Rice and UTEP is one of the longest standing annual rivalries in Conference USA. Save for 2020, when the matchup got canceled on gameday due to positive COVID-19 cases, the Owls and Miners have squared off every year dating back to 1999.
Heading into Thursday night’s matchup in Houston, both the Owls and Miners have four wins on their plate. A triumph at Rice Stadium inches one of these Texas-based programs back to bowl eligibility, while a loss makes reaching the postseason incredibly difficult for both participants.
The city of Houston will be at the forefront of the sports world Thursday night, as the Astros participate in the World Series, the Texans host the Eagles on Thursday Night Football, and Rice plays host to the first non-MAC football game of Week 10.