It’s October on the Calendar but Still Summer in the Stands…

SwampButt Underwear Scale of Sultry puts fans first in Week 5 and picks UCF over Houston

LAKE JACKSON, Texas, Oct. 1, 2026 — An 11 a.m. kickoff can carry college football fans through hours of midday heat and humidity. This week, the SwampButt Underwear Scale of Sultry leads with UCF at Houston, where Saturday’s early start and a forecast of muggy conditions and possible thunderstorms put the spectator experience in focus.

The SwampButt Underwear Scale of Sultry combines temperature, humidity, sunlight and estimated drying conditions into a score from 1 to 10. Higher scores describe conditions in which sweat has a harder time evaporating. For fans, that can mean sticky clothing, soggy seats and a long afternoon searching for shade. The score describes conditions, not an individual’s medical risk.

Houston Gets Another Early Start

Houston hosts UCF at TDECU Stadium on Oct. 3 at 11 a.m. Central on ESPN2. Athletic Director Eddie Nuñez requested a night game to accommodate an event at the Cougar’s home stadium and has expressed frustration about the shortage of nighttime home games. Due to television scheduling windows were limited in part by Major League Baseball playoffs, according to the Houston Chronicle.

Heat Exposure in the Stands

The concern extends beyond tailgating and fireworks. Heat exposure begins during the walk from the parking lot and the wait at the gate, then continues through the game and the trip back to the car. Fans, marching bands and stadium workers all spend hours outside.

An updated National Weather Service forecast for Houston puts Saturday’s 11 a.m. air temperature at 81°F, with 88 percent humidity and a heat index of 88°F. By noon, the forecast heat index reaches 92°F. Clouds and rain may bring some relief; but breaks of sunshine will add to the burden. A plastic poncho is rain gear, not air conditioning. Worse, the non-porous nature of a plastic pancho will trap heat and moisture inside and make fans doubly uncomfortable.

Heat Index

The National Weather Service calculates ordinary heat index for shaded conditions. Full sunshine can increase apparent heat by as much as 15°F, although that is not a fixed addition to every forecast. Shade, airflow and time outdoors help explain why two fans in different sections can experience the same game very differently. Being in shade from clouds, underneath the bleachers or from passing airliners provides some relief, but also interferes with the experience of the live game.

September Showed the Cost of Stadium Heat

September supplied plenty of evidence that summer had lingered. NASA documented daily record highs on Sept. 15 of 101°F in Dallas, 99°F in Memphis and 100°F in Nashville. Houston tied its daily record at 98°F, according to Space City Weather.

The consequences reached stadium aid stations. At Tennessee’s home opener, AMR reported approximately 200 heat-related requests for service inside and outside Neyland Stadium and 15 ambulance transports. Kentucky Athletics reported 100 heat-related medical calls at its home opener. At Texas–Texas State, Austin-Travis County EMS reported 13 hospital transports overall, at least three related to extreme heat.

Those reports show substantial medical demand. The available reporting does not provide comparable counts to establish a nationwide increase over September 2025. It does give fans and athletic departments a reason to plan for water, shade and cooling breaks well beyond kickoff.

The Scale Still Picks Winners

The Week 5 edition of the college football Scale of Sultry retains its winner experiment alongside the fan forecast. Its Sept. 29 calculation gave Houston’s game site a 6.7 out of 10 and picked UCF to win. That frozen score used an earlier weather forecast; it is separate from the updated fan outlook above.

Featured game	Visitor SOS	Home SOS	Game-site SOS	Scale’s pick	Betting favorite
UCF at Houston	7.1	6.7	6.7	UCF	Houston
Texas Southern at Florida Atlantic	6.6	7.2	7.2	Florida Atlantic	No line available
Temple at South Florida	3.5	6.8	6.8	South Florida	South Florida
UTSA at Rice	5.6	6.7	6.7	Rice	UTSA
San José State at Hawai‘i	4.2	6.4	6.4	Hawai‘i	Hawai’i
Virginia at Florida State	3.9	6.3	6.3	Florida State	Virginia
Washington at USC	4.3	6.2	6.2	USC	USC
Arkansas at Texas A&M	5.7	5.9	5.9	Texas A&M	Texas A&M

School scores describe each school’s home-city conditions near kickoff. The game-site score describes outdoor conditions at the stadium. All scores are out of 10 and were frozen Sept. 29. Rounded ties may still produce a pick because the calculation uses unrounded scores. The complete 59-game table follows the source links. Betting favorites use VegasInsider consensus moneyline odds retrieved October 1; odds can change. Two games had no line available.

