# 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.
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. Rice moved into the American in 2023, but at the same time Houston moved to the Big 12 Conference, so the two schools continue to compete in separate conferences.

## Baseball

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 2024 season, Rice leads the series 110–90.
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. Through the 2023–24 season, Houston leads the series 66–18.

### Game results

Rankings are from the AP Poll released prior to the game.
| Houston victories | Rice victories |
| No. | Date | Location | Winner | Score |
| 1 | January 8, 1972 | Houston Astrodome | Houston | 101–73 |
| 2 | January 16, 1973 | Rice Gymnasium | #12 Houston | 96–77 |
| 3 | March 5, 1973 | Hofheinz Pavilion | #7 Houston | 116–72 |
| 4 | January 12, 1974 | Rice Gymnasium | Houston | 95–86 |
| 5 | March 7, 1974 | Hofheinz Pavilion | Houston | 107–62 |
| 6 | January 11, 1975 | Hofheinz Pavilion | Houston | 91–70 |
| 7 | March 11, 1975 | Rice Gymnasium | Houston | 82–73 |
| 8 | January 10, 1976 | Hofheinz Pavilion | Houston | 87–59 |
| 9 | February 7, 1976 | Rice Gymnasium | Houston | 99–79 |
| 10 | January 12, 1977 | Hofheinz Pavilion | Houston | 106–56 |
| 11 | February 8, 1977 | Rice Gymnasium | Houston | 109–73 |
| 12 | January 21, 1978 | Hofheinz Pavilion | Houston | 96–74 |
| 13 | February 11, 1978 | Rice Gymnasium | Houston | 87–62 |
| 14 | February 25, 1978$^A$ | Hofheinz Pavilion | Houston | 108–67 |
| 15 | January 20, 1979 | Rice Gymnasium | Houston | 101–75 |
| 16 | February 10, 1979 | Hofheinz Pavilion | Houston | 75–72 |
| 17 | January 3, 1980 | Hofheinz Pavilion | Houston | 78–70 |
| 18 | February 19, 1980 | Rice Gymnasium | Rice | 81–74 |
| 19 | February 25, 1980$^B$ | Hofheinz Pavilion | Houston | 92–80 |
| 20 | January 3, 1981 | Rice Gymnasium | Houston | 62–57 |
| 21 | February 24, 1981 | Hofheinz Pavilion | Houston | 63–55 |
| 22 | January 4, 1982 | Hofheinz Pavilion | #14 Houston | 63–61 |
| 23 | February 23, 1982 | Rice Gymnasium | Houston | 75–69 |
| 24 | January 26, 1983 | Rice Gymnasium | #9 Houston | 76–40 |
| 25 | February 26, 1983 | Hofheinz Pavilion | #2 Houston | 86–52 |
| 26 | January 20, 1984 | Hofheinz Pavilion | #4 Houston | 72–42 |
| 27 | February 22, 1984 | Rice Gymnasium | #3 Houston | 70–54 |
| 28 | March 10, 1984$^C$ | The Summit | #5 Houston | 53–50 |
| 29 | January 16, 1985 | Rice Gymnasium | Houston | 77–73 |
| 30 | February 17, 1985 | Hofheinz Pavilion | Houston | 96–91 |
| 31 | January 11, 1986 | Hofheinz Pavilion | Rice | 71–68 |
| 32 | February 12, 1986 | Rice Gymnasium | Houston | 71–69 |
| 33 | January 10, 1987 | Rice Gymnasium | Houston | 71–36 |
| 34 | February 7, 1987 | Hofheinz Pavilion | Houston | 75–62 |
| 35 | February 3, 1988 | Hofheinz Pavilion | Houston | 84–67 |
| 36 | March 5, 1988 | Rice Gymnasium | Houston | 81–65 |
| 37 | January 4, 1989 | Hofheinz Pavilion | Houston | 90–75 |
| 38 | February 4, 1989 | Rice Gymnasium | Rice | 67–66 |
| 39 | January 6, 1990 | Rice Gymnasium | Houston | 84–69 |
| 40 | February 7, 1990 | Hofheinz Pavilion | Houston | 84–67 |
| 41 | March 9, 1990$^D$ | Reunion Arena | Houston | 90–81 |
| 42 | January 9, 1991 | Hofheinz Pavilion | Houston | 80–73 |
| 43 | February 9, 1991 | Rice Gymnasium | Rice | 79–69 |
| No. | Date | Location | Winner | Score |
| 44 | January 18, 1992 | Rice Gymnasium | Houston | 74–60 |
| 45 | February 19, 1992 | Hofheinz Pavilion | Houston | 86–83 |
| 46 | February 2, 1993 | Hofheinz Pavilion | Rice | 65–61 |
| 47 | March 3, 1993 | Rice Gymnasium | Rice | 89–78 $^{OT}$ |
| 48 | February 5, 1994 | Rice Gymnasium | Houston | 69–67 |
| 49 | March 5, 1994 | Hofheinz Pavilion | Houston | 78–76 |
| 50 | January 11, 1995 | Hofheinz Pavilion | Rice | 87–76 |
| 51 | February 8, 1995 | Rice Gymnasium | Houston | 73–67 |
| 52 | January 13, 1996 | Rice Gymnasium | Houston | 76–74 |
| 53 | February 10, 1996 | Hofheinz Pavilion | Houston | 63–59 |
| 54 | November 21, 1998 | Rice Gymnasium | Rice | 69–64 |
| 55 | December 7, 1999 | Hofheinz Pavilion | Houston | 84–71 $^{OT}$ |
| 56 | November 21, 2000 | Rice Gymnasium | Rice | 65–45 |
| 57 | November 29, 2001 | Hofheinz Pavilion | Houston | 62–61 |
| 58 | November 27, 2002 | Rice Gymnasium | Rice | 71–53 |
| 59 | December 3, 2003 | Hofheinz Pavilion | Rice | 62–52 |
| 60 | November 30, 2004 | Rice Gymnasium | Rice | 74–73 |
| 61 | January 11, 2006 | Rice Gymnasium | Rice | 71–62 |
| 62 | March 1, 2006 | Hofheinz Pavilion | Houston | 74–71 |
| 63 | January 17, 2007 | Rice Gymnasium | Rice | 76–71 |
| 64 | January 31, 2007 | Hofheinz Pavilion | Houston | 70–63 |
| 65 | March 9, 2007$^E$ | FedExForum | Houston | 77–62 |
| 66 | January 23, 2008 | Reliant Arena | Houston | 69–60 |
| 67 | February 23, 2008 | Hofheinz Pavilion | Houston | 71–62 |
| 68 | February 7, 2009 | Hofheinz Pavilion | Houston | 72–65 |
| 69 | February 28, 2009 | Tudor Fieldhouse | Houston | 56–51 |
| 70 | January 6, 2010 | Tudor Fieldhouse | Houston | 83–66 |
| 71 | March 3, 2010 | Hofheinz Pavilion | Houston | 78–70 |
| 72 | January 26, 2011 | Tudor Fieldhouse | Rice | 79–71 $^{OT}$ |
| 73 | March 5, 2011 | Hofheinz Pavilion | Rice | 72–57 |
| 74 | February 8, 2012 | Hofheinz Pavilion | Rice | 79–71 |
| 75 | March 3, 2012 | Tudor Fieldhouse | Houston | 76–75 |
| 76 | January 30, 2013 | Tudor Fieldhouse | Rice | 79–69 |
| 77 | March 6, 2013 | Hofheinz Pavilion | Houston | 84–62 |
| 78 | March 13, 2013$^F$ | BOK Center | Houston | 72–67 |
| 79 | December 21, 2013 | Toyota Center | Houston | 54–52 |
| 80 | January 28, 2015 | Hofheinz Pavilion | Houston | 59–48 |
| 81 | November 14, 2018 | H&PE Arena | Houston | 79–68 |
| 82 | November 19, 2019 | Tudor Fieldhouse | Houston | 97–89 |
| 83 | November 12, 2021 | Fertitta Center | #15 Houston | 79–46 |
| 84 | December 6, 2023 | Fertitta Center | #3 Houston | 75–39 |
| Series: Houston leads 66–18 |||||

