Houston-Rice Faceoff for Bayou Bucket

By Robert H. Kelly
Copyright 2009 TexSport Publications

HOUSTON, TEXAS (November 28, 2009) The #20 Houston Cougars face off on Saturday night against their cross town rivals, the Rice Owls, in their annual battle for the “Bayou Bucket.”

The Houston-Rice game is the longest running series in Houston football history.

This will be the 36th meeting between the two rivals, and is only one of two Football Bowl Subdivisions rivalries that pit two schools from the same city. The only other same city ribvalies is USC-UCLA.

Houston boosts 25 victories over Rice and is the most the Cougars have against any other teams in its 64-year history.

The Cougars have won three straight at home in the series and have a 4-1 mark over the Owls in Robertson Stadium.

The two teams faced off in the debut of John O’Quinn Field on September 4, 1999 and the Cougars have recorded a 3-1 record versus the Owls while members of Conference USA.

Houston also holds a 16-4 mark over the Owls while a member if the now defunct Southwest Conference.

The Cougars also hold the longest winning streak in the series; a six-game sets from 1987-1992

This game marks the 15th time the Cougars and Owls have met in their season finale for both squads.