Houston–Rice rivalry

The Houston–Rice rivalry is a crosstown college rivalry between the Houston Cougars of the University of Houston and Rice Owls of Rice University. The universities are located approximately five miles from one another. It is one of the few NCAA Division I crosstown rivalries, especially between institutions that field Division I Football Bowl Subdivision teams.

Houston–Rice rivalry
Locations in Houston

The rivalry existed in a more official capacity after Houston joined the now-defunct Southwest Conference in 1971, in which Rice was a charter member. Since the breakup of that conference in 1995, the rivalry has continued. In 2005, Rice joined Conference USA, of which Houston was a member, and again made the rivalry more relevant for conference titles as well. The two schools were once again in separate conferences after the 2012–13 school year once Houston joined the American Athletic Conference.

Sports

Baseball

A game of the Silver Glove Series at Constellation Field in Sugar Land, Texas

The winner of the Silver Glove series between UH and Rice receives an award dubbed the "Silver Cup Trophy." The teams played against each other for the first time in 1948. Through the 2014 season, Rice leads the series 101–80.[1][2]

Both teams compete in the annual Houston College Classic, which began in 2001.

Men's Basketball

Since 2002, Rice and Houston have competed for an award dubbed the "Bayou Cup" in men's basketball. The series between the teams exists with Houston leading 51–14. The majority of Rice's wins have been within the last few seasons.

Football

The scoreboard at Robertson Stadium before the 2007 Bayou Bucket game

Football is the largest focus of the rivalry and is the sport in which the competition between the two institutions has run the longest. Both teams are part of the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision. For many years the competition included an annual regular-season football game between the schools. It has existed since 1971, when Houston joined the now-defunct Southwest Conference, of which Rice was also a member. The winner of the game wins the Bayou Bucket, which is a full-sized trophy with a golden bucket on top. Houston leads this series 31–11. Although the last Southwest Conference football game was part of the series, the teams did not compete against each other in football from 1996 to 1998 and from 2014 to 2016, however they still play as non-conference foes as future schedules allow.

Although the first official meeting between the teams in football didn't take place until 1971, a scrimmage took place between the inaugural 1946 Houston Cougars team and the Rice Owls.[3] The Owls, having played football since 1914 and being a part of the Southwest Conference, were a much more experienced and accomplished team than the Cougars. In a front of a crowd of thousands, the Owls easily defeated the Cougars.

Game results

Houston victoriesRice victories
No.DateLocationWinnerScore
1 1971 Rice Stadium Houston 23–21
2 1972 Rice Stadium Rice 14–13
3 1973 Astrodome No. 18 Houston 24–6
4 1974 Rice Stadium No. 19 Houston 21–0
5 1975 Astrodome Rice 24–7
6 1976 Rice Stadium No. 7 Houston 42–20
7 1977 Rice Stadium Houston 51–21
8 1978 Astrodome No. 9 Houston 49–25
9 1979 Rice Stadium No. 10 Houston 63–0
10 1980 Astrodome Rice 35–7
11 1981 Rice Stadium Houston 40–3
12 1982 Astrodome Houston 28–21
13 1983 Rice Stadium Houston 45–14
14 1984 Astrodome Houston 38–26
15 1985 Rice Stadium Houston 24–20
16 1986 Astrodome Rice 14–13
17 1987 Rice Stadium Houston 45–21
18 1988 Astrodome No. 14 Houston 45–14
19 1989 Rice Stadium No. 13 Houston 64–0
20 1990 Astrodome No. 13 Houston 24–22
21 1991 Rice Stadium Houston 41–21
22 1992 Astrodome Houston 61–34
No.DateLocationWinnerScore
23 1993 Rice Stadium Rice 37–7
24 1994 Astrodome Rice 31–13
25 1995 Rice Stadium Houston 18–17
26 1999 Robertson Stadium Houston 28–3
27 2000 Rice Stadium Rice 30–27
28 2001 Robertson Stadium Rice 21–14
29 2002 Rice Stadium Houston 24–10
30 2003 Robertson Stadium Houston 48–14
31 2004 Reliant Stadium Rice 10–7
32 2005 Robertson Stadium Houston 35–18
33 2006 Rice Stadium Houston 31–30
34 2007 Robertson Stadium Houston 56–48
35 2008 Rice Stadium Rice 56–42
36 2009 Robertson Stadium No. 25 Houston 73–14
37 2010 Rice Stadium Rice 34–31
38 2011 Robertson Stadium No. 18 Houston 73–34
39 2012 Reliant Stadium Houston 35–14
40 2013 Reliant Stadium Houston 31–26
41 2017 TDECU Stadium Houston 38–3
42 2018 Rice Stadium Houston 45–27
43 2020 TDECU Stadium
Series: Houston leads 31–11

See also

References

  1. "Baseball Plays Host to No. 5 Rice in Silver Glove Series this Weekend". University of Houston. 12 April 2007. Retrieved 2009-01-04.
  2. "Official Athletic Site of the University of Houston". Retrieved 2009-01-04.
  3. Wizig, Jerry (1977). Eat 'Em Up, Cougars: Houston Football. The Strode Publishers, Inc. ISBN 0-87397-122-1.
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