#### Notes

$^A$ 1978 Southwest Conference men's basketball tournament $^B$ 1980 Southwest Conference men's basketball tournament $^C$ 1984 Southwest Conference men's basketball tournament $^D$ 1990 Southwest Conference men's basketball tournament $^E$ 2007 Conference USA men's basketball tournament $^F$ 2013 Conference USA men's basketball tournament

## Football

The football rivalry, sometimes referred to as the Bayou Bucket Classic, is the longest running competition between the two institutions. Both teams are part of the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision.
The first official game between the teams was played in 1971 when Houston joined the now-defunct Southwest Conference of which Rice was also a member. The teams previously met in a 1946 scrimmage marking Houston's inaugural season. For many years the competition included an annual regular-season football game between the schools. The winner of the game receives the Bayou Bucket, which is a full-sized trophy with a golden bucket on top.
Although the last Southwest Conference football game was part of the series, the teams no longer compete against each other regularly. However, they still play as non-conference foes as future schedules allow. Houston leads the series 34–12 through the 2024 season.

### Notable games

September 11, 1971: The first-ever matchup between Houston and Rice, The Cougars claimed a 23–21 victory over the Owls in what is still the most attended game in series history, with 62,000 people showing up to watch.
December 2, 1995: In what was the last football game in Southwest Conference history, Houston came away with a thrilling 18–17 victory over Rice thanks to two-fourth quarter touchdown passes from quarterback Chuck Clements.
October 27, 2011: No. 18 Houston cruised to a 73–34 victory over Rice behind nine touchdown passes from star quarterback Case Keenum. The game is notable for being the one in which Keenum set the all-time NCAA Division I passing touchdowns record.

