship. Third-year Texans coach DeMeco Ryans could be on the verge of delivering the first Lombardi Trophy to Houston and its fanbase. Ryans has put together one of the most important championship ingredients, and that is a defense that is stifling and opportunistic, ranking as the best unit in the NFL. The offense is still a work in progress, but C.J. Stroud and the rest of the unit are gelling at the right time, which makes the Super Bowl possibilities seem attainable. But first things first: The Texans went on an impressive winning streak at the end of the season, but still are in a fight with Jacksonville for the AFC South lead for the automatic playoff bid for a third-straight year. If there is a coach who can take the Texans beyond their second-round playoff ceiling, it’s Ryans, who has proven to be an outstanding technical coach and motivator of his team.
Kevin Durant
Rockets forward
Veteran Kevin Durant was brought to Houston in a blockbuster trade in 2025 for one reason: To lead the Rockets to the top of the Western Conference and to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1995. Durant has brought leadership and know-how to not only reach the NBA Finals but to win it all. Even at 37 years old, Durant has continued to be a prolific scorer and one of the best all-around players in the NBA, averaging 24.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, and four assists per game while shooting 51% from the field. But the Rockets are going to need more than the 15-time NBA All-Star to get where they want to go. They need players like Jabari Smith, Amen Thompson, Alperen Sengun, and Tari Eason to keep growing. Losing veteran point guard Fred VanVleet before the season began hurt, but second-year guard Reed Sheppard is coming along and could be the answer as the season goes on. Still, there is no question that the Rockets’ success will hinge on Durant’s output.
Tremaine Jackson
Prairie View football coach
In just his first season as the head coach of the Prairie View Panthers football team, Tremaine Jackson has shown the folks on the Hill everything they can be. Jackson, fresh off competing in the Division II national championship game at Valdosta State, told Prairie View’s fan base and alumni that he would not only take the Panthers to the top of the SWAC West Division, but to the SWAC Championship and Celebration Bowl in Atlanta, but that he has PV mentioned as one of the most elite programs in all of the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). Well, he delivered on three of the four without question and has now raised the expectations of the football program after it came within a controversial two-point conversion of claiming Black college football’s national championship. So now everyone wants to know what the SWAC Coach of the Year will do for an encore in 2026. The Panthers lose a lot of key players from 2025 like quarterback Cam Peters, but Jackson now has quality recruits beating down his door. There is definitely a feeling of confidence on the Hill with a hot young coach roaming the sidelines after winning everywhere he has been. It won’t be long before Jackson starts getting serious attention from bigger programs.
Cam Smith
Astros outfielder
The Astros have been looking for a young star they can build around, and Cam Smith might be it. Smith had some struggles at times after coming over last offseason in the trade that sent Kyle Tucker to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for All-Star Isaac Peredes and pitcher Hayden Wesneski, along with the promising rookie. With his bat and defense in the outfield, Smith has proven that he was the jewel of that deal that sent fan favorite Tucker up north. Smith, a Gold Glove nominee, hit .236 with nine home runs and 51 RBI as a rookie. Smith also possesses charisma and presence and has the potential to become the face of the organization eventually. In addition to his performance on the field, he is expected to continue improving as his career progresses and will likely remain a key player for some time.
C.J. Stroud
Texans quarterback
All eyes are on Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud as he concludes his third season as a pro and heads into the pivotal Year 4. This is his money time when the Texans must figure out if their former No.2 overall pick is just a serviceable guy or someone they want to invest in as their true bona fide franchise quarterback. Stroud has certainly been solid through his first three years, having won back-to-back AFC South titles and advanced the Texans to the second round in each of those seasons. And this year, after a rocky start, Stroud is doing his part in what has been an impressive second half of the season in which the Texans have put together a winning streak that has put them right back in the division championship and playoff conversation. The defense will likely receive the majority of the credit for this season, but some credit must also go to Stroud, who has bounced back nicely after being sidelined for three weeks while in concussion protocol. However, seeing backup and former starter Davis Mills go 3-0 in his absence has certainly turned up the glare on Stroud, who is still being protected by an inconsistent offensive line. Outside of Pro Bowl receiver Nico Collins, there isn’t proven skilled talent.
