Venue & Kickoff
Location: Rice Stadium, Houston, Texas
Date: Saturday, September 6, 2025
Time: 7:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM CT
Broadcast: ESPN+
Capacity: 47,000
Weather Forecast
Conditions: Clear skies, warm evening
Temperature: ~84°F at kickoff
Wind: SE at 5–7 mph
Precipitation: 0%
Impact: Minimal; ideal for both passing and kicking
Injury Report
Houston
RB Re’Shuan Sanford II – Out for season (undisclosed)
WR Marquis Shoulders – Questionable (lower body)
Rice
No major injuries reported after Week 1 win over Louisiana
Team Records & Recent Form
Houston: Defense pitched a shutout in opener, allowing just 144 total yards; QB Conner Weigman efficient (159 yds, 3 TD, 0 INT).
Rice: Ground-heavy attack (206 rush yds vs. Louisiana); QB Chase Jenkins threw for just 45 yds but RB Quinton Jackson ran for 119 yds and a TD.
Key Player Matchups
QB Conner Weigman (UH) vs. Rice Secondary
Weigman: 15/24, 159 yds, 3 TD, 0 INT; 39 rush yds
Rice allowed only 88 pass yds in opener
RB Dean Connors (UH) vs. LB Andrew Awe (RICE)
Connors: 50 yds on 15 carries; 2 rec, 1 yd
Awe: 7 tackles in opener
WR Tanner Koziol (UH) vs. CB Sean Fresch (RICE)
Koziol: 7 rec, 63 yds, 1 TD
Fresch: Veteran cover corner, key in limiting big plays
RB Quinton Jackson (RICE) vs. UH Front Seven
Jackson: 22 carries, 119 yds, 1 TD
UH allowed just 39 rush yds in opener
Series History
All-Time: Houston leads 34–12
Last Meeting: Houston 33–7 (2024)
Notable: Rice upset Houston 43–41 in 2OT in 2023; Bayou Bucket Trophy at stake
Betting Trends
Houston: 1–0 ATS in 2025; 6–6 ATS in 2024; UNDER in 8 of last 10 games
Rice: 1–0 ATS in 2025; 6–6 ATS in 2024; UNDER in last 5 games
Rice 6–1 ATS in last 7 home meetings vs. Houston
Both teams +2 turnover margin after Week 1
Game Odds
Houston Cougars – 13.5
Rice Owls 38.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, September 5, 2025
