52-539: The Houston–Rice rivalry is a crosstown college rivalry between the Houston ;Cougars of the University of Houston and Rice Owls of Rice University . The universities are located approximately five miles from one another. It is one of the few NCAA Division I crosstown rivalries, especially between institutions that field Division I Football Bowl Subdivision teams. The rivalry existed in
104-563: A 73–34 victory over Rice behind nine touchdown passes from star quarterback Case Keenum . The game is notable for being the one in which Keenum set the all-time NCAA Division I passing touchdowns record. Rankings are from the AP Poll released prior to the game. Houston Cougars The Houston Cougars are the athletic teams representing the University of Houston . Informally, the Houston Cougars have also been referred to as
156-534: A dedicated fan base. The team's roster includes a diverse group of players, many of whom bring previous competitive hockey experience from high school and various junior hockey leagues. The University of Houston Rugby Club plays college rugby in the Red River Conference of Division 1-A Rugby against traditional rivals such as Texas, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, and TCU. The UH Rugby Club previously played Division III college rugby. The UH Rugby Club
208-406: A more official capacity after Houston joined the now-defunct Southwest Conference in 1971, in which Rice was a charter member. Since the breakup of that conference in 1995, the rivalry has continued. In 2005, Rice joined Conference USA , of which Houston was a member, and again made the rivalry more relevant for conference titles as well. The two schools were once again in separate conferences after
260-736: A part of the Southwest Conference . After the dissolution of that conference in 1996, the Cougars became charter members of Conference USA . Houston remained a member of Conference USA until 2013 when they joined the American Athletic Conference . In September 2021, Houston received and accepted a membership offer to the Big 12 Conference . They became members of the Big 12 on July 1, 2023. The most recently added sport
312-508: A three-way tie for national champion in football between Minnesota , Princeton , and Southern Methodist . Minnesota fans protested and a number of Gould's colleagues led by Charles "Cy" Sherman suggested he create a poll of sports editors instead of only using his own list. The next year the weekly AP college football poll was born, and has run continuously from 1936 . Due to the long-standing historical ties between individual college football conferences and high-paying bowl games like
364-475: A trophy known as the " Bayou Bucket ", referencing one of the city of Houston's nicknames as the "Bayou City." Historically, the University of Texas was one of Houston's principal rivals, when Houston was part of the now-defunct Southwest Conference . This rivalry gave rise to the Houston Cougar Paw tradition. Most of the university's major sports facilities are located along Cullen Boulevard,
416-568: A win easily over Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl while Auburn and Utah both won their bowl games, leaving three undefeated teams at the end of the season. Also, in that same year, Texas made up late ground on California (Cal) in the BCS standings and as a result grabbed a high-payout, at-large spot in the Rose Bowl. Previous to that poll, Cal had been ranked ahead of Texas in both human polls and
468-542: Is a registered organization sponsored by the UH campus recreation department. The University of Houston Cricket Club won the 2019 National College Cricket Association championship. Houston's most meaningful current rivalry is with cross-town Rice University, which is a member of the American Athletic Conference. The Cougars and Rice Owls have competed in football, annually with a few exceptions, for
520-507: Is home to many on-campus athletic facilities including TDECU Stadium (on the site of the former Robertson Stadium ), Fertitta Center , and Schroeder Park . Prior to 1960, Houston was a member of several athletic conferences including the Lone Star Conference , Gulf Coast Conference , and Missouri Valley Conference . From 1960 until 1971, Houston competed as an independent. From 1971 until 1996, Houston's sports teams were
572-562: Is the college softball team of the University of Houston. The team is a member of the Big 12 Conference as a Division I team. Their home games are played at Cougar Softball Stadium on-campus. The team was established in 2001, and has appeared in nine NCAA Regionals and two Super Regionals. The Cougars are coached by Kristin Vesely . Houston has won 17 NCAA team national championships. The University of Houston Ice Hockey Club competes in
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#1732786886820624-542: The 2023 season, the number one ranked team has faced the number two ranked team 54 times since the inception of the AP ;poll in 1936. The number one team has a record of 29–21–2 (.577) against the number two team. In 1997, the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) was developed to try to unify the poll results by picking two teams for a "real" national championship game. For the first several years
676-501: The American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA). The team was originally formed in 1935 but was disbanded during the mid-20th century. In the fall of 2023, the club was resurrected and played its first game post-revival against East Texas Baptist University . Since its return, the University of Houston Ice Hockey Club has actively participated in games against other traditional rivals, including