The picks favor the school whose home-city forecast has the higher Scale score near kickoff, using that comparison as a possible conditioning proxy. They do not measure players’ training exposure or account for team strength. Through Week 4, the experiment is 179–150, or 54.4 percent, including the Week 0 pilot.

See the eight featured games and all 59 Week 5 matchups. Check the forecast, locate water and shade, and dress for the hours outside. October has arrived; comfortable football weather still depends on where you sit.

College football programs and fans frequently push back against 11:00 a.m. (noon Eastern) kickoffs because these early time slots hurt game-day atmosphere, player recovery, and fan attendance. [1, 2, 3]

Fans regularly criticize early windows (like Fox’s “Big Noon Kickoff” or 11:00 a.m. slots) because they ruin traditional tailgating, create brutal morning stadium heat, and make travel difficult for weekend attendees. Despite widespread fan dislike, television networks continue prioritizing these slots for higher commercial ratings. [1, 2, 3]

Midday heat transforms massive concrete stadiums into dangerous heat traps, significantly amplifying the suffering of fans sitting in the stands. While a thermometer might read 90 or 95 degrees, the actual physical toll on the body during late-morning and afternoon games is far more severe. [1, 2, 3]

The “Stadium Bowl” Effect

Massive, bowl-shaped concrete structures built to hold 80,000 to 100,000 people naturally collect and magnify heat. [1, 2]

• Trapped Heat: Studies show that temperatures inside dense concrete bowls can run 10 to 16 degrees hotter than the actual outside air. [1]
• Radiating Surfaces: Concrete seating, aluminum bleachers, and nearby synthetic turf act like thermal bricks, absorbing intense sunlight and radiating ambient surface heat back onto fans. In extreme cases, while a midday air temperature sits around 100°F, field-level turf temperatures have been measured at a scorching 160°F. [1, 2, 3, 4]
• Body Heat: Packing 100,000 bodies tightly together prevents natural wind flow, forcing fans to absorb the collective body heat of those sitting directly around them. [1, 2]

Medical Emergencies and Fan Casualties from Heat

Early-season kickoffs consistently result in high volumes of medical emergencies. During the Texas Longhorns’ season opener against Texas State under a 105-degree heat index, emergency personnel faced a “certified disaster” with paramedic stretchers deployed as early as the first quarter. [1, 2, 3, 4]

• Widespread Illness: Multiple venues report dealing with 60 to over 200 medical calls per game solely related to heat stress. Symptoms frequently range from dizziness, splotchy vision, and extreme nausea to severe vomiting and fainting. [1, 2, 3]
• Hospitalizations: Emergency medical services routinely transport dozens of fans to local hospitals during these midday windows due to heat exhaustion or full-blown heatstroke. [1, 2]
• Vulnerable Groups: Dehydration risks heavily impact children, elderly fans, and individuals with underlying health conditions, but even healthy college students regularly pass out in unshaded student sections. [1, 2]

Broken Traditions and “Hurricane Shelter” Crowds

The heat entirely alters the fan experience, forcing thousands to compromise how they watch the game. [1]

• Fleeing the Stands: Rather than cheering from their seats, hundreds of fans are forced to spend the second half huddled tightly in internal stadium concourses seeking shade—with some observers comparing the crowded, dark hallways to a “hurricane shelter”.
• The Dehydration Multiplier: The heavy alcohol consumption central to morning tailgating drastically accelerates dehydration once fans enter the sun-baked stands, making them far more susceptible to sudden heat exhaustion.
• Empty Stadiums: To protect their health, huge portions of the crowd regularly abandon the stadium entirely by halftime, leaving high-profile games looking half-empty on national television. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

The Weather Channel Said What?

