The Houston Cougars are finally going to get to play a football game.

They think. They hope.

The host Cougars are scheduled to play their first game of the season against American Athletic Conference rival Tulane on Thursday night.

But they have been left at the altar five times already.

Games against Washington State, Rice, Baylor and North Texas have been canceled for a variety of COVID-related issues. Another game against Memphis has been rescheduled for Dec. 5.

“One thing we all know about 2020,” Houston coach Dana Holgorsen said, “is you better get ready for things to change.”

The game against Washington State was canceled in July and the one against Rice was canceled in August. The others were called off much closer to game day, including the hurriedly scheduled makeup game against Baylor that was nixed just 22 hours before it was supposed to kick off on Sept. 19.

“We’re used to this,”