728-550: The Bayou Bucket Classic , is the longest running competition between the two institutions. Both teams are part of the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision . The first official game between the teams was played in 1971 when Houston joined the now-defunct Southwest Conference of which Rice was also a member. The teams previously met in a 1946 scrimmage marking Houston's inaugural season . For many years
780-597: The Coogs , UH , or simply Houston . Houston's nickname was suggested by early physical education instructor of the university and former head football coach, John R. Bender after one of his former teams, Washington State later adopted the mascot and nickname. The teams compete in the NCAA's Division I and the Football Bowl Subdivision as members of the Big 12 Conference . The official school colors of
832-467: The Fertitta Center , which opened during the 2018–19 season after renovation of the former Hofheinz Pavilion. During the renovation, home games were played at H&PE Arena at Texas Southern University . Notable players for the UH men's basketball team include Basketball Hall of Famers Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler (who would win two and one NBA Championships respectively, both for
884-692: The Orange Bowl to Texas , leaving Arkansas as the only undefeated, untied team after the Razorbacks defeated Nebraska in the Cotton Bowl . In 1965 , the AP's decision to wait to crown its champion paid handsomely, as top-ranked Michigan State lost to UCLA in the Rose Bowl , number two Arkansas lost to LSU in the Cotton Bowl , and fourth-ranked Alabama defeated third-ranked Nebraska in
936-466: The Orange Bowl , vaulting the Crimson Tide to the top of the AP's final poll (Michigan State was named national champion in the final UPI Coaches Poll , which did not conduct a post-bowl poll). Beginning in 1968 , the post bowl game poll became permanent and the AP championship reflected the bowl game results. The UPI did not follow suit with the coaches' poll until the 1974 season. Through
988-456: The Rose Bowl and Orange Bowl , the NCAA had not held a tournament or championship game to determine the national champion of what is now the highest division, NCAA Division I, Football Bowl Subdivision (the Division I, Football Championship Subdivision and lower divisions do hold championship tournaments). As a result, the public and the media began to acknowledge the leading vote-getter in
1040-589: The Rose Bowl , while No. 2 Louisiana State University (LSU) (who had lost to Florida earlier in the season) defeated the No. 1 Oklahoma Sooners (who had lost the Big 12 championship game to Kansas State) in a national title game . As a result, the AP Poll kept USC at No. 1 while the Coaches Poll was contractually obligated to select the winner of the BCS game as the No. 1 team. The resulting split national title
1092-501: The University of Texas at Austin , Southern Methodist University , Texas Christian University , University of Texas at San Antonio , and Texas State University . The team's re-establishment has been met with enthusiasm from students and alumni, contributing to the growing popularity of ice hockey within the city of Houston . The club's home games are played at the Sugarland Ice & Centre, where they have begun to establish
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#17327868868201144-547: The 2012–13 school year once Houston joined the American Athletic Conference . Rice moved into the American in 2023, but at the same time Houston moved to the Big 12 Conference , so the two schools continue to compete in separate conferences. The winner of the Silver Glove series between UH and Rice receives an award dubbed the " Silver Cup Trophy ". The teams played against each other for the first time in 1948. Through
1196-741: The 2024 season, Rice leads the series 110–90. Both teams compete in the annual Houston College Classic , which began in 2001. Since 2002, Rice and Houston have competed for an award dubbed the " Bayou Cup " in men's basketball. Through the 2023–24 season, Houston leads the series 66–18. Rankings are from the AP Poll released prior to the game. 1978 Southwest Conference men's basketball tournament 1980 Southwest Conference men's basketball tournament 1984 Southwest Conference men's basketball tournament 1990 Southwest Conference men's basketball tournament 2007 Conference USA men's basketball tournament 2013 Conference USA men's basketball tournament The football rivalry, sometimes referred to as
1248-457: The AP Poll factored in the determination of the BCS rankings, along with other factors including the Coaches Poll and computer-based polls. Because of a series of controversies surrounding the BCS, the AP demanded in December, 2004, that its poll no longer be used in the BCS rankings, and so the 2004–2005 season was the last season that the AP Poll was used for this purpose. In the 2003 season,
1300-402: The AP during the previous 75 years. The top 5 programs in order are #1 Kentucky, #2 North Carolina, #3 Duke, #4 Kansas, and #5 UCLA. The women's basketball poll began during the 1976–1977 season, and was initially compiled by Mel Greenberg and published by The Philadelphia Inquirer . At first, it was a poll of coaches conducted via telephone, where coaches identified top teams and a list of
1352-402: The AP released an unofficial post-bowl poll which differed from the regular season final poll. Until the 1968 college football season, the final AP poll of the season was released following the end of the regular season, with the lone exception of the 1965 season. In 1964 , Alabama was named the national champion in the final AP Poll following the completion of the regular season, but lost in
