Houston @ Rice Game Overview
HOU vs RICERecords
HOU RecordLast 10
| Date | vs | Result | ATS | O/U |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 28, '25 |
SFA
|
W 27 - 0 | W -23.5 | u54.5 |
| Nov 30, '24 |
@
BYU
|
L 18 - 30 | P 12 | o40.0 |
| Nov 23, '24 |
BAY
|
L 10 - 20 | L 7 | u51.0 |
| Nov 15, '24 |
@
ARIZ
|
L 3 - 27 | L 1 | u47.0 |
| Nov 02, '24 |
KSU
|
W 24 - 19 | W 13 | u45.5 |
| Oct 26, '24 |
UTAH
|
W 17 - 14 | W 5 | u36.0 |
| Oct 19, '24 |
@
KU
|
L 14 - 42 | L 5 | o45.0 |
| Oct 04, '24 |
@
TCU
|
W 30 - 19 | W 16 | u52.5 |
| Sep 28, '24 |
ISU
|
L 0 - 20 | L 16 | u42.5 |
| Sep 21, '24 |
@
CIN
|
L 0 - 34 | L 3.5 | u47.5 |
HOU Next 3 Games
HOU vs RICE Preview
Last Meeting ( Sep 14, 2024 ) Rice 7, Houston 33
While Houston coach Willie Fritz opened his second season with the Cougars last Thursday, there was enough change within the program to mimic the feeling of an altogether fresh start.
The Cougars' 27-0 home victory over Stephen F. Austin not only featured a ballyhooed newcomer at quarterback in Texas A&M transfer Conner Weigman, but also a pair of coordinators new to the program in Slade Nagle (offensive) and Austin Armstrong (defensive).
Houston (1-0) experienced smooth sailing in its coaching mechanics, but the Cougars still expect improvement when they travel to face crosstown rival Rice (1-0) on Saturday.
"I thought they both did an excellent job," Fritz said. "We talked (Sunday) for about 20 minutes about how we could improve our press box to sideline communication, all the communication on the sideline, because we've got a new group. We've also got a new special teams coordinator with Chris Couch. We wanted to improve our communication, how we do things on the sideline.
"I thought all three of them did an excellent job for Game 1. But we'll get better."
Weigman finished 15-of-24 for 159 yards and three touchdowns in his eagerly anticipated debut. He also rushed for 39 yards.
"It was the first game he played in quite a while," Fritz said. "Last season, he was banged up; he's healthy now. I think it was good for him to knock some of the rust off.
Rice coach Scott Abell produced a successful debut with the Owls last Saturday in a 14-12 road victory over Louisiana. The Owls entered as a two-touchdown underdog against the Ragin' Cajuns and will seek to carry the momentum of that upset into their showdown with Houston.
"I am excited to see what we can learn from that," Abell said. "I do think that you learn a lot about your team between Week 1 and Week 2. I look forward to what we are going to learn about ourselves between this week and next week. And the next play for us is ... Saturday."
Quinton Jackson led a strong rushing attack against Louisiana (22 carries, 119 yards, one TD). The Owls held their opponents to just 88 passing yards, but their own quarterback, Chase Jenkins, threw for just 45.
Houston has won eight of the last nine meetings with Rice, including 33-7 last year.
