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Texas returns from hiatus to host Rice

Sep 20, 2008 - 10:07 AM Rice (2-1) at No. 7 Texas (2-0), 7:00 pm EDT

AUSTIN, Texas (Ticker) -- Texas was forced to postpone last week's game against Arkansas due to the threat of Hurricane Ike, which ravaged the Galveston and Houston areas on Saturday.

Now it is back to work for the seventh-ranked Longhorns, who continue their non-conference slate Saturday when they host Rice, their second straight game against an opponent from Conference USA.

Texas (2-0) has not played since posting a 42-13 victory at Texas-El Paso on September 6. Colt McCoy passed for 282 yards and four touchdowns for the Longhorns.

McCoy won his 22nd game at Texas, tying current assistant coach and former Longhorn quarterback Major Applewhite for seventh on the school's all-time list.

Since the school is located in Houston, Rice was affected more by Hurricane Ike than Texas and was forced to stay in Nashville following Saturday's 38-21 loss to Vanderbilt. The Owls finally returned home Monday afternoon.

Rice's defense may be suspect, but the Owls (2-1) have had no trouble moving the ball, averaging 40 points and 430 yards per game. In a 42-35 victory over Memphis two weeks ago, James Casey caught 11 passes for a school--record 208 yards.

In the same game, Chase Clement became Rice's all-time leader in career passing yards with 6,242, breaking the previous school mark held by Erik Kramer. Clement is averaging 556 yards per game in total offense, ranking sixth in the Football Bowl Subdivision.

"They have a really explosive offense," Texas coach Mack Brown said of the Owls, who average an FBS-low of two penalties per game.

Clement and wide receiver Jarett Dillard have combined for 37 touchdowns, the third-best total in NCAA history.