Houston dominates Rice 35-9 in Week 2 matchup
Houston dominated Rice 35-9 on Saturday in a lopsided affair that saw the Cougars pull away decisively in the fourth quarter. The game remained competitive early, with Rice trailing just 7-3 at halftime, but Houston's offense exploded in the second half to put the contest out of reach.
Houston's offensive firepower proved too much for the Owls' defense. Conner Weigman led the Cougars through the air, connecting with Stephon Johnson for a 74-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter. Running back Dean Connors added a 42-yard touchdown run in the same quarter, providing the decisive blows. Rice's Chase Jenkins led the Owls with 50 passing yards and scored a rushing touchdown late in the contest, while Daelen Alexander rushed for 55 yards.
The Cougars' fourth-quarter explosion was the difference, scoring 21 points in the final frame to put away any remaining doubt. Houston's defense also made critical plays, highlighted by several high-impact defensive stops that stalled Rice's offensive efforts. The victory saw Houston cover the 13.5-point spread, and the game went over the 38.5-point total.
AI-generated recap · Aug 19, 2026
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Houston | 0 | 7 | 7 | 21 | 35 |
 Rice | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 9 |
Scoring Timeline
Drive Chart
Box Score
| Statistic | Houston | Rice |
|---|---|---|
| Passing | 15-22 | 11-13 |
| Pass Yards | 188 | 51 |
| Rush Yards | 207 | 177 |
| Total Yards | 395 | 228 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 2 |
| 3rd Down | 9-16 | 4-15 |
| Penalties | 2-23 | 1-10 |
| Possession | 27:14 | 32:46 |
Player Leaders
Player Leaders
Play-by-Play
Enock Gota kickoff for 60 yds , Mekhi Mews return for 28 yds to the HOU 33
Conner Weigman pass complete to Tanner Koziol for 3 yds to the HOU 36
Conner Weigman sacked for a loss of 2 yards to the HOU 34
Conner Weigman pass incomplete to Stephon Johnson
Liam Dougherty punt for 40 yds, fair catch by Tyson Thompson at the RICE 26
Quinton Jackson run for 4 yds to the RICE 30
Quinton Jackson run for a loss of 2 yards to the RICE 28
Drayden Dickmann run for 2 yds to the RICE 30
Alex Bacchetta punt for 42 yds , Mekhi Mews returns for 2 yds to the HOU 30
Dean Connors run for 3 yds to the HOU 33
Conner Weigman pass incomplete to Harvey Broussard III
Conner Weigman pass complete to Tanner Koziol for 4 yds to the HOU 37
Liam Dougherty punt for 51 yds, fair catch by Tyson Thompson at the RICE 12
Dean Connors run for 3 yds to the HOU 33
Conner Weigman pass incomplete
Conner Weigman pass to Tanner Koziol for 4 yds to the HOU 37
Liam Dougherty punt for 51 yds to the HOU
Daelen Alexander run for 1 yd to the RICE 13
Chase Jenkins run for 3 yds to the RICE 16
Chase Jenkins pass complete to Artis Cole for 4 yds to the RICE 20
Alex Bacchetta punt for 46 yds, fair catch by Mekhi Mews at the HOU 34
Daelen Alexander run for 1 yd to the
Chase Jenkins run for 3 yds to the RICE 16
Chase Jenkins pass to Artis Cole for 4 yds to the RICE 20
Alex Bacchetta punt for 46 yds to the RICE
Stacy Sneed run for 4 yds to the HOU 38
Stacy Sneed run for 13 yds to the RICE 49 for a 1ST down
Stacy Sneed run for 3 yds to the RICE 46
Conner Weigman run for 1 yd to the RICE 45
Dean Connors run for 2 yds to the RICE 43
Conner Weigman sacked by Ty Morris for a loss of 3 yards to the RICE 46
Stacy Sneed run for 4 yds to the HOU 38
Stacy Sneed run for 13 yds to the RICE 49
Stacy Sneed run for 3 yds to the RICE 46
Conner Weigman run for 1 yd to the RICE 45
Dean Connors run for 2 yds to the RICE 43
Conner Weigman sacked by Ty Morris for a loss of 3 yards to the RICE 46
Drayden Dickmann run for a loss of 3 yards to the RICE 43
Chase Jenkins pass complete to Aaron Turner for 8 yds to the HOU 49
Quinton Jackson run for no gain to the HOU 49
Alex Bacchetta punt for 49 yds for a touchback