### Game results

Rankings are from the AP Poll released prior to the game.
| Houston victories | Rice victories |
| No. | Date | Location | Winning team | Winning team | Losing team | Losing team |
| 1 | September 11, 1971 | Rice Stadium | Houston | 23 | Rice | 21 |
| 2 | September 9, 1972 | Rice Stadium | Rice | 14 | Houston | 13 |
| 3 | September 15, 1973 | Astrodome | #18 Houston | 24 | Rice | 6 |
| 4 | September 14, 1974 | Rice Stadium | #19 Houston | 21 | Rice | 0 |
| 5 | September 13, 1975 | Astrodome | Rice | 24 | Houston | 7 |
| 6 | November 27, 1976 | Rice Stadium | #7 Houston | 42 | Rice | 20 |
| 7 | November 26, 1977 | Rice Stadium | Houston | 51 | Rice | 21 |
| 8 | December 2, 1978 | Astrodome | #9 Houston | 49 | Rice | 25 |
| 9 | December 1, 1979 | Rice Stadium | #10 Houston | 63 | Rice | 0 |
| 10 | November 29, 1980 | Astrodome | Rice | 35 | Houston | 7 |
| 11 | November 28, 1981 | Rice Stadium | Houston | 40 | Rice | 3 |
| 12 | November 27, 1982 | Astrodome | Houston | 28 | Rice | 21 |
| 13 | September 1, 1983 | Rice Stadium | Houston | 45 | Rice | 14 |
| 14 | December 1, 1984 | Astrodome | Houston | 38 | Rice | 26 |
| 15 | November 30, 1985 | Rice Stadium | Houston | 24 | Rice | 20 |
| 16 | November 29, 1986 | Astrodome | Rice | 14 | Houston | 13 |
| 17 | November 28, 1987 | Rice Stadium | Houston | 45 | Rice | 21 |
| 18 | November 26, 1988 | Astrodome | #14 Houston | 45 | Rice | 14 |
| 19 | December 2, 1989 | Rice Stadium | #13 Houston | 64 | Rice | 0 |
| 20 | September 29, 1990 | Astrodome | #13 Houston | 24 | Rice | 22 |
| 21 | November 16, 1991 | Rice Stadium | Houston | 41 | Rice | 21 |
| 22 | November 28, 1992 | Astrodome | Houston | 61 | Rice | 34 |
| 23 | November 26, 1993 | Rice Stadium | Rice | 37 | Houston | 7 |
| 24 | November 26, 1994 | Astrodome | Rice | 31 | Houston | 13 |
| No. | Date | Location | Winning team | Winning team | Losing team | Losing team |
| 25 | December 2, 1995 | Rice Stadium | Houston | 18 | Rice | 17 |
| 26 | September 4, 1999 | Robertson Stadium | Houston | 28 | Rice | 3 |
| 27 | September 2, 2000 | Rice Stadium | Rice | 30 | Houston | 27 $^{OT}$ |
| 28 | September 1, 2001 | Robertson Stadium | Rice | 21 | Houston | 14 |
| 29 | August 31, 2002 | Rice Stadium | Houston | 24 | Rice | 10 |
| 30 | August 30, 2003 | Robertson Stadium | Houston | 48 | Rice | 14 |
| 31 | September 5, 2004 | Reliant Stadium | Rice | 10 | Houston | 7 |
| 32 | November 26, 2005 | Robertson Stadium | Houston | 35 | Rice | 18 |
| 33 | September 2, 2006 | Rice Stadium | Houston | 31 | Rice | 30 |
| 34 | October 13, 2007 | Robertson Stadium | Houston | 56 | Rice | 48 |
| 35 | September 20, 2008 | Rice Stadium | Rice | 56 | Houston | 42 |
| 36 | November 28, 2009 | Robertson Stadium | #25 Houston | 73 | Rice | 14 |
| 37 | October 16, 2010 | Rice Stadium | Rice | 34 | Houston | 31 |
| 38 | October 27, 2011 | Robertson Stadium | #18 Houston | 73 | Rice | 34 |
| 39 | September 29, 2012 | Reliant Stadium | Houston | 35 | Rice | 14 |
| 40 | September 21, 2013 | Reliant Stadium | Houston | 31 | Rice | 26 |
| 41 | September 16, 2017 | TDECU Stadium | Houston | 38 | Rice | 3 |
| 42 | September 1, 2018 | Rice Stadium | Houston | 45 | Rice | 27 |
| 43 | September 11, 2021 | Rice Stadium | Houston | 44 | Rice | 7 |
| 44 | September 24, 2022 | TDECU Stadium | Houston | 34 | Rice | 27 |
| 45 | September 9, 2023 | Rice Stadium | Rice | 43 | Houston | 41 $^{2OT}$ |
| 46 | September 14, 2024 | TDECU Stadium | Houston | 33 | Rice | 7 |
| Series: Houston leads 34–12 |||||||