In The News

HOUSTON, TX – Concacaf has announced the full schedule for the 2021 Gold Cup, the region’s flagship men’s national team competition. This year’s edition will include a new Preliminary Round (July 2-6) prior to the Group Stage (July 10-20) and a revamped Knockout Stage (July 24 – Aug 1). 

This summer’s Gold Cup, the 16th edition of the competition and a key part of Concacaf’s 60th anniversary celebration, will be played in 11 stadiums across eight US metropolitan areas.

“We are extremely pleased to confirm the schedule and venues for this summer’s Concacaf Gold Cup, which promises to be a celebration of football in our great region,” said Concacaf President and FIFA Vice President Victor Montagliani. “2021 is Concacaf’s 60th anniversary year and we look forward with great anticipation to watching the best men’s national teams in our confederation compete for the Gold Cup title. With an exciting new format and the prospect of welcoming passionate fans to the stadiums for these compelling matchups, I can’t wait for the football to begin on July 2nd and to crown a champion in Las Vegas on August 1st,” added Montagliani. 

Prior to the start of the 2021 Gold Cup Group Stage, 12 national teams which qualified through their Concacaf Nations League (CNL) performances, will compete in the Preliminary Round (Prelims) from July 2-6, 2021. These matches will take place at DRV PNK Stadium (Fort Lauderdale, FL) and will determine the final three teams in the Gold Cup Group Stage. The six round one Prelims matches and the three round two Prelims matches were drawn in September 2020 and are available here and below. 

The Group Stage of the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup will kick off on July 10th and will run through July 20th. The 12 qualified nations, the AFC Asian Cup Champions Qatar (guest participant) and the three Prelims winners were drawn in September 2020 into four groups. 

Houston’s BBVA Stadium will welcome Group D which includes Panama, Honduras, Grenada, and guest participant and AFC Asian Cup Champions Qatar. BBVA Stadium will host three days of Group Stage doubleheaders on July 13th, July 17th, and July 20th.  

At the end of the Group Stage, the two best teams from each group will advance to the Quarterfinals with doubleheaders played on July 24th and 25th.  

Houston’s NRG Stadium will play host to one Semifinal matchup on July 29th. The venue for each specific semifinal matchup will be confirmed at the conclusion of the Group Stage.

The winners of the two semifinal matches will travel to Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium to face off in the Final on August 1.

Tickets for all Group Stage matches will go on sale to the general public on May 20 at 10:00 a.m. local, via www.GoldCup.org. for an exclusive presale opportunity. Fans are encouraged to purchase their tickets in advance to ensure the best seats. 

Concacaf’s full announcement can be found here.

Jennifer Mamajek, HCHSA JMamajek@houstonsports.org
Zac Emmons, BBVA Stadium zemmons@houstondynamo.com
Allie LeClair, Lone Star Sports & Entertainment Allie.LeClair@houstontexans.com 

#WeAreHoustonSports

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Every time we host an event at NRG Stadium, we know we’re seeing the future of football. It’s beyond a privilege to be able to give these future stars a chance to play on a professional stage at NRG Stadium during their collegiate careers.

This year, 30 of our LSSE event alumni were drafted and many more signed as free agents to pursue their dreams in the NFL. Read on to see the full list of 2021 LSSE alumni draftees!

 

BYU, Texas Kickoff 2017

Brady Christensen – Carolina Panthers – Round 3, Pick 6

Khyiris Tonga – Chicago Bears – Round 7, Pick 23

Chris Wilcox – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Round 7, Pick 24

 

LSU, Texas Kickoff 2017

Tyler Shelvin – Cincinnati Bengals – Round 4, Pick 17

Racey McMath – Tennessee Titans – Round 6, Pick 20

JaCoby Stevens – Philadelphia Eagles – Round 6, Pick 40

Kary Vincent Jr. – Denver Broncos – Round 7, Pick 9

 

Texas, Texas Bowl 2017

Sam Cosmi – Washington Football Team – Round 2, Pick 19

Ta’Quon Graham – Atlanta Falcons – Round 5, Pick 4

Sam Ehlinger – Indianapolis Colts – Round 6, Pick 34

 

