Nov. 17, 2008

CBS College Sports and Conference USA have announced that the 32nd annual battle for the Bayou Bucket between Rice and Houston has been selected to be televised nationally and kickoff has been pushed back to 2:30. The game is one of the 12-day advance selections that CBS College Sports has for Saturday games in November.

After an open date last Saturday, Rice returns to action this Saturday's game against Marshall with a 5-1 league record and 7-3 overall mark. The Owls possess the most prolific scoring duo in NCAA history in senior QB Chase Clement and senior WR Jarett Dillard (48 career touchdowns) as well as this year's FBS leader in receptions in versatile sophomore James Casey (85).

Houston is currently 5-1 in Conference USA play and 6-4 overall heading into this Saturday's contest against UTEP. The Cougars explosive offense is led by sophomore QB Case Keenum, who earned Walter Camp Foundation National Player of the Week honors after tying the C-USA record with six touchdown passes and running for another in UH's 70-30 win over then-No. 24 Tulsa. Keenum is currently fourth in the FBS in touchdown passes with 35.

Separated by just five miles, Houston and Rice play annually for the Bayou Bucket Trophy. The Cougars have won three straight meetings between the teams and lead the overall series, 25-9 and leads in games played for the trophy (which was introduced in 1974), 23-8. Houston won last year's contest 56-48, in the highest-scoring game in Bayou Bucket history.