In response, prominent weather figures like Jim Cantore and various sports editors have fiercely criticized television networks and university administrations, demanding they stop prioritizing broadcast windows over public safety and move early-September games exclusively to cooler night slots. [1, 2]

How the Scale of Sultry Works

The Rating: It ranks weather conditions on a numeric scale from 1 (not sultry at all) to 10 (unbearably sultry, like Singapore or Clute, TX). [1]

The Inputs: The tool combines game-time temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and direction, cloud cover, precipitation, and estimated fabric-drying conditions. [1, 2]

The Purpose: Originally designed to help fans decide what to wear, it has humorously expanded to predict how well-conditioned hot-weather teams are compared to moderate-climate teams, even attempting to predict college football game outcomes. [1, 2]

About SwampButt Underwear

SwampButt Underwear is a Lake Jackson, Texas-based men’s underwear brand designed to help manage moisture and improve comfort in hot, humid conditions.

SwampButt Underwear™ is a real company with a product that helps solve a problem, that being visible sweat on a man’s backside. SwampButt Underwear is for people who experience excessive perspiration, uncomfortable dampness and visible butt sweat. The company’s performance underwear is designed to move moisture away from the skin, dry faster than traditional cotton underwear and reduce the discomfort associated with heat, humidity and physical activity.

SwampButt Underwear™ is based in Lake Jackson, Texas. SwampButt Underwear™ is a registered trademark in the United States and other countries. We paid a lot for it so only use it with permission.

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Source links

Houston scheduling report

NWS nearby hourly forecast updated Oct 1 at 1:57 p.m. CDT

NWS heat index and sunshine guidance

NASA September record heat

Space City Weather Houston record

Tennessee medical response

Kentucky medical response

Texas medical response

Complete Week 5 Scale of Sultry Table

October 1–3, 2026 • All 59 games • Kickoff times in Central Daylight Time • Scores frozen September 29

Visitor and home scores use each school’s home-city forecast near kickoff. Game-site SOS describes outdoor conditions at the venue, including arrival conditions for indoor games. Picks use unrounded scores; an exact tie goes to the home team. A rounded tie does not necessarily mean the original scores were equal. Betting favorites use VegasInsider consensus moneyline odds retrieved October 1. “No line available” means the consulted odds board did not publish a consensus moneyline.

10:59 PMSan José State Spartans4.2Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors6.46.4Hawai’i Rainbow WarriorsHawai’i

