Game Primer: Houston at Rice

GAME 1
Houston at Rice
Sept. 11, 2021 | 5:30 p.m. CT | Rice Stadium | Houston, Texas
Broadcast: CBS Sports Network
Radio: KPRC 950-AM

WHAT TO WATCH FOR
« Saturday marks the 50th anniversary of the first meeting between Houston and Rice (Sept. 11, 1971). The Cougars won that contest, 23-21, in front of 62,000 spectators at Rice Stadium. Saturday will mark the 43rd all-time meeting between Houston and Rice and the 40th to decide possession of the Bayou Bucket.

« As the United States marks 20 years since the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001, Houston and Rice will commemorate the anniversary with special uniforms. Both teams will wear their home uniforms to feature a red, white, and blue color scheme. Houston's helmets will feature a 9/11 memorial decal.

« Houston leads the all-time series 31-11 against Rice and has won five consecutive in the series (2011-present). With a victory Saturday, Houston would match the longest consecutive win streak by either team in the series (Houston, 6 games, 1987-92).

« Saturday will mark 1,106 days since the two teams last played (Sept. 1, 2018, at Rice Stadium)

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW
« Houston has scored in 257 consecutive games, a mark that ranks ninth longest among active streaks in the FBS. The streak began Sept. 30, 2000. The Cougars have also scored 10-plus points in 85 straight games (Sept. 6, 2014-present).

« Eleven student-athletes made their Cougar debuts last Saturday against Texas Tech.

« Entering the season, the Cougars ranked tied for third in The American and 10th nationally with eight offensive linemen who own at least one career start at the FBS or FCS level. Houston's offensive line boasts 110 combined FBS starts led by center and team captain Kody Russy who started 46 games at Louisiana Tech before joining Houston as a graduate transfer in the off season.

« Houston returns eight offensive starters from last year's unit, including quarterback Clayton Tune. Tune returns after throwing for 2,048 yards and 15 touchdowns in eight starts in 2020. Houston welcomes back five of its top-seven leading receivers including Nathaniel Dell, who led the team with 29 receptions for 428 yards and three touchdowns in 2020.

SCOUTING RICE
« Rice opens its 72nd season at Rice Stadium by hosting Houston. Rice is 39-31-1 in home openers since Rice Stadium opened in 1950 and this will be the seventh time the Owls have met Houston to open a home season. The Cougars and LSU have each been the opposition in seven home openers for Rice.

« Rice opened the 2021 season with a different starting quarterback for the seventh consecutive season with Wiley Green taking the first snaps at Arkansas.

« Linebacker Myron Morrison and Cornerback Jordan Dunbar made their first career starts against Arkansas while LB Desmyn Baker, QB TJ McMahon and OT Trey Phillippi made their collegiate debuts and quarterback Luke McCaffrey, wide receiver Cedric Patterson III and kicker Christian VanSickle played their first collegiate games for the Owls.

« Offensive linemen Shea Baker (358), Jovaun Woolford (356), Isaac Klarkowski (355) and
Clay Servin (352) led the Owls in snaps in 2020. Baker and Servin have each topped 1000 snaps since 2019 (Baker 1,071 and Servin 1,052).

LAST TIME AGAINST RICE
« On Sept. 1, 2018, Houston junior quarterback D'Eriq King threw for 320 yards and accounted for four touchdowns, while junior All-American defensive lineman Ed Oliver posted a game-high 13 tackles, including 3.5 for a loss, to lead the Cougars in a 45-27 win over Rice on Saturday afternoon inside Rice Stadium.

« Trailing 27-17 midway through the third quarter, the Cougars used quick strikes to rally with 28 unanswered points on four of their next five drives. The four scoring drives used a combined total of 16 plays while covering 284 yards and took only 6:01 off the clock.

« Oliver, who was named the nation's top player in the preseason by multiple national outlets, led all players with 13 total tackles and 3.5 tackles for a loss. The Houston native enjoyed the fifth double-digit tackle performance of his career and added a game-high two quarterback hurries in the win.

« With the win, the Cougars kept the Bayou Bucket Trophy for the fifth straight time and improved to 31-11 in the all-time series against the Owls.

A HOUSTON WIN WOULD ...
» Be Houston's sixth consecutive against Rice (2011-present), matching the longest win streak for either team in the series (Houston, 6 games, 1987-92).

» Be Houston's sixth in its last seven road openers.

» Give the Cougars their 33rd all-time win against Rice. Houston's current mark of 32 is the most against any opponent over its history.

» Improve Houston's record to 63-41 against current members of Conference USA. The Cougars have gone 27-10 against current C-USA members since the start of the 2006 season including nine wins in the last 11 contests.

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Players Mentioned

Nathaniel Dell

Clayton Tune

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