HOUSTON (AP) Highlighted by 484 yards of offense and a solid defensive performance, Houston Football improved to 2-0 on the year with a 38-3 win over Rice in its 2017 home opener inside TDECU Stadium.
With the win, the Cougars notched their 16th straight home win, to maintain the nation's active lead.
Houston QB Kyle Allen threw for two touchdowns and tallied 309 passing yards en route to an early offensive showcase as it took a 38-0 first half lead and never looked back.
Allen threw to Duke Catalon for a 10-yard score and Caden Novikoff kicked a 20-yard field goal for a 10-0 Houston lead with 2:29 to go in the first quarter. The Cougars went on to score on their next four drives, on short-yardage runs by Dillon Burden and Catalon, on a 7-yard Allen pass to John Leday and on a 3-yard run by Mulbah Car. That gave the Cougars a 38-0 lead at the break.
Allen, who finished 31-of-33 passing, left the field in the third quarter and was replaced by backup Kyle Postma for the remainder of the game.
Will Harrison scored Rice's only points, a 31-yard field goal with 2:47 left in the game.Jackson Tyner had 84 yards passing for the Owls (1-2).