1404-481: The AP took over administration of the poll from Greenberg, and switched to a panel of writers. In 1994, Tennessee started out as No. 1 in the polls with Connecticut at No. 4. After losses by the No. 2 and No. 3 teams, Tennessee and Connecticut were ranked No. 1 and No. 2, headed into a showdown, scheduled as a special event on Martin Luther King day, the only women's basketball game scheduled on that day. Because of
1456-652: The BCS equation by the newly created Harris Interactive College Football Poll . The AP Poll is not the only college football poll. The other major poll is the Coaches Poll , which has been published by several organizations: the United Press (1950–1957), the United Press International (1958–1990), USA Today (1991–present), CNN (1991–1996), and ESPN (1997–2005). Having two major polls has led to numerous "split" national titles, where
1508-515: The BCS poll. Going into their final game, the Golden Bears were made aware that while margin of victory did not affect computer rankings, it did affect human polls and just eight voters changing their vote could affect the final standings. Both teams won their game that week, but the Texas coach, Mack Brown , had made a public effort to lobby for his team to be moved higher in the ranking. When
1560-416: The BCS system broke down when the final BCS standings ranked the University of Southern California (USC) at No. 3 while the two human polls in the system had ranked USC at No. 1. As a result, USC did not play in the BCS' designated national championship game. USC (who had earlier in the season lost in triple-overtime to an unranked U of California, 31–24) went on to decisively defeat No. 4 ranked Michigan in
1612-851: The Cougars include the first nationally syndicated NCAA basketball game, known as the " Game of the Century ," and the NCAA National Championship Games in 1983 and 1984 . The women's team has made the NCAA Tournament in 1988, 1992, 2004, 2005, and 2011. Along with the university's other athletic teams, the baseball team is a member of the Big 12 Conference as a Division I team. They play their home games at Schroeder Park and are currently coached by Todd Whitting . The Houston Cougars baseball program has appeared in 22 NCAA Regionals, four Super Regionals, and two College World Series . The Houston Cougars softball team
Houston–Rice rivalry - Misplaced Pages Continue
1664-483: The Cougars joined the American Athletic Conference in 2013. The team played its home games at Robertson Stadium before it was closed and demolished after the 2012 season. The Cougars divided their home schedule in their first AAC season between Reliant Stadium and BBVA Compass Stadium ; the new TDECU Stadium opened on the Robertson Stadium site in 2014. The Cougars are coached by Willie Fritz , who
1716-525: The Top 20 team was produced. The initial list of coaches did not include Pat Summitt , who asked to join the group, not to improve her rankings, but because of the lack of media coverage. Summitt believed it would be a good way to stay on top of who the top teams were outside of her own schedule. The poll continued to be a top 20 poll through 1989. The number was increased to 25 in 1990 and subsequent years. The contributors continued to be coaches until 1994, when
1768-427: The University of Houston are scarlet red and albino white, and the mascot is a cougar named Shasta . Houston's traditional rival has been Rice with whom the Cougars shared a conference for thirty-three non-consecutive years (see also Houston–Rice rivalry ). Houston has had notable sports teams in its history, including Phi Slama Jama and the sixteen-time national champion men's golf team . The university's campus
1820-470: The central traffic artery through the campus. At times in the past, some of the university's teams have played their home games at off-campus venues such as the Astrodome and Rice Stadium . The golf programs compete off campus because they do not have a dedicated golf course on campus. University of Houston's current sports facilities include the following: The Houston Dynamo of Major League Soccer
1872-482: The competition included an annual regular-season football game between the schools. The winner of the game receives the Bayou Bucket , which is a full-sized trophy with a golden bucket on top. Although the last Southwest Conference football game was part of the series, the teams no longer compete against each other regularly. However, they still play as non-conference foes as future schedules allow. Houston leads
1924-401: The final AP poll as the national champion for that season. While the AP poll currently lists the Top 25 teams in the nation, from 1936 to 1988 , the wire service only ranked twenty teams, except from 1961 to 1967 , when only ten teams were recognized. The AP expanded to the current 25 teams in 1989 . The AP began conducting a preseason poll in 1950 . At the end of the 1947 season,
1976-520: The highest % of AP poll top 25 appearances, top 10 appearances, top 5 appearances, as well as preseason and end of season appearances. Kentucky has appeared in over 75% of the AP polls since the 1948–49 season. On January 10, 2024, the Associated Press published an article detailing their 75th anniversary of the AP poll for men's college basketball. In this article they highlight the most successful programs in terms of rankings released by
2028-687: The hometown Houston Rockets in 1994–95, with Olajuwon being the Finals MVP for both titles) and also were part of the legendary Cougars fraternity Phi Slama Jama , as well as Otis Birdsong and Hall of Famer Elvin Hayes (who would win one NBA Championship with the Washington Bullets in 1978). Each of these players has had his number retired. Notable coaches for the Cougars are Guy Lewis , Clyde Drexler and Kelvin Sampson. Notable games for