Missouri, Texas Bowl 2017

Tyree Gillespie – Las Vegas Raiders – Round 4, Pick 38

Larry Borom – Chicago Bears – Round 5, Pick 7

Joshuah Bledsoe – New England Patriots – Round 6, Pick 4

Larry Rountree III – Los Angeles Chargers – Round 6, Pick 14

 

Texas Tech, Texas Kickoff 2018

Zech McPhearson – Philadelphia Eagles – Round 4, Pick 18

Jack Anderson – Buffalo Bills – Round 7, Pick 8

 

Ole Miss, Texas Kickoff 2018

Elijah Moore – New York Jets – Round 2, Pick 2

Royce Newman – Greenbay Packers – Round 4, Pick 37

 

Vanderbilt, Texas Bowl 2018

Dayo Odeyingbo – Indianapolis Colts – Round 2, Pick 22

 

Houston, Texas Kickoff 2019      

Payton Turner – New Orleans Saints – Round 1, Pick 28

Marquez Stevenson – Buffalo Bills – Round 6, Pick 19

Grant Stuard – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Round 7, Pick 32

 

Oklahoma State, Texas Bowl 2019

Teven Jenkins – Chicago Bears – Round 2, Pick 7

Chuba Hubbard – Carolina Panthers – Round 4, Pick 21

Tylan Wallace – Baltimore Ravens – Round 4, Pick 26

Rodarius Williams – New York Giants – Round 6, Pick 17

 

Texas A&M, Texas Bowl 2019

Kellen Mond – Minnesota Vikings – Round 3, Pick 2

Bobby Brown III – Los Angeles Rams – Round 4, Pick 12

Dan Moore Jr. – Pittsburgh Steelers – Round 4, Pick 23

Buddy Johnson – Pittsburgh Steelers – Round 4, Pick 35

Don't miss your chance to see the future of football at NRG Stadium! Check out all of our upcoming events at LSSE.net.

HOUSTON, TX – The Harris County – Houston Sports Authority, in partnership with the Houston Dynamo FC, and Lone Star Sports & Entertainment, announced today that both BBVA Stadium and NRG Stadium will play host to Gold Cup matches this summer. This, the 16th edition of Concacaf's flagship men's international competition, will crown the global region's best men's national team.

"The announcement of these outstanding venues moves us a step closer to what is sure to be a great Gold Cup this summer," said Concacaf President and FIFA Vice President Victor Montagliani. "It is fitting that in our 60th anniversary year we will use a number of stadiums with a rich history of hosting Concacaf football, while also making history with new venues that will host Gold Cup matches for the very first time."

Houston is one of only seven metropolitan markets selected to welcome matches in the 2021 edition of the tournament. Houston's elite facilities, BBVA Stadium and NRG Stadium, account for two of the eleven host venues from around the country awarded matches.

"We are a major sports destination with the best fans in the nation," said Harris County – Houston Sports Authority CEO Janis Burke. "The fact that we have two fabulous venues capable of successfully hosting multiple Gold Cup matches is a true testament to how special our community has become in the global sports realm. Houston is a host candidate for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and being a cornerstone in this marquee international tournament supports our bid efforts."

This announcement marks the fifth time BBVA Stadium has taken part in the Gold Cup, having been a part of every edition since it opened its doors in 2012.

"We are thrilled to host the region's premier national team competition at BBVA Stadium," Executive Vice President and General Manager of BBVA Stadium, Juan Rodriguez, said. "We are honored to host multiple matchdays and committed to creating a memorable, safe and enjoyable experience for teams and fans alike."

NRG Stadium has played host to some of the most well-attended matches in tournament history, including a sold-out quarterfinal doubleheader in 2019.

"We are honored NRG Stadium has been selected to serve as a host venue for the Concacaf Gold Cup for the sixth time in its storied history," said Lone Star Sports and Entertainment General Manager David Fletcher. "This will be yet another tremendous opportunity for our city to celebrate The Beautiful Game and welcome fans from around the world to our community this summer."

The 2021 Gold Cup will officially kick off with a new Preliminary Round where 12 nations who qualified through their Concacaf Nations League performances will compete for the final three spots in the 16 team Gold Cup Group Stage. The Round One and Two Prelims matchups were drawn on September 10, 2020. The Group Stage will kick off on July 10, and the Final will be played on August 1 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

To receive information about the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup, including schedules, kick-off times, and other details, sign up here.

