Rice football takes on Houston with eyes on keeping the Bayou Bucket on South Main. Here’s what we learned from the Owls at practice this week.

Rivalry week is the best week. For Rice football, that means it’s time to battle for the Bayou Bucket against the University of Houston across town. How much does this game mean to the Owls? Veteran corner Sean Fresch, who will make his fourth start in this rivalry series on Saturday, tried to put it into words.

“I’m excited. It’s always fun to play against these guys. We don’t like them. They don’t like us. But I’m pretty sure we don’t like them a little more,” he said. I love getting to this week because all the guys are fired up, not like we don’t every week, but this week is just different, rivalry week.”

Here’s more on the game, some injury news on the Rice front and news from the practice field.

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Depth chart check

Scheduling was tight this week with Bayou Bucket activities, so there was no formal press conference. I was able to get the depth chart, though, and there are a few changes this week from the initial depth chart which Rice football has kept consistent through each of the first two games.

On offense, Chad Lindberg is listed as the starting left guard, a position he held last week but has now been formalized. On defense, Plae Wyatt has been taken off the two-deep. Marcus Williams and Peyton Stevenson move up the depth chart behind him. The only other change on defense is Andrew Awe moving in front of DJ Arkansas as the Owls’ starting Mike linebacker.

Enoch Gota, who handled all placekicking duties against Texas Southern, has been moved to the top of the depth chart above Tim Horn. While there is still an OR designation, Gota is expected to be the starter against Houston. There are no other official changes, but player availability might impact how the Owls take the field on Saturday.

Stepping In

Safety Plae Wyatt announced on social media this week he would miss the remainder of the season with a torn ACL, an injury he suffered in the loss against Sam Houston in Week 1. The leading tackler for the Owls last season, Wyatt’s loss is a big one for this defense. If there’s any consolation, it’s that the next man up, Marcus Williams, is far from an unknown commodity.

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