Tre' Newton helped Garrett Gilbert ease into his role as starting quarterback for the Texas Longhorns.

Newton ran for three touchdowns and the fourth-ranked Longhorns overcame a slow start in a 34-17 victory over Rice Saturday at Reliant Stadium in Houston.

Gilbert is taking over this season for Colt Mccoy, who led the Longhorns to last season's BCS Championship Game. Gilbert played in that game against Alabama after McCoy suffered a shoulder injury and gained valuable experience.

Against the Owls, Newtown spearheaded a ground game that picked up nearly 200 yards and Gilbert completed 14-of-23 passes for 172 yards.

Rice held Texas scoreless in the opening quarter and took a 3-0 lead on a 42-yard field goal by Chris Boswell. The Longhorns took control in the second.

Texas scored 24 consecutive points, starting with a 51-yard field goal by Justin Tucker. Newton added a pair of rushing touchdowns. Rice cut the deficit to 24-10 just before halftime on a 47-yard scoring strike from Taylor McHargue to Randy Kitchens.

Newton scored his third touchdown late in the third on a one-yard run, and Tucker converted from 26-yards out midway through the fourth to make it 34-10. Rice mad the final score a bit more respectable with a one-yard scoring run by Charles Ross with 29 seconds to go.

The win was no surprise for the Longhorns, who had feasted on the Owls in the two previous matchups at Reliant – 48-7 in 2003 and 52-7 in 2006. Texas has now won 40 of the last 41 games against Rice in a series that dates back to 1914.