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The Roost Podcast | Ep 61 – Rice Football vs North Texas Preview

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Following two consecutive postponements, Carter and Matthew and look ahead at Rice football’s upcoming game against North Texas.

After playing two games, Rice football has suffered two consecutive postponements. The most recent lost game, which we reference briefly on this podcast, came against Louisiana Tech. The Owls will hope for better fortune this coming weekend against North Texas.

Carter and Matthew walkthrough the schedule as it’s current constructed and what contingencies are left for Rice. Then they look ahead at the game against North Texas and break down how Rice matches up with the Mean Green.

You can always find previous episodes on the podcast page. For now, give a listen to Episode 61.

Episode 61 Notes

  • Housekeeping — Don’t miss this opportunity to subscribe on Patreon. You’ll get practice reports, film room sessions, recruiting news and the latest analysis and updates on all things relating to Rice Athletics.
    Become a Patron!
  • Conference USA news and notes
    • Three C-USA games postponed already for the upcoming weekend
    • Rice and C-USA are running out of open dates for postponed games
  • Rice Football vs LA Tech postponed
    • Rice has now lost games against LA Tech and UTSA
    • Second postponement from a Rice opponent since the season began
    • Decision was announced on Thursday before the game
    • No clear indication on rescheduling plan
  • Rice Football vs North Texas game preview
    • More on Jason Bean, the presumed starter, in this week’s film room
    • Jaelon Darden leads the nation in touchdown receptions, despite only playing five games
    • North Texas run defense is attrocious. Could this be a breakout spot for Juma Otoviano or Khalan Griffin?

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Rice Basketball: Travis Evee, Riley Abercrombie immediately eligible

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Rice basketball received more good news in the days leading up to the 2020-2021 season. Guard Travis Evee has been granted immediate eligibility by the NCAA.

The offseason was a hard one for Rice basketball. Seniors said their goodbyes and a wave of familiar faces entered the Transfer Portal. Rice would rebuild once again, hoping to do so with a talented freshmen class and a smattering of hand-picked transfers.

That process was expedited in mid-October when Boise State transfer Riley Abercrombie was granted immediate eligibility following a waiver request submitted to the NCAA. Rice got more good news this week, learning another transfer, Travis Evee, formerly of VMI, has also been cleared to play this season. That’s two big additions to the Rice basketball roster for the upcoming season.

Evee was the Southern Conference Freshman of the Year last season, leading VMI with 12.6 points per game. He made 36.2 percent of his three-point attempts at VMI and has impressed in his time on campus thus far. His immediate eligibility will be huge for the Rice offense, which needed another proven scorer as well as someone who can direct the offense. Evee could check both of those boxes.

Several new faces will join Evee and Abercrombie on the court this fall. Texas Tech transfer Malik Ondigo will be eligible this season after sitting out last year per transfer protocols. Grad transfers Cavit Ege Havsa and Tre Clark should both make an impact as well JUCO guard Jake Lieppert. That cast of new characters will join the likes of Payon Moore, Chris Mullins, Max Fiedler and Quincy Olivari.

There will be a lot of new faces on the court at Tudor Fieldhouse this season. Fortunately for the Owls, they won’t have to wait an additional season to see one of their most promising new additions in action at South Main.

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Rice Football 2020 Practice Notes, Presser Quotes and the next men up

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After another postponement, Rice football is ready to take the field again, hopefully as soon as this weekend against North Texas. Here are the latest practice notes and press conference quotes.

Rice football is two weeks removed from their most recent football. Oddly enough, the Owls’ first game against Middle Tennessee was the week following a matchup between North Texas and Middle Tennessee. The Mean Green haven’t returned to the field since.

Owls’ head coach Mike Bloomgren met with the media today to share some of his thoughts on the game ahead.

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There is a lot of encouraging news on the injury front. Bloomgren said the team didn’t have “many people left to get healthy.” That should include a few starters returning to the field soon as well as a practice sighting on the offensive side of the ball. Injuries and depth chart fluidity has afforded several players additional opportunities. We’ve also got some notes on a few guys that have stepped up in the interim.

Press Conference Quotes

“We want to make this the most exclusive offer in the country… one out of every four offers is committed to you or signing with you, we feel good about that because we get a chance to really develop real relationships, get to know the parents, the families and otherwise.” – Director of Recruiting Alex Brown on the upcoming 2021 class

With the way we prepare and with our process and what it’s all about, I don’t know if I’m real excited about those possibilities… I really would like more than 48 hours of notice that you saw UCLA and Cal last week. I certainly think that that would cause a lot of coaches in this building not to sleep for 48 hours. But hey, we’ll make it work if that’s the case. We want to play a game. And right now, we’re certainly planning on playing Seth Littrell and North Texas.” – Mike Bloomgren on the possibility of last-minute scheduling changes

“I think they probably found their guy in Jason Bean, and he’s the one that we’re going to prepare to stop. If Austin [Aune] jumps in there, their offense won’t change too much. They’re still going to try to find number one Jaelon Darden, and they should.” – Bloomgren on the North Texas offense

Who’s back and who’s not

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Rice Football 2020: NFL Owls Week 10 Stats Update

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Rice Football is well represented on 2020 NFL rosters. Here’s the latest from the NFL Owls in action in Week 10.

