Flight Crew Last 90 Days 27; Flight Crew Total 20500; Flight Crew Type 1582
Confusion; Situational Awareness; Time Pressure
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Speed All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance
Human Factors; Procedure
Arrival into IAH was changed from LINKK to NNCEE. We were told to expect Runway 8R; but it would be decided by next controller. We left Runway 9 in the box with appropriate transition. Approaching KONZZ at 12;000 ft.; we were given 8R. We both discussed quickly putting in the Runway 8R with the assumption that we would go north to GOVVV after PRAYY. Flight director went to LVL CHG with the confusion and briefly we descended below 10;000 slightly above 250 kts. At PRAYY; within seconds of beginning a turn for GOVVV; the controller corrected us and vectored us for the south downwind.
Captain reported flying over 250 knots while descending below 10;000 feet due to confusion around a runway clearance change.