--Field Level Media
HOU vs RICEInjury report
Houston's Injuries
| Player | POS | Status | Date | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| D. Ndukwe | OG | Out - Leg( Sep 26, '25) | Sep 26, '25 | |
| Ndukwe is dealing with a leg injury and is expected to miss the remainder of the 2025 season. | ||||
| A. Gangi Jr. | WR | Questionable - Undisclosed( Sep 12, '25) | Sep 12, '25 | |
| Gangi Jr. is dealing with an undisclosed injury and is uncertain to take the field for the Cougars. | ||||
| S. Padgitt | WR | Questionable - Undisclosed( Sep 12, '25) | Sep 12, '25 | |
| Padgitt is dealing with an undisclosed injury and is uncertain to take the field for the Cougars. | ||||
| Q. Lee | DL | Questionable - Undisclosed( Sep 12, '25) | Sep 12, '25 | |
| Lee is dealing with an undisclosed injury and is uncertain to take the field for the Cougars. | ||||
| R. Sterling | DL | Questionable - Undisclosed( Sep 12, '25) | Sep 12, '25 | |
| Sterling is dealing with an undisclosed injury and is uncertain to take the field for the Cougars. | ||||
| R. Sanford II | RB | Out - Undisclosed( Aug 29, '25) | Aug 29, '25 | |
| Sanford II is dealing with an undisclosed injury and will not take the field for the Cougars. He will miss the rest of the 2025 season. | ||||
Rice's Injuries
| Player | POS | Status | Date | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E. Adele | DL | Questionable - Undisclosed( Sep 27, '25) | Sep 27, '25 | |
| Adele is dealing with an undisclosed injury and is uncertain to take the field for the Owls. | ||||
| J. Kane | S | Questionable - Undisclosed( Sep 27, '25) | Sep 27, '25 | |
| Kane is dealing with an undisclosed injury and is uncertain to take the field for the Owls. | ||||
| S. Bowling | S | Questionable - Undisclosed( Sep 27, '25) | Sep 27, '25 | |
| Bowling is dealing with an undisclosed injury and is uncertain to take the field for the Owls. | ||||
| L. Needham | OG | Questionable - Undisclosed( Sep 27, '25) | Sep 27, '25 | |
| Needham is dealing with an undisclosed injury and is uncertain to take the field for the Owls. | ||||
| L. Ransom-Goelz | WR | Questionable - Leg( Sep 27, '25) | Sep 27, '25 | |
| Ransom-Goelz is dealing with a leg injury and is uncertain to take the field for the Owls. | ||||
| W. Swartz | TE | Questionable - Undisclosed( Sep 27, '25) | Sep 27, '25 | |
| Swartz is dealing with an undisclosed injury and is uncertain to take the field for the Owls. | ||||
| D. Stickle | OG | Questionable - Undisclosed( Sep 27, '25) | Sep 27, '25 | |
| Stickle is dealing with an undisclosed injury and is uncertain to take the field for the Owls. | ||||
| E. Morris III | DL | Questionable - Undisclosed( Sep 27, '25) | Sep 27, '25 | |
| Morris III is dealing with an undisclosed injury and is uncertain to take the field for the Owls. | ||||
| D. Hook | S | Questionable - Undisclosed( Sep 27, '25) | Sep 27, '25 | |
| Hook is dealing with an undisclosed injury and is uncertain to take the field for the Owls. | ||||
| O. Carter | WR | Questionable - Undisclosed( Sep 27, '25) | Sep 27, '25 | |
| Carter is dealing with an undisclosed injury and is uncertain to take the field for the Owls. | ||||
| M. Balthazar | WR | Questionable - Undisclosed( Sep 27, '25) | Sep 27, '25 | |
| Balthazar is dealing with an undisclosed injury and is uncertain to take the field for the Owls. | ||||
QB Passing StatsRecent Games
