Rice football caps off its home slate with a Senior Day showdown against North Texas. How to watch, key stats, x-factor picks and more.
Both Rice football and North Texas enter this week’s matchup off victories. The Owls took down UAB at home before a much-needed bye week. Then they watched at home as the Mean Green dismantled those same Blazers the following weekend. Now the two Texas teams meet on the gridiron this Saturday. Here’s everything you need to know about the matchup between Rice and North Texas.
Kickoff time | 6:30 PM
Venue | Rice Stadium – Houston, TX
TV | ESPNU (Viewing Guide)
Radio | Varsity Radio App (Online)
Sizing up the Contenders
There’s a lot on the line for both teams in this one. Rice is a win away from clinching bowl eligibility in its first year under head coach Scott Abell. With a road trip looming against South Florida, it sure would be nice to secure that sixth win before heading out on the road.
More: Undersized and Undeterred – Quinton Jackson’s Journey to Rice Football Star
North Texas is aiming higher and remains in the mix for a spot in the conference championship game as one of three one-loss American Conference teams in the standings. A second loss could boot the Mean Green from the game entirely.
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Last Time Out
Make sure you check out The Roost Podcast every week this season as we review the Owls’ most recent game, breaking down the key moments, decisions and their impact on the outlook of the program moving forward.
Series History
All Time | North Texas leads, 8-5
Last Five | North Texas leads, 4-1
Last Meeting | Away 2022, North Texas won 21-17
Rice Football Stat Notables
Passing | Jenkins – 99/142 (69.7 percent), 885 yards, 8 TD, 2 INT
Rushing | Jackson – 148 carries, 758 yards (5.1 yards per carry), 6 TD / Jenkins – 124 carries, 422 yards (3.4 yards per carry) – 4 TD / Alexander – 74 carries, 392 yards (5.3 yards per carry), 3 TD
Receiving | Dickmann – 33 receptions, 302 yards (9.5 yds/rec), 3 TD / Turner – 38 receptions, 217 yards (5.7 yds/rec)
Tackles | Awe – 79 / Morris – 67 / Williams – 56
Pass Breakups | Crump (Suspended) – 6 / Williams, Porter – 5
Interceptions | Kane, Stevenson, Wyatt – 1
North Texas Stat Notables
Passing | Mestemaker – 232/335 (69.3 percent), 3000 yards, 23 TD, 4 INT
Rushing | Hawkins – 148 carries, 933 yards (6.3 yds/car), 16 TD / McGill II – 75 carries, 389 yards (5.2 yds/car), 5 TD
Receiving | Young – 48 receptions, 781 yards (16.3 yds/rec), 8 TD / Dorner – 38 receptions, 617 yards (16.2 yds/rec), 5 TD / Coleman – 33 receptions, 344 yards (10.4 yds/rec), 1 TD
Tackles | Fields – 74 / Wesloski – 71 / Whitter – 58
Pass Breakups | Fisher – 6 / Armstead – 4 / Allen Jr. – 3
Interceptions | Jones II, Hammonds, Lewis – 2 / Six tied with one each
North Texas X-Factor | Find the Weak Link
On a down to down basis, Rice football has been a solid defense, allowing 5.7 yards per play which ranks seventh in the conference. What the Owls haven’t done well is limit the big play. Rice ranks dead last in the league in scrimmage plays of 40+ yards or more allowed. A revolving door at corner has been one of the biggest culprits, thus far.
Starter Khary Crump was suspended indefinitely and backup Jerrick Harper has been limited, forcing second and third stringers to become everyday players for the Rice defense in the second half. North Texas has one of the most explosive offenses in the country and will scheme up looks against those newcomers in the Owls’ secondary. If they hit on those plays, Rice will be forced into comeback mode early.
Rice X-Factor | Ball Control
Neither of the other option-based teams North Texas faced this season won, but both Army and Navy showed the blueprint to beat North Texas. The Mean Green defense is rather susceptible on third down and the offense is extremely potent, making keep away the modus operendi for Rice Football in this game.
Both Army and Navy converted better than 50 percent of their third down conversions against North Texas but turned the ball over three times apiece. If the Owls can hang on to the football and limit possession, they can force this game to be close down the stretch. If that happens, the Owls will have a shot.
Injury Report (Subscribers only)
One Final Thing
That Rice football has made it this far with the ebbs and flows of a first-year offense and the injuries that have plagued the defense, and particularly the secondary, all season is remarkable in itself. And as we mused in the most recent edition of The Roost Podcast, it’s hard to believe just how much hasn’t gone right and yet, they’re one win away from a bowl berth.
That’s not to say this season has been smoke and mirrors. To the contrary, it’s an incredible compliment to the staff and the roster for finding ways to win in spite of the adversity they’ve faced to this point. However, to beat North Texas, things are going to have to start going right.
If Rice can unleash the vintage, game-controlling offense they’ve been building, they’ll have a chance. If the defense can play at an elite level and force some turnovers, Rice might just be able to spring the upset. But if things don’t go well, this is the kind of game you lose by four scores.
A loss like that might not be devastating, given the circumstances, but it sure would be nice to see this team make magic happen. They did it once against a UConn team that hasn’t lost a game since. Can “lightning” strike twice? We’ll know for sure, soon enough.