Drayden Dickmann run for a loss of 3 yards to the RICE 43
Chase Jenkins pass to Aaron Turner for 8 yds to the HOU 49
Quinton Jackson run
Alex Bacchetta punt for 49 yds for a touchback
Dean Connors run for a loss of 3 yards to the HOU 17
Conner Weigman pass complete to Luke McGary for 5 yds to the HOU 22
Conner Weigman pass complete to Amare Thomas for 18 yds to the HOU 40 for a 1ST down
Dean Connors run for 1 yd to the HOU 41
Conner Weigman pass incomplete to Tanner Koziol
Conner Weigman pass incomplete to Koby Young
Liam Dougherty punt for 41 yds , Tyson Thompson returns for 11 yds to the RICE 29
Dean Connors run for a loss of 3 yards to the HOU 17
Conner Weigman pass to Luke McGary for 5 yds to the HOU 22
Conner Weigman pass to Amare Thomas for 18 yds to the HOU 40 for a 1ST down
Dean Connors run for 1 yd to the HOU 41
Conner Weigman pass incomplete
Conner Weigman pass incomplete
Liam Dougherty punt for 41 yds to the RICE 29, Tyson Thompson returns for 11 yds to the RICE 29
Daelen Alexander run for 2 yds to the RICE 31
Chase Jenkins run for 1 yd to the RICE 32
Chase Jenkins pass complete to Landon Ransom-Goelz for 11 yds to the RICE 43 for a 1ST down
Quinton Jackson run for 8 yds to the HOU 49
Quinton Jackson run for 5 yds to the HOU 44 for a 1ST down
Daelen Alexander run for 5 yds to the HOU 39
Daelen Alexander run for 5 yds to the HOU 34 for a 1ST down
Quinton Jackson run for 6 yds to the HOU 28
Quinton Jackson run for 3 yds to the HOU 25
Daelen Alexander run for 3 yds to the HOU 22 for a 1ST down
Daelen Alexander run for 2 yds to the HOU 20
Quinton Jackson run for 1 yd to the HOU 19
Drayden Dickmann run for a loss of 5 yards to the HOU 24
Enock Gota 42 yd FG GOOD
Daelen Alexander run for 2 yds to the RICE 31
Chase Jenkins run for 1 yd to the RICE 32
Chase Jenkins pass to Landon Ransom-Goelz for 11 yds to the RICE 43 for a 1ST down
Quinton Jackson run for 8 yds to the HOU 49
Quinton Jackson run for 5 yds to the HOU 44
Daelen Alexander run for 5 yds to the HOU 39
Daelen Alexander run for 5 yds to the HOU 34
Quinton Jackson run for 6 yds to the HOU 28
Quinton Jackson run for 3 yds to the HOU 25
Daelen Alexander run for 3 yds to the HOU 22
Daelen Alexander run for 2 yds to the HOU 20
Quinton Jackson run for 1 yd to the HOU 19
Drayden Dickmann run for a loss of 5 yards to the HOU 24
Enock Gota 42 yd FG GOOD
Conner Weigman pass complete to Mekhi Mews for 16 yds to the HOU 41 for a 1ST down
Conner Weigman run for no gain to the HOU 41
Houston Penalty, Offensive Holding (-10 Yards) to the HOU 33
Conner Weigman pass incomplete to Stephon Johnson
Stacy Sneed run for 2 yds to the HOU 35
Liam Dougherty punt for 40 yds, fair catch by Tyson Thompson at the RICE 25
to Dean Connors, Houston Penalty, personalfoul (Dalton Merryman)
Dean Connors run for 8 yds to the HOU 21
Conner Weigman pass to Tanner Koziol for 21 yds to the HOU 42 for a 1ST down
Conner Weigman pass to Tanner Koziol for 4 yds to the HOU 46
Conner Weigman pass incomplete
Dean Connors run for 54 yds to the RICE 0, for a TD (Ethan Sanchez KICK)
Chase Jenkins run for 10 yds to the RICE 35 for a 1ST down
Quinton Jackson run for 1 yd to the RICE 36
Aaron Turner run for no gain to the RICE 36
Chase Jenkins pass incomplete to Artis Cole
Alex Bacchetta punt for 40 yds, fair catch by Mekhi Mews at the HOU 24
Chase Jenkins run for 1 yd to the RICE 22
Chase Jenkins sacked for a loss of 8 yards to the RICE 17
Chase Jenkins pass complete to Drayden Dickmann for 3 yds to the RICE 20
Chase Jenkins sacked by Eddie Walls III for a loss of 11 yards to the RICE 9
Alex Bacchetta punt for 37 yds, fair catch by Mekhi Mews at the RICE 46
Dean Connors run for 3 yds to the HOU 27
Dean Connors run for 13 yds to the HOU 40 for a 1ST down
run for 3 yds to the HOU 37 fumbled, recovered by HOU Conner Weigman
Conner Weigman pass incomplete to Tanner Koziol
Conner Weigman pass complete to Stacy Sneed for 14 yds to the RICE 49 for a 1ST down