2080-476: The human polls were released, Texas remained behind Cal, but it had closed the gap enough so that the BCS poll (which determines placement) placed Texas above Cal, angering both Cal and its conference, the Pac-10 . The final poll positions had been unchanged with Cal at No. 4 AP, No. 4 coaches, and No. 6 computers polls and Texas at No. 6 AP, No. 5 coaches, and No. 4 computer polls. The AP Poll voters were caught in
2132-420: The men's and women's NCAA basketball tournament, also known as March Madness . The poll is usually released every Monday and voters' ballots are publicized. The AP began compiling a ranking of the top 20 college men's basketball teams during the 1948–1949 season . It has issued this poll continuously since the 1950–1951 season . Beginning with the 1989-1990 season , the poll expanded to 25 teams. Kentucky has
Houston–Rice rivalry - Misplaced Pages Continue
2184-554: The middle because their vote changes were automatically publicized, while the votes of the Coaches poll were kept confidential. Although there had been a more substantial shift in the votes of the Coaches Poll, the only clear targets for the ire of fanatical fans were the voters in the AP Poll. While officials from both Cal and the Pac-10 called for the coaches' votes to be publicized, the overtures were turned down and did little to solve
2236-417: The nation. Each voter provides their own ranking of the top 25 teams, and the individual rankings are then combined to produce the national ranking by giving a team 25 points for a first place vote, 24 for a second place vote, and so on down to 1 point for a twenty-fifth place vote. Ballots of the voting members in the AP poll are publicized. The football poll is released Sundays at 2 pm Eastern time during
2288-470: The problem of AP voters. Cal went on to lose to Texas Tech in the Holiday Bowl. Texas defeated Michigan in the Rose Bowl. Many members of the press who voted in the AP Poll were upset by the controversy and, at the behest of its members, the AP asked that its poll no longer be used in the BCS rankings. The 2004 season was the last season that the AP Poll was used in the BCS rankings. It was replaced in
2340-455: The season, unless ranked teams have not finished their games. The AP college football poll's origins go back to the 1930s. The news media began running their own polls of sports writers to determine, by popular opinion, the best college football teams in the country. One of the earliest such polls was conducted by the AP in November 1934 . In 1935 , AP sports editor Alan J. Gould declared
2392-664: The series 34–12 through the 2024 season. September 11, 1971 : The first-ever matchup between Houston and Rice, The Cougars claimed a 23–21 victory over the Owls in what is still the most attended game in series history, with 62,000 people showing up to watch. December 2, 1995 : In what was the last football game in Southwest Conference history, Houston came away with a thrilling 18–17 victory over Rice thanks to two-fourth quarter touchdown passes from quarterback Chuck Clements . October 27, 2011 : No. 18 Houston cruised to
2444-402: The two polls disagreed on the No. 1 team. This has occurred on eleven different occasions (1954, 1957, 1965, 1970, 1973, 1974, 1978, 1990, 1991, 1997, 2003). In Division I men's and women's college basketball, the AP Poll is largely just a tool to compare schools throughout the season and spark debate, as it has no bearing on postseason play. Generally, all top 25 teams in the poll are invited to
2496-419: The unusual circumstances, the decision was made to hold off the AP voting for one day, to ensure it would be after the game. Connecticut won the game, and moved into first place in the AP poll, published on Tuesday for the only time. (Connecticut went on to complete an undefeated season.) Over the history of the poll, over 255 coaches have had a team represented in polls. Beginning in 2012, the AP began issuing
2548-495: Was a tenant at Robertson Stadium until 2011. The stadium hosted the MLS Western Conference Final in 2006 and 2007. AP Poll The Associated Press poll ( AP poll ) provides weekly rankings of the top 25 NCAA teams in one of three Division I college sports: football , men's basketball and women's basketball . The rankings are compiled by polling 62 sportswriters and broadcasters from across
2600-530: Was named head coach in December 2023. The Cougars joined the Big 12 Conference on July 1, 2023. The Houston Cougars men's basketball team represents the University of Houston in NCAA Division I men's basketball competition. The Cougars Men's basketball team plays in the Big 12 Conference. The team last played in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament in 2024. The Cougars are currently coached by Kelvin Sampson . The Cougars play their home games in
2652-408: Was the very problem that the BCS was created to solve, and has been widely considered an embarrassment. In 2004, a new controversy erupted at the end of the season when Auburn and Utah , who both finished the regular season 12–0 , were left out of the BCS title game in favor of Oklahoma who also was 12–0 and had won decisively over Colorado in the Big 12 Championship game. USC went on to
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#17327868868202704-522: Was women's golf. Two players represented UH as individuals in the 2014 season (played during the 2013–14 school year), and a complete team was formed starting in the 2014–15 season. UH fielded its first varsity intercollegiate football team in 1946. The Houston Cougars football team currently competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision . After completing 18 seasons in C-USA in 2012 ,
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