Kickoff CT	Visiting school	Visitor SOS	Home school	Home SOS	Game-site SOS	Scale’s pick	Betting favorite
Thu 10/01
7:00 PM	Western Kentucky Hilltoppers	5.2	New Mexico State Aggies	4.9	4.9	Western Kentucky Hilltoppers	New Mexico State	Thu 10/01
8:00 PM	North Texas Mean Green	5.6	Tulsa Golden Hurricane	5.3	5.3	North Texas Mean Green	North Texas	Fri 10/02
6:00 PM	Pittsburgh Panthers	4.7	Virginia Tech Hokies	5.3	5.3	Virginia Tech Hokies	Virginia Tech	Fri 10/02
6:00 PM	Liberty Flames	4.9	Delaware Blue Hens	5.1	5.1	Delaware Blue Hens	Liberty	Fri 10/02
7:00 PM	Penn State Nittany Lions	4.7	Northwestern Wildcats	3.1	3.1	Penn State Nittany Lions	Penn State	Sat 10/03
11:00 AM	Notre Dame Fighting Irish	4.0	North Carolina Tar Heels	5.8	5.8	North Carolina Tar Heels	Notre Dame	Sat 10/03
11:00 AM	Alabama Crimson Tide	6.1	Mississippi State Bulldogs	5.8	5.8	Alabama Crimson Tide	Alabama	Sat 10/03
11:00 AM	UCF Knights	7.1	Houston Cougars	6.7	6.7	UCF Knights	Houston	Sat 10/03
11:00 AM	Boston College Eagles	4.2	SMU Mustangs	6.0	6.0	SMU Mustangs	SMU	Sat 10/03
11:00 AM	Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders	5.6	Kansas Jayhawks	4.4	4.4	Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders	Kansas	Sat 10/03
11:00 AM	West Virginia Mountaineers	4.7	Iowa State Cyclones	3.8	3.8	West Virginia Mountaineers	Iowa State	Sat 10/03
11:00 AM	Stanford Cardinal	4.2	Wake Forest Demon Deacons	5.3	5.3	Wake Forest Demon Deacons	Wake Forest	Sat 10/03
11:00 AM	Syracuse Orange	3.3	UConn Huskies	3.8	3.8	UConn Huskies	Syracuse	Sat 10/03
11:00 AM	Michigan Wolverines	3.6	Minnesota Golden Gophers	2.9	2.9	Michigan Wolverines	Michigan	Sat 10/03
11:00 AM	Navy Midshipmen	3.9	Air Force Falcons	3.6	3.6	Navy Midshipmen	Air Force	Sat 10/03
11:30 AM	Michigan State Spartans	3.6	Wisconsin Badgers	3.4	3.4	Michigan State Spartans	Wisconsin	Sat 10/03
11:45 AM	Vanderbilt Commodores	6.0	Georgia Bulldogs	6.0	6.0	Georgia Bulldogs	Georgia	Sat 10/03
12:00 PM	Western Michigan Broncos	3.7	Buffalo Bulls	3.6	3.6	Western Michigan Broncos	Western Michigan	Sat 10/03
1:00 PM	Toledo Rockets	4.0	Ball State Cardinals	4.5	4.5	Ball State Cardinals	Toledo	Sat 10/03
2:30 PM	Ohio State Buckeyes	4.2	Iowa Hawkeyes	4.7	4.7	Iowa Hawkeyes	Ohio State	Sat 10/03
2:30 PM	Florida Gators	6.4	Missouri Tigers	5.7	5.7	Florida Gators	Florida	Sat 10/03
2:30 PM	Auburn Tigers	6.2	Tennessee Volunteers	5.8	5.8	Auburn Tigers	Tennessee	Sat 10/03
2:30 PM	California Golden Bears	5.4	UNLV Rebels	5.7	5.7	UNLV Rebels	UNLV	Sat 10/03
2:30 PM	Louisville Cardinals	4.4	NC State Wolfpack	5.8	5.8	NC State Wolfpack	Louisville	Sat 10/03
2:30 PM	Virginia Cavaliers	3.9	Florida State Seminoles	6.3	6.3	Florida State Seminoles	Virginia	Sat 10/03
2:30 PM	Memphis Tigers	6.2	Charlotte 49ers	5.6	5.6	Memphis Tigers	Memphis	Sat 10/03
2:30 PM	Samford Bulldogs	6.1	UAB Blazers	6.1	6.1	UAB Blazers	UAB	Sat 10/03
2:30 PM	Wyoming Cowboys	3.7	North Dakota State Bison	3.3	3.3	Wyoming Cowboys	North Dakota State	Sat 10/03
2:30 PM	Akron Zips	3.9	Central Michigan Chippewas	3.1	3.1	Akron Zips	Central Michigan	Sat 10/03
