Saving the Bayou Bucket Rivalry in One Easy Step

Another day, another non-conference rivalry dies. Rice and Houston canceled the 2026 and 2027 games in the Bayou Bucket Series. While this game may not have the history of the Victory Bell between Cincinnati and Miami (OH), with the crosstown rivals playing 45 times since the rivalry’s inception in 1971, the rivalry represented a link to the Southwest Conference.

Both schools had gone years playing in leagues not geographically suited to them. Before Houston reunited with several Southwest Conference rivals, the Owls were the Cougars’ biggest rival. After SMU departed from the AAC to the ACC, Rice’s most fierce ju rival may be UTSA in a post-Bayou Bucket reality.

Still, the schools’ cohabitation in Houston provides an easy solution for the rivalry’s history. Both schools should play yearly at NRG Stadium, home of the Texans.

NRG Stadium has hosted the Bayou Bucket three times: 2004, 2012, and 2013. The two schools averaged 32,091 fans in those games, peaking at 34,831 in 2013. The schools are nearly equidistant to NRG Stadium. Rice is a 10-minute drive from the venue, while Houston is 13 minutes away.

If both schools are concerned about losing a home game, NRG Stadium and the Texans can base ticket allotments for each school based on their home attendance the previous year. Following this model, Houston would receive a 36,020 ticket allotment, while Rice would get 20,542 tickets. The allotted seats fall well below NRG Stadium’s capacity of over 72,000. If Houston or Rice sells their ticket allotment, they can always request more tickets, allowing both sides to maximize their revenue. To make the offer more attractive, the Texans can cover transportation costs of players and equipment for both schools.

Historically, Rice has had no problem “hosting” Power Five schools at NRG Stadium. The Owls hosted Texas at “The House that Andre Johnson Built” four times before. Since Houston is a Power Four school now, hosting them at NRG Stadium could make more sense.

While no one knows why Houston and Rice mutually agreed to shutter the Bayou Bucket, all can agree it was an unnecessary move to kill this Southwestern Conference rivalry. Some will say Houston’s newfound hubris as a Big 12 member and a new lack of desire to travel to Rice’s stomping grounds is to blame. If true, having the Bayou Bucket at NRG Stadium could save the rivalry.