#WeAreHoustonSports

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Could we call ourselves college football fans if we didn’t make everything a competition? Of course not. Here at LSSE we are obsessed with competition, especially between the Big 12 and SEC. 

So, who will win the 2021 Draft? Read on for everything you need to know for 2021 Big 12 and SEC hopefuls.

BIG 12 VS SEC
The SEC West is winning the draft competition overall with a total of 47 eligible alumni, with 17 predicted to go in the Top 100*. The West is followed by the SEC East with 41 eligible players and the Big 12 with 34, both the SEC East and Big 12 have 9 players predicted to go in the Top 100.

Overall, the SEC West averages 7 eligible players per team. Alabama is leading the chase with 12 players followed closely by Texas A&M with 10. In the SEC East teams average 6 players in the Draft per team. The Georgia Bulldogs have taken the lead, tying the SEC West top team with 12 eligible players. The Big 12 averages only 3 eligible players per team and is lead by Texas and Oklahoma both with 7 players apiece.

TOP 100
LSSE College Football Insider, host of the Football with Friends podcast and overall college football master Johnny Harris has published his famous Harris 100, predicting the Top 100 picks in the NFL Draft. Here are the highlights you can expect from each Big 12 and SEC team.

Click each player name to check out the full Harris 100 breakdown.

BIG 12 - Predicted to go in the Top 100

Harris 100 Ranking	School	Name	Pos.	Year
58	Oklahoma	Ronnie Perkins	EDGE	Junior
61	Oklahoma	Creed Humphrey	IOL	RS Junior
83	Oklahoma	Rhamondre Stevenson	RB	Senior
34	Oklahoma State	Teven Jenkins	OT	RS Senior
72	Oklahoma State	Tylan Wallace	WR	Senior
81	Oklahoma State	Chuba Hubbard	RB	RS Junior
32	TCU	Trevon Moehrig	S	Junior
26	Texas	Joseph Ossai	EDGE	Junior
49	Texas	Samuel Cosmi	OT	RS Junior

 

SEC East - Predicted to go in the Top 100

Harris 100 Ranking	School	Name	Pos.	Year
4	Florida	Kyle Pitts	TE	Junior
19	Florida	Kadarius Toney	WR	Senior
92	Florida	Kyle Trask	QB	RS Senior
16	Georgia	Azeez Ojulari	EDGE	RS Soph.
54	Georgia	Tyson Campbell	CB	Junior
56	Georgia	Eric Stokes	CB	RS Junior
42	Missouri	Nick Bolton	LB	Junior
21	South Carolina	Jaycee Horn	CB	Junior
73	Tennessee	Trey Smith	IOL	Senior

 

SEC West - Predicted to go in the Top 100

Harris 100 Ranking	School	Name	Pos.	Year
3	Alabama	DeVonta Smith	WR	Senior
8	Alabama	Jaylen Waddle	WR	Junior
14	Alabama	Patrick Surtain II	CB	Junior
22	Alabama	Najee Harris	RB	Senior
28	Alabama	Landon Dickerson	IOL	RS Senior
30	Alabama	Christian Barmore	IDL	RS Soph.
40	Alabama	Mac Jones	QB	RS Junior
47	Alabama	Alex Leatherwood	OT	Senior
71	Alabama	Deonte Brown	IOL	RS Senior
78	Alabama	Dylan Moses	LB	Senior
91	Auburn	Seth Williams	WR	Junior
2	LSU	Ja'Marr Chase	WR	Junior
51	LSU	Terrace Marshall Jr.	WR	Junior
66	LSU	Jabril Cox	LB	RS Senior
75	LSU	Tyler Shelvin	IDL	RS Junior
69	Texas A&M	Bobby Brown III	IDL	RS Junior
94	Texas A&M	Kellen Mond	QB	Senior

 

*Predictions based on the Harris 100.

 

We’ve already been witness to a long list of transfers, opt-outs and draft declarations this spring. Now that schools are gearing up for spring practice, we’re anxious to see who will be leading some of the key offenses in the Big 12 and SEC.

A little competition can push teams to new heights or fracture a program’s moral. Check out some of the Big 12 and SEC teams with their starting QB spot on the line this spring.

