Houston will face Rice in Week 2 of the college football season on Saturday, and you can catch all the action with ESPN’s new streaming service.
Conner Weigman #1 of the Houston Cougars looks to pass the ball against the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks during the first quarter at TDECU Stadium on August 28, 2025 in Houston, Texas.
Conner Weigman #1 of the Houston Cougars looks to pass the ball against the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks during the first quarter at TDECU Stadium on August 28, 2025 in Houston, Texas.
Maria Lysaker/Getty Images
How to Watch Houston vs Rice
- Date: Saturday, September 6, 2025
- Time: 7:00 PM ET
- Stream: ESPN (Watch Now)
- Stream: ESPN, Hulu, Disney+ Bundle (Watch Now)
The Houston Cougars and Rice Owls will face off for the 204th time on Saturday at Rice Stadium, with Rice holding a slight edge in the all-time series at 110-93.
This rivalry, named the Bayou Bucket Game 51 years ago, awards the winner a trophy topped with a golden bucket. Since then, Houston has maintained a stranglehold on the series, leading 31-11. Rice ended Houston’s seven-game winning streak in the rivalry with a 43-41 double-overtime victory in 2023, marking their first Bayou Bucket win since 2010.
Houston cruised to a 27-0 win in Week 1 against Stephen F. Austin in their home opener, with quarterback Conner Weigman throwing for 159 yards and three touchdowns. Rice, meanwhile, struggled offensively in its Week 1 matchup against Louisiana but clung on to a 14-12 road win in a hostile environment that the Ragin’ Cajuns made difficult.
The Owls now look to improve on their abysmal offensive showing from Week 1 as they prepare for an entertaining Week 2 rivalry matchup with the Cougars. With the Golden Bucket on the line, each team looks for the right to hoist it and etch its name into this 51-year-old tradition once again.
This is an excellent college football matchup that you will not want to miss; make sure to tune in and catch all the action.
ESPN has launched a new streaming service that offers a wide array of channels and sports to choose from. It is the ultimate package for sports enthusiasts, with coverage of the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, WNBA, UFC, UFL, SEC, ACC, Big 12, and more. It can also be bundled with Disney+ and Hulu at a discounted price right now.
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