HOUSTON (AP) Kyle Allen threw for two touchdowns as Houston ran up a big first-half lead and held it to beat Rice 38-3 on Saturday night.

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 (2-0) 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 with 309 yards 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).

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