Syracuse basketball has its toughest test in the early part of the 2025-26 season on Monday night when the Orange (4-0) battles No. 2 Houston in Las Vegas in the NIL-driven Players Era Festival.
Both teams enter this non-conference contest undefeated, and each squad is off to an impressive start on the defensive end. The Cougars (5-0) reached the national championship game of this past spring's NCAA Tournament, where Houston fell in heartbreaking fashion to Florida.
The last time that the 'Cuse played Houston was in the Sweet 16 of the 2021 NCAA Tournament. The Cougars prevailed, 62-46, and Houston would advance to the Final Four. That was also the last Big Dance that Syracuse basketball played in, as the Orange is stuck in a four-year drought. In their all-time series together, the 'Cuse is 1-1 against the Cougars, according to SU Athletics.
Touchdown in Vegas 🍊💼 pic.twitter.com/a0hjBpwatQ
— Syracuse Men’s Basketball (@Cuse_MBB) November 22, 2025
How to watch Syracuse basketball square off with No. 2 Houston.
The Cougars and the Orange will face off on Monday, Nov. 24, with the tip-off scheduled for 6 pm EST inside the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. TNT will provide television coverage.
In the Big 12 Conference's preseason media poll, Houston was projected to win that league. Without question, the Cougars are a significant contender to reach another Final Four come next spring.
When I wrote this article on Saturday night, the 'Cuse was No. 1 in the country in points allowed per game this season, at 53.2. Houston is No. 4 overall, giving up just 55.5 points per contest.
In 2025-26, as well as in other recent campaigns, the Cougars have proven to be an extremely physical team and an exceptional squad on the glass. To date this term, Syracuse basketball has been so-so in the rebounding arena, so this is an area to monitor for the Orange.
The 'Cuse is shooting quite well in 2025-26 from the field, at 52.5 percent. However, Syracuse basketball struggles from beyond the arc (33.3 percent) and at the free-throw line (61.2 percent).
Houston, too, isn't great from the perimeter, at 30.6 percent. But the Cougars shine from the charity stripe, at 79.6 percent. Given how physical Houston is, the Cougars' big edge over the Orange in free-throw shooting could be a huge aspect of Monday evening's encounter.
Syracuse basketball, in Las Vegas, will also play No. 24 Kansas on Tuesday and then a third opponent that is to be determined on either Wednesday or Thursday.