There are former Rice football players scattered across the NFL. Stay tuned each week for their game results and notables from each player.

Week 10 results

Pittsburgh (Boswell, McDonald) def. Cincinnati (Covington), 36-10
Cleveland (Sendejo) def. Houston (Gaines), 10-7
Las Vegas def. Denver (Anderson, Callahan), 37-12
Detroit (Fox) def. Washington, 30-27

Offense

Calvin Anderson – OT, Broncos

Anderson was listed as the starter for the Broncos’ Week 10 game against the Raiders. It was his first start since joining the team last season. The Broncos host the Dolphins in Week 11.

Vance McDonald – TE, Steelers

McDonald missed the Steelers’ Week 10 game after being placed on the Injured Reserve/COVID-19 list. The Steelers visit the Jaguars in Week 11.

Austin Walter – RB, 49ers

Walter got into the second half of the 49ers Week 10 loss to the Saints. He carried the ball once for three yards. He also caught a short screen pass and burst through the line for a 27 yard gain. The 49ers are on bye in Week 11.

Defense and Special Teams

Chris Boswell – K, Steelers

Boswell was busy in the Steelers’ Week 10 win over the Bengals. He converted three extra points and three field goals, including a long of 45-yards. It’s the first time this season he’s attempted at least three field goals in a game. He’s a perfect 11-for-11 on the season. The Steelers visit the Jaguars in Week 11.

Bryce Callahan – CB, Broncos

Callahan was credited with three tackles and one pass defensed in the Broncos’ Week 10 loss to the Raiders, but his impact on the game was evident from the start.

He was the only Broncos’ defender to register a pass deflection. The Broncos host the Dolphins in Week 11.

Christian Covington – DL, Bengals

Covington picked up two tackles in the Bengals’ Week 10 loss to the Steelers. He’s now had multiple tackles in seven of nine games this season. The Bengals visit the Washington Football Team in Week 11.

Jack Fox – P, Lions

Fox handed in another impressive performance in Week 10. He punted four times, pinning three of them inside the 20-yard line including a long of 51 yards. The Lions visit the Panthers in Week 11.

Phillip Gaines – CB, Texans

Gaines did not play in the Texans’ Week 10 loss to the Browns. The Texans host the Patriots in Week 11.

Andrew Sendejo – Saf, Browns

Sendejo had three tackles in the Browns’ Week 10 win over the Texans. The Browns host the Eagles in Week 11.

More Owls in the NFL

From practice squads to current free agents, there are others Owls on the cusp of returning to active rosters. Find more detail on current contractual agreements and former Rice football players waiting for their next opportunity here.

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Rice Football 2020 Game Preview: North Texas

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Rice Football hopes to get back on the field this weekend in Denton against North Texas. How to watch, key stats, x-factor picks and more.

It’s been a long while since either Rice football or North Texas played a football game. The Owls have been off (unintentionally) for two consecutive weekends, losing games against UTSA and Louisiana Tech because of COVID-19 concerns within their respective programs.

Things haven’t been much better for North Texas. Off weekends and COVID-19 complications have forced the Mean Green into a break that stretches back all the way to October 17 against Middle Tennessee, the week before the Blue Raiders visited the Owls in Houston. That’s four weekends in a row without a game.

Broadcast Info

Kickoff time | 1:00 PM CT
Venu | Apogee Stadium – Denton, Tx
TV | ESPN3 (Streaming)
Radio | Sports Map 94.1 (FM) / Stretch Internet (Online)

Audio Preview

We’ll preview Rice football vs North Texas on Episode 61 of The Roost Podcast which will be released on Thursday. Find us on the podcast page or wherever you like to listen to podcasts. (And consider leaving us a 5-star review while you’re at it.)

Visual Preview

Make sure you check out Inside the Hedges, a weekly show with myself and former Rice football quarterback Taylor McHargue. Watch it live on Wednesday nights at 7:00 p.m. here or watch it at your leisure on the Rice Athletics Youtube page.

Join the Conversation

What are your keys to victory this week? What pitfalls must the Owls avoid? Did you like that third down call? Share your thoughts on the matchup on the forum and make sure you tune in Saturday for our live game blog keeping track of every score and key moment.

Sizing up the contenders

Rice looked to have shaken off the rust in a big way when they blew out Southern Miss in Hattiesburg in their last game before a string of last-minute postponements. When they have been on the field, they’ve been playing well. Rice has won four of their last five games, dating back to last year. They just want a chance to extend that streak further into 2020. A win over North Texas would help solidify their up-and-coming surge is legitimate.

