Rice football closed out nonconference play as several Conference USA Football teams kicked off their first conference games of the season.
| Team | Week 4 | Result | Week 5 |
| Charlotte | at No. 1 Clemson | L, 52-10 | vs FAU |
| FAU | vs Wagner | W, 42-7 | at Charlotte |
| FIU | at Louisiana Tech | L, 43-31 | — OFF — |
| LaTech | vs FIU | W, 43-31 | at Rice |
| Marshall | — OFF — | — OFF — | vs Cincinnati |
| MTSU | — OFF — | — OFF — | at Iowa |
| North Texas | vs UTSA | W, 45-3 | vs Houston |
| ODU | at No. 21 Virginia | L, 28-17 | vs East Carolina |
| Rice | vs Baylor | L, 21-13 | vs Louisiana Tech |
| Southern Miss | at No. 2 Alabama | L, 49-7 | vs UTEP |
| UAB | vs South Alabama | W, 35-3 | at WKU |
| UTEP | vs Nevada | L, 37-21 | at Southern Miss |
| UTSA | at North Texas | L, 45-3 | — OFF — |
| WKU | — OFF — | — OFF — | vs UAB |
Notable Week 4 results – Standings
Another Rice rally falls short
Down 21-3, things looked dire at South Main. Then the Rice football defense pitched a shutout in the second half against a Baylor team which entered the game as the nation’s No. 1 scoring offense. The offense came up short, mustering only 10 points after the break, but Rice posted another tight result in a rigorous nonconference slate.
Mayday, mayday UTSA
Another C-USA defeat left the team on the losing end feeling much less optimistic. UTSA fell in a one-sided affair to North Texas despite Conference USA Football Preseason Offensive Player of the Year Mason Fine being limited to 195 passing yards and two touchdowns. UTSA Quarterback Frank Harris was knocked out of the game. His status is up in the air, making the mood in San Antonio rather dour.
It’s sweet to have three
With conference play only just beginning, there are only two C-USA teams who have reached the three-win mark after four weeks. UAB is 3-0 (0-0) and Louisiana Tech is 3-1 (1-0). The Blazers and Bulldogs both play their first conference road game next weekend.
Week 5 storylines
One last nonconference statement
Conference USA failed to connect on any of their major nonconference upset opportunities. North Texas couldn’t top Cal. Rice fell to a slew of Power 5 teams. Marshall dropped a close one to Boise State. The Thundering Herd get one more chance to shine the light on Conference USA football when they host a talented Cincinnati squad in Week 5.
The off week couldn’t have come any sooner
FIU was expected to compete for the C-USA East crown. They’re 1-3 with a close win over New Hampshire to their name. This is a team in massive need of a reset. Already 0-2 in conference play, the Panthers’ margin for error is shrinking. A break came at the right time.
Litmus test
Western Kentucky squandered a double-digit fourth quarter lead against FCS Central Arkansas in Week 1. They beat FIU 20-14 in Week 2 and lost a closer-than-expected game to Louisville their last time out. Week 5 will be a defining moment for the Hilltoppers when they face UAB at home. Which outing, the FCS loss or the C-USA win, will prove more predictive of Tyson Helton’s first year at the helm.