| Date | Score | YDS | Att | Comp | Comp % | Y/A | TD/Int | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C.Weigman | Aug 28, 2025 | HOU 27 - SFA 0 | 159 | 24 | 15 | 62.5 | 6.6 | 3/0 | 159.4 |
| Z.Chriss-Gremillion | Aug 28, 2025 | HOU 27 - SFA 0 | -7 | 3 | 1 | 33.3 | -2.3 | 0/0 | 13.7 |
| Z.Chriss-Gremillion | Nov 30, 2024 | BYU 30 - HOU 18 | 156 | 24 | 16 | 66.7 | 6.5 | 0/1 | 112.9 |
| Z.Chriss-Gremillion | Nov 23, 2024 | HOU 10 - BAY 20 | 126 | 24 | 13 | 54.2 | 5.3 | 0/3 | 73.3 |
| Z.Chriss-Gremillion | Nov 15, 2024 | ARIZ 27 - HOU 3 | 191 | 27 | 16 | 59.3 | 7.1 | 0/1 | 111.3 |
| H.Edwards | Nov 15, 2024 | ARIZ 27 - HOU 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0/0 | 0.0 |
| Z.Chriss-Gremillion | Nov 2, 2024 | HOU 24 - KSU 19 | 103 | 11 | 11 | 100.0 | 9.4 | 1/0 | 208.7 |
| Date | Score | YDS | Att | Comp | Comp % | Y/A | TD/Int | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C.Jenkins | Aug 30, 2025 | ULL 12 - RICE 14 | 45 | 9 | 7 | 77.8 | 5.0 | 0/0 | 119.8 |
| E.Warner | Nov 30, 2024 | RICE 35 - USF 28 | 430 | 42 | 27 | 64.3 | 10.2 | 3/0 | 173.9 |
| E.Warner | Nov 23, 2024 | UAB 40 - RICE 14 | 222 | 49 | 28 | 57.1 | 4.5 | 1/3 | 89.7 |
| E.Warner | Nov 8, 2024 | MEM 27 - RICE 20 | 246 | 45 | 29 | 64.4 | 5.5 | 2/0 | 125.0 |
| E.Warner | Nov 2, 2024 | RICE 24 - NAVY 10 | 239 | 40 | 28 | 70.0 | 6.0 | 1/1 | 123.4 |
HOU vs RICE Offense vs Defense
Key Stats League ranks in parenthesis
| OFFENSE |
Off. Rank | Stat | Def. Rank | DEFENSE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 343.0 | (77) | Yards | (52) | 239.0 |
| 4.7 | (86) | Yards/Play | (65) | 4.1 |
| 191.0 | (60) | Rush Yds | (93) | 151.0 |
| 46.0 | (23) | Rush Att | (77) | 31.0 |
| 4.2 | (92) | Yards/Rush | (100) | 4.9 |
| 152.0 | (87) | Pass Yds | (30) | 88.0 |
| 27.0 | (96) | Pass Att | (29) | 28.0 |
| 16.0 | (105) | Comp | (9) | 10.0 |
| 59.3 | (98) | Comp% | (6) | 35.7 |
| 9.5 | (48) | Yards/Comp | (107) | 8.8 |
| 5.6 | (61) | Yards/Att | (44) | 3.1 |
| 143.2 | (65) | QB rating | (24) | 55.0 |
| League Avg. |
|---|
| 363.0 |
| 5.6 |
| 152.0 |
| 35.4 |
| 4.3 |
| 211.1 |
| 29.9 |
| 18.6 |
| 62.3 |
| 11.3 |
| 7.1 |
| - |
More Stats
| OFFENSE |
Off. Rank | Stat | Def. Rank | DEFENSE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | (98) | Sacks | (24) | 3.0 |
| 5.0 | (41) | Sack Yds | (--) | 24.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | Intercepts | (108) | 1.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | Fumbles | (20) | 1.0 |
| 8.0 | (52) | Penalties | (64) | 6.0 |
| 65.0 | (42) | Penalty Yds | (64) | 44.0 |
| League Avg. |
|---|
| 1.9 |
| 12.6 |
| 0.7 |
| 0.5 |
| 6.0 |
| 51.0 |
Points
| OFFENSE |
Off. Rank | Stat | Def. Rank | DEFENSE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27.0 | (63) | Score | (51) | 12.0 |
| 7.0 | (104) | 1st Q | (53) | 3.0 |
| 10.0 | (79) | 2nd Q | (23) | 3.0 |
| 7.0 | (74) | 3rd Q | (32) | 6.0 |
| 3.0 | (9) | 4th Q | (--) | 0.0 |
| League Avg. |
|---|
| 26.0 |
| 5.7 |
| 8.0 |
| 5.7 |
| 6.4 |
Special Teams
| OFFENSE |
Off. Rank | Stat | Def. Rank | DEFENSE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.0 | (107) | Yards/Punt Ret | (87) | 7.7 |
| 0.0 | (--) | Yards/KO Ret | (--) | 0.0 |
| 2.0 | (13) | FG Att | (113) | 2.0 |
| 2.0 | (14) | FG Made | (89) | 2.0 |
| 100.0 | (52) | FG% | (28) | 100.0 |
| League Avg. |
|---|
| 10.7 |
| 21.2 |
| 13.3 |
| 10.4 |
| 77.9 |