North Texas is coming at things from a very different angle. The Mean Green are 2-3 and haven’t been able to stop anyone on defense. Head coach Seth Littrell has been praised for his quarterback development, but the dreams of perennial C-USA contention could be falling by the wayside. Back-to-back losses to Rice would certainly knock them further from that rosy expectation.

Series History

All Time | Series tied 5-5
Last Five | North Texas leads 3-2
Last Meeting | Home 2019, Rice won 20-14

Rice Stat Notables

Passing | Collins – 30/52 (57.7 percent), 475 yards passing, 8 TD, 1 INT
Rushing | Otoviano – 45 carries, 195 yards (4.3 yards per carry)
Receiving | Trammell – 10 receptions, 219 yards (21.9 yards per reception), 5 TD | Myers – 6 receptions, 65 yards (10.8 yards per reception)
Tackles | Alldredge – 21, Montero – 17, Garcia – 13
Pass Breakups/Interceptions | Devones – 1 PBU / McCord – 1 INT

North Texas Stat Notables

Passing | Aune – 76/137 (55.5 percent), 1233 yards passing, 8 TD, 4 INT | Bean – 27/44 (61.4 percent), 427 yards passing, 6 TD, 1 INT
Rushing | Torrey – 67 carries, 444 yards (6.6 yards per carry), 4 TD
Receiving | Darden – 46 receptions, 689 yards (15.0 yards per reception), 10 TD | Simpson – 16 receptions, 328 yards (20.5 yards per reception), 3 TD
Tackles | Davis – 34, Sanders – 28, Nixon III – 28
Pass Breakups/Interceptions | Whitlock – 3 PBU / Sanders, Johnson – 1 INT

North Texas X-Factor | No self-inflicted wounds

North Texas has won two games this season, both of which required the Mean Green to score 50+ points with their opponents crossing the 30-point plateau. This is a team that is going to have to win shootouts and put up points in bunches. This offense has been productive for several seasons under Littrell and hasn’t shown signs of stopping yet.

If anything can slow them down, it’s their own mistakes. North Texas has lost the turnover battle in all five of their games this year. They turned the ball over three times in their loss to Southern Miss and three times in a win over Middle Tennessee.

Scoring 50 points a game isn’t easy to do, no matter how frequently you’ve done it in the past. Upping the ante by spotting the other team extra possessions makes it even harder. If North Texas is going to win, they have to limit the free possessions they hand to Rice. The Owls, who milked 13 minutes of clock in the fourth quarter against Southern Miss, might just not give the ball back.

Rice X-Factor | Pound the Rock

The easiest way to contain an explosive offense is by keeping them off the field. That should be fairly easy for the Owls to do given the putrid state of the North Texas run defense. The Mean Green are allowing 5.6 yards per carry, the worst in Conference USA. Their opponents have averaged 243.2 yards per game.

Rice has multiple running backs they trust to run with power and fall forward for extra yards. If North Texas can’t get them down at or behind the line of scrimmage, the Rice offense is going to continue to operate at a pace similar to their first two games.

Quarterback Mike Collins has proven he can distribute the ball and move the team downfield quickly, but allowing him to remain poised and work at a more comfortable pace will only aid his efficiency. Rice is a team committed to running the football. There’s no reason for them to let up this weekend.

Injury Report (Subscribers only)

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Need More?

The Roost’s 2020 Rice Football Season Preview has four pages dedicated to every opponent the Owls face. There are depth charts, important new arrivals and depth chart breakdowns for every team in Conference USA. Better yet, it’s not just speculation, each profile was created with insight from local experts who cover those teams day in and day out. Pick up your copy today and get four pages and more than 1,000 words on every foe.

Pick ‘Em Contest

If you haven’t yet, make sure you submit your entry for The Roost’s weekly pick’em challenge. Choose an answer to each of the six questions below and submit them on the forum thread to enter.

  1. Which team scores the first rushing touchdown?
    Rice / North Texas (or neither)
  2. How many total points are scored?
    Over 64.5 / Under 64.5
  3. Which team registers the most first downs?
    Rice / North Texas (or tie)
  4. How many players throw a pass in this game
    Over 2.5 / Under 2.5
  5. How many Rice wide receivers catch at least three passes?
    One / Two / Three / Four or more
  6. Who wins?
    Rice / North Texas

One Final Thing

At this point, getting to Saturday will be a win. Both of these teams are chomping at the bit to get back onto the field, especially Rice, which is one of only five C-USA teams that hasn’t been the at-fault party for a postponement since they began their season in late October.

This was a tight game last year, decided on a violent fourth-down pass breakup by Treshawn Chamberlain in the endzone to save the day. Building on that monumental play with a winning streak over a conference opponent would be huge for this team which believes they’ve turned the corner. All they want now is a chance to prove it.

Hopefully that chance comes on Saturday against North Texas.

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