Conner Weigman pass complete to Amare Thomas for 2 yds to the HOU 49
Stacy Sneed run for 4 yds to the RICE 47
Conner Weigman pass complete to Tanner Koziol for 15 yds to the RICE 32 for a 1ST down
Stacy Sneed run for 4 yds to the RICE 28
Conner Weigman run for 4 yds to the RICE 24
Dean Connors run for 3 yds to the RICE 21 for a 1ST down
Conner Weigman pass complete to Luke McGary for 8 yds to the RICE 13
DJ Butler run for 1 yd to the RICE 12
Conner Weigman run for 3 yds to the RICE 9 for a 1ST down
Conner Weigman run for 9 yds for a TD (Ethan Sanchez KICK)
Dean Connors run for 3 yds to the HOU 27
Dean Connors run for 13 yds to the HOU 40
run for a loss of 3 yards to the , Conner Weigman run
Conner Weigman pass incomplete
Conner Weigman pass to Stacy Sneed for 14 yds to the RICE 49 for a 1ST down
Conner Weigman pass to Amare Thomas for a loss of 2 yards to the HOU 49
Stacy Sneed run for 4 yds to the RICE 47
Conner Weigman pass to Tanner Koziol for 15 yds to the RICE 32 for a 1ST down
Stacy Sneed run for 4 yds to the RICE 28
Conner Weigman run for 4 yds to the
Dean Connors run for 3 yds to the RICE 21
Conner Weigman pass to Luke McGary for 8 yds to the RICE 13
DJ Butler run for 1 yd to the RICE 12
Conner Weigman run for 3 yds to the RICE 9
Conner Weigman run for 9 yds to the RICE 0, for a TD (Ethan Sanchez KICK)
Chase Jenkins run for 17 yds to the RICE 42 for a 1ST down Rice Penalty, Offensive Holding (Artis Cole) to the RICE 32 for a 1ST down
Daelen Alexander run for 16 yds to the RICE 48 for a 1ST down
Daelen Alexander run for 11 yds to the HOU 41 for a 1ST down
Tyson Thompson run for 10 yds to the HOU 31 for a 1ST down
Daelen Alexander run for 4 yds to the HOU 27
Chase Jenkins run for 3 yds to the HOU 24
Chase Jenkins pass complete to Tyson Thompson for 3 yds to the HOU 21 for a 1ST down
Quinton Jackson run for 4 yds to the HOU 17
Quinton Jackson run for 7 yds to the HOU 10 for a 1ST down
Quinton Jackson run for 3 yds to the HOU 7
Tyson Thompson run for 4 yds to the HOU 3
Chase Jenkins run for 3 yds for a TD (Two-Point Conversion failed)
Chase Jenkins sacked by Brandon Mack II for a loss of 4 yards to the RICE 17
Chase Jenkins pass to Drayden Dickmann for 3 yds to the RICE 20
Chase Jenkins sacked by Eddie Walls III for a loss of 11 yards to the RICE 9
Alex Bacchetta punt for 37 yds to the RICE
Zac Yoakam kickoff for 65 yds , Quinton Jackson return for 23 yds to the RICE 23
Quinton Jackson run for 9 yds to the RICE 32
Chase Jenkins run for 9 yds to the RICE 41 for a 1ST down
Aaron Turner run for 4 yds to the RICE 45
Daelen Alexander run for 6 yds to the HOU 49 for a 1ST down
Chase Jenkins pass complete to Drayden Dickmann for 4 yds to the HOU 45
Chase Jenkins pass complete to Drayden Dickmann for 4 yds to the HOU 49
Chase Jenkins run for 3 yds to the HOU 46
Chase Jenkins sacked by Corey Platt Jr. for a loss of 5 yards to the RICE 49
Stacy Sneed run for 7 yds to the RICE 39
Stacy Sneed run
Conner Weigman run for 7 yds to the RICE 32
Stacy Sneed run for a loss of 1 yards to the RICE 33
Dean Connors run for 3 yds to the RICE 30
Conner Weigman pass to Dean Connors for 1 yd to the RICE 29
Ethan Sanchez 47 yd FG MISSED
Dean Connors run for 2 yds to the RICE 47
Conner Weigman run for 5 yds to the RICE 42
Dean Connors run for 42 yds for a TD (Ethan Sanchez KICK)
Chase Jenkins run for 1 yd to the RICE 30
Chase Jenkins pass to Drayden Dickmann for 5 yds to the RICE 35
Will James return for 37 yds to the RICE 0, for a TD, Chase Jenkins pass intercepted (Ethan Sanchez KICK)
D'Andre Hardemann run for 5 yds to the RICE 30
Semaj Pierre run for 2 yds to the RICE 32
Drew Devillier pass complete to David Kasemervisz for 1 yd to the RICE 33
Alex Bacchetta punt blocked by Myles Parker blocked by Myles Parker
Dean Connors run for 1 yd to the HOU 26
Conner Weigman pass complete to Stephon Johnson for 74 yds for a TD (Ethan Sanchez KICK)