The Zeitgeist List · Rivalries

Bayou Bucket

Rice12-35Houston
Regional Program V#129 of 138–National Program I#40 of 138▲
See both programs’ full 91-year Zeitgeist History, side by side →
2 players crossed straight to the rival since 2021 — the turncoat ledger →

Houston leads the all-time series 35-12. They've met 47 times since 1971. Houston once took 7 straight.

Current season

Vegas win totals and transfer-portal swing right now, plus what fans are actually saying — not history, this year.

Rice
Transfer portal
+1
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: -8
Houston
Win total
9.5
Vegas over/under
Transfer portal
+3
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: +10
What fans are saying · player role
One fan thinks Keisean Henderson will contribute significantly to key games
I expect to see Keisean the entire 2nd half against Southern This is by far the most depth we’ve had since 2015 and 2016.
Verified verbatim

Stature & the series, 1971–2025

Both programs’ standing over time, each line named at its end, with every meeting beneath — read down to see who was bigger and who won. (Stature is each program’s season-by-season standing on the Zeitgeist List, 1936–present — one score blending on-field performance, program achievement, and roster talent.)

program stature over timeRiceHoustonevery meeting (bar height = margin; dark: Rice won, gray: Houston won)19401960198020002020

The identity war

Houston has been the more pass-heavy program more often than not.

Across 23 seasons of real play-level data (2004–2026), Rice led 5 and Houston led 18.

more passmore runRiceHouston2004200620082010201220142016201820202022202420262004Houston 26.7 ptsRice won 10-72026Houston 22.6 pts2013Houston 21.2 ptsHouston won 31-26
Source team_season_stats (CFBD season totals) · pass rate = passAttempts ÷ (passAttempts + rushingAttempts)

The biggest win was Houston by 64 in 1989. The biggest crowd, 38,900, was in 2017.

The coaching duels

Ray Alborn vs Bill Yeoman1-5
Al Conover vs Bill Yeoman2-2
David Bailiff vs Kevin Sumlin2-2
Mike Bloomgren vs Dana Holgorsen1-3
Fred Goldsmith vs John Jenkins0-3
Ken Hatfield vs Kim Helton1-2

The draft ledger

Every NFL Draft pick either program has produced since the modern era began, decade by decade.

Draft picks
24-102
Houston leads
1st-rounders
2-15
Since
1967
First CFBD-carried draft class
RiceHouston
1960s0-11
1970s8-26
1980s2-14
1990s3-19
2000s4-7
2010s6-12
2020s1-13

Best picks, either side

1972Riley Odoms Tight End · Denver BroncosRd 1, pick 5#5 overall
1975Mack Mitchell Defensive End · Cleveland BrownsRd 1, pick 5#5 overall
1992David Klingler Quarterback · Cincinnati BengalsRd 1, pick 6#6 overall
1990Andre Ware Quarterback · Detroit LionsRd 1, pick 7#7 overall
1977Wilson Whitley Defensive Tackle · Cincinnati BengalsRd 1, pick 8#8 overall
2019Ed Oliver Defensive Tackle · Buffalo BillsRd 1, pick 9#9 overall
2013D.J. Hayden Cornerback · Oakland RaidersRd 1, pick 12#12 overall
1980Earl Cooper Running Back · San Francisco 49ersRd 1, pick 13#13 overall

Recent meetings

Gate premium

Rice1.39×its own average home crowd
2025Houston35-9
2024Houston33-7
2023Rice43-41Houston — decided by 2
2022Houston34-27
2021Houston44-7
2018Houston45-27
2017Houston38-3
2013Houston31-26
2012Houston35-14
2011Houston73-34
2010Rice34-31Houston — decided by 3
2009Houston73-14
2008Rice56-42
2007Houston56-48

Every meeting since 2018, play by play

Each line is Rice’s chance to win through that meeting.

2024Houston 33-7Rice lost 7-33 at Houston. Chance to win started at 41%, low under 1%, high 53%.
2022Houston 34-27Rice lost 27-34 at Houston. Chance to win started at 12%, low under 1%, high 53%.Busy
2021Houston 44-7Rice lost 7-44 vs Houston. Chance to win started at 30%, low under 1%, high 33%.
2018Houston 45-27Rice lost 27-45 vs Houston. Chance to win started at 7%, low 1%, high 46%.
Read a quote from each meeting
  • 2025
    “Do a quadruple take. Update it.”
    A Houston fan