2:30 PM	Eastern Michigan Eagles	3.7	Massachusetts Minutemen	3.9	3.9	Massachusetts Minutemen	UMass	Sat 10/03
2:30 PM	Ohio Bobcats	4.3	Kent State Golden Flashes	3.9	3.9	Ohio Bobcats	Ohio	Sat 10/03
2:30 PM	Bowling Green Falcons	3.8	Miami (OH) RedHawks	4.4	4.4	Miami (OH) RedHawks	Miami (OH)	Sat 10/03
2:30 PM	Old Dominion Monarchs	5.2	Georgia State Panthers	5.8	5.8	Georgia State Panthers	Georgia State	Sat 10/03
2:45 PM	Marshall Thundering Herd	4.5	James Madison Dukes	4.2	4.2	Marshall Thundering Herd	James Madison	Sat 10/03
3:00 PM	Maryland Terrapins	3.8	Nebraska Cornhuskers	5.2	5.2	Nebraska Cornhuskers	Nebraska	Sat 10/03
3:00 PM	UTEP Miners	4.6	New Mexico Lobos	5.0	5.0	New Mexico Lobos	New Mexico	Sat 10/03
3:15 PM	Kentucky Wildcats	4.6	South Carolina Gamecocks	5.9	5.9	South Carolina Gamecocks	South Carolina	Sat 10/03
3:15 PM	Purdue Boilermakers	4.5	Illinois Fighting Illini	4.6	4.7	Illinois Fighting Illini	Illinois	Sat 10/03
5:00 PM	Oregon State Beavers	4.6	Colorado State Rams	4.4	4.4	Oregon State Beavers	Oregon State	Sat 10/03
5:00 PM	Texas Southern Tigers	6.6	Florida Atlantic Owls	7.2	7.2	Florida Atlantic Owls	No line available	Sat 10/03
6:00 PM	BYU Cougars	4.6	TCU Horned Frogs	6.1	6.1	TCU Horned Frogs	BYU	Sat 10/03
6:00 PM	Arkansas Razorbacks	5.7	Texas A&M Aggies	5.9	5.9	Texas A&M Aggies	Texas A&M	Sat 10/03
6:00 PM	UTSA Roadrunners	5.6	Rice Owls	6.7	6.7	Rice Owls	UTSA	Sat 10/03
6:00 PM	Georgia Southern Eagles	6.0	Coastal Carolina Chanticleers	5.8	5.8	Georgia Southern Eagles	Georgia Southern	Sat 10/03
6:00 PM	UL Monroe Warhawks	6.0	South Alabama Jaguars	6.2	6.2	South Alabama Jaguars	South Alabama	Sat 10/03
6:30 PM	Miami Hurricanes	7.4	Clemson Tigers	5.5	5.5	Miami Hurricanes	Miami (FL)	Sat 10/03
6:30 PM	Texas Tech Red Raiders	4.9	Colorado Buffaloes	4.2	4.2	Texas Tech Red Raiders	Texas Tech	Sat 10/03
6:30 PM	Washington Huskies	4.3	USC Trojans	6.2	6.2	USC Trojans	USC	Sat 10/03
6:30 PM	Utah State Aggies	4.0	Boise State Broncos	4.2	4.2	Boise State Broncos	Boise State	Sat 10/03
6:30 PM	Temple Owls	3.5	South Florida Bulls	6.8	6.8	South Florida Bulls	South Florida	Sat 10/03
6:30 PM	Army Black Knights	3.1	Louisiana Tech Bulldogs	6.0	6.0	Louisiana Tech Bulldogs	Army	Sat 10/03
6:45 PM	McNeese Cowboys	6.3	LSU Tigers	6.0	6.0	McNeese Cowboys	No line available	Sat 10/03
7:00 PM	Indiana Hoosiers	4.0	Rutgers Scarlet Knights	3.5	3.5	Indiana Hoosiers	Indiana	Sat 10/03
7:00 PM	Arkansas State Red Wolves	5.3	Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns	6.0	6.0	Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns	Louisiana	Sat 10/03
8:30 PM	Fresno State Bulldogs	6.0	Washington State Cougars	4.1	4.1	Fresno State Bulldogs	Washington State	Sat 10/03
9:30 PM	Baylor Bears	5.8	Arizona State Sun Devils	5.4	5.4	Baylor Bears	Arizona State	Sat 10/03
9:30 PM	Texas State Bobcats	5.7	San Diego State Aztecs	5.2	5.2	Texas State Bobcats	Texas State	Sat 10/03
10:00 PM	Cincinnati Bearcats	3.8	Arizona Wildcats	4.7	4.7	Arizona Wildcats	Arizona	Sat 10/03

Betting odds source: VegasInsider college football odds