Football Preview: Texas, Rice Look to Return to Normal

Saturday's Texas-Rice game matches two teams hoping to restore a sense of normalcy after last week's hurricane.

As Ike neared landfall, officials elected to postpone the Texas-Arkansas game, giving the Longhorns an unanticipated week off. Rice, whose campus sits in the middle of storm-ravaged Houston, played on the road last week and was delayed in returning home. Many in Houston are still waiting for power and water.

If Saturday represents a return to a somewhat normal schedule for the teams, Texas (2-0) certainly hopes that history holds true. The Longhorns have won 37 of the last 38 meetings between the teams, including the last five by an average score of 49-13.

Rice (2-1) is led by quarterback Chase Clement and wide receiver Jarett Dillard, who have combined for 37 touchdowns in their career. The NCAA record is 39. Those players began to emerge under former Longhorn quarterback Major Applewhite, who served as the Owls' offensive coordinator in 2006. Applewhite now serves as Texas' running backs coach.

The Longhorns' defense, although having allowed only two touchdowns this season, is still having trouble defending the pass. Texas is allowing 261 passing yards per game and ranks 98th in the country in that category.

Texas is likely to rely on several players in its ground game, from quarterback Colt McCoy to the running back trio of Vondrell McGee, Fozzy Whittaker, and Chris Ogbannaya.

With the Texas-Arkansas game now scheduled for Sept. 27, the Longhorns face a brutal stretch of their schedule without a week off. After playing the Razorbacks, Texas plays at Colorado, in Dallas against Oklahoma, and back home against Missouri in consecutive weeks.

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