BIG 12

TEXAS
Top Contenders: Casey Thompson vs Hudson Card
Thompson surprised the entirety of the Longhorn fan base with his unbelievable coming out party vs Colorado in the Valero Bowl this past winter. While some are quick to tab Thompson as the front runner based on his performance in 2020, don’t sleep on Hudson Card. The sophomore ranked fourth in the 247Sports Composite rankings for the 2020 class, rubbing elbows with the likes of Alabama’s Bryce Young, Clemson’s DJ Uiagalelei and Ohio State’s CJ Stroud. With a new coaching staff leading the Longhorns this year, the starting spot is up for grabs. Will they gravitate toward Thompson and his Valero Bowl highlight reel or get behind the raw, young talent of Card?

TCU
Top Contenders: Max Duggan vs Matthew Downing
Max Duggan won the hearts of the TCU fan base with a solid comeback from being sidelined for a heart condition in 2020. While Duggan impressed with his rushing ability, his accuracy was less than consistent. The Horned Frogs return Red Shirt Junior Matthew Downing to the quarterback race along with a hole host of new potential in Oklahoma transfer Chandler Morris, German commit Alexander Honig and incoming freshmen in Sam Jackson and Trent Battle.

TEXAS TECH
Top Contenders: Tyler Shough vs Henry Colombi
Wildcard: Maverick McIvor
It’s the battle of the transfers for the Red Raiders starting spot this spring. Utah State transfer Colombi earned the starting spot during what was a less than productive 2020 season for Texas Tech. Colombi put up decent numbers in 2020 but Red Raiders fans have high hopes for the recent Oregon transfer Tyler Shough. The on again, off again Ducks starter comes to Lubbock with a ton of potential. The wildcard in the battle—Red Shirt Freshman Maverick McIvor. Either way, coach Matt Wells is hoping for a QB to lead his team to an exciting start to the 2021 season vs Houston at the Texas Kickoff in Houston this Labor Day.

SEC

TEXAS A&M
Top Contenders: Zach Calzada vs Haynes King
After four years with 2019 Texas Bowl MVP Kellen Mond at the helm, the Aggies are in need of a new leading man on offense. They return key weapons that should make for a deadly offense in 2021 if they can find the right fit for QB. Frontrunners for the job are Red Shirt Sophomore Zach Calzada and Sophomore Haynes King. The two hopefuls present two very different styles. Calzada has built a reputation as a pocket passer with a powerful arm while King presents as a dual-threat, long and athletic with success playing both basketball and track in high school.

ALABAMA
Top Contenders: Bryce Young vs Paul Tyson
Wildcard: Jalen Milroe
Mac Jones stole the show in Tuscaloosa in 2020, leaving the Crimson Tide with a perfect record and high hopes for a new quarterback to come in and continue the streak. The battle for the starting spot this spring will feature 2020 back up Sophomore Bryce Young, who put up solid numbers in the few snaps he took during the 2020 season and Red Shirt Sophomore Paul Tyson. Young was able to show his accuracy and comfort throwing outside of the pocket in 2020 but has proven reluctant thus far to really make a difference rushing. His competitor, on the other hand, is a powerful pro-style quarterback who has some eyebrow-raising film from high school we’re waiting to see translate to the college level after a few years under Saban’s wing. The wildcard for the starting spot with the Crimson Tide? Highly rated incoming freshman Jalen Milroe out of Katy, Texas.

 LSU
Top Contenders: Max Johnson vs TJ Finley
Wildcard: Garrett Nussmeier
The Tigers return Max Johnson and TJ Finely after a lackluster season in 2020. LSU struggled all year to find their identity after losing an insane level of talent after winning their National Championship in 2019. For two freshmen thrown into an unprecedented season in the SEC West, their performance was pretty solid but not enough to push the Tigers past a 5-5 conference record. Both revealed good fundamentals and the ability to move well in and out of the pocket their freshmen year. However, for LSU to return to their previous glory, we will need to see one of these solid, full-of-potential quarterbacks step up and really lead the offense this spring. But the spring may bring more than just a battel between Johnson and Finley. Wildcard freshman Garrett Nussmeier comes in with a reputation for success, extremely impressive film and a true competitors spirit.