It's never too early to start looking ahead to football time in Oklahoma. Over the next few weeks, we'll break down the biggest storylines for each game of the 2016 season. We start with OU's top-10 matchup vs. Houston in Week 1, to be played Sept. 3 at NRG Stadium (home of the Houston Texans):

Best Week 1 Matchup

Oklahoma (11-2) and Houston (13-1) posted the best combined 2015 record (24-3) of any two teams that will meet in week one this season. The matchup will be the only one on opening weekend that features two teams ranked in the top 10 of last year's final AP poll (OU was fifth, Houston eighth).

The Sooners are a consensus preseason top-10 pick, and even slotted in the No. 1 spot by Sports Illustrated. Houston is a preseason top-15 squad by multiple national outlets (No. 10 by CBSSports.com, No. 13 by SI.com, No. 14 by FoxSports.com).

About the Cougars

Houston is entering its second season under head coach Tom Herman. Winner of the 2014 Broyles Award as the nation's top assistant coach while at Ohio State (Buckeyes' offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach), Herman led the Cougars to a 13-1 record last season and to their first New Year's bowl game in 30 years. UH beat No. 9 Florida State in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, 38-24.

The Cougars return 14 letterwinners on offense, including quarterback Greg Ward Jr., who threw for 2,828 yards and 17 touchdowns last year. He also ran for 1,108 yards and 21 scores. Houston returns 17 defensive letterwinners.

Old Stomping Grounds

The last time the Sooners played in Houston was also the last time they played at NRG Stadium (then named Reliant Stadium).

In 2002, No. 8 OU beat 12th-ranked Colorado 29-7 in the Big 12 Championship Game, outgaining the Buffaloes 401 yards to 193 and registering 25 first downs to CU's nine. Quarterback Nate Hybl was 14 for 25 for 114 yards with two touchdown passes, while Quentin Griffin led OU's ground charge with 188 yards and two TDs on 29 carries (6.5 yards per rush). The victory propelled the Sooners to their lone Rose Bowl appearance, a game they won 34-14 over seventh-ranked Washington State.

A total of 10 current Sooners from the Houston area will be going back home when OU faces the Cougars in the AdvoCare Texas Kickoff at NRG Stadium on Sept. 3.

View some of the best of the Houston-area Sooners during their time in the Crimson and Cream thus far:



Stay tuned to SoonerSports.com as we continue to preview each game of the 2016 season in the coming weeks, and see you in Houston on September 3!