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The Roost Podcast | No Treats in Rice Football Halloween loss to Memphis

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Rice Football never came close to scary Memphis on Halloween night. We talk through the loss in this week’s episode of the Roost Podcast.

Any thoughts of an upset were quickly laid to rest on Friday night when Rice football fell behind 21-0 in the early goings against a ranked Memphis squad. There were plenty of things that didn’t go according to plan, making a win a long shot at best before halftime arrived. You can find previous episodes on the podcast page. For now, give a listen to Episode 218.

Episode Notes

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Rice Football vs Memphis Game Recap

  • Talent gap in the trenches poses an early problem
  • Offensive inconsistency explains a lot of the crooked score
  • Defense not fully to blame for the points amassed
  • Penalties and sloppy play marred any chance on an upset
  • A potential bowl chance remains in play?

Where can you find us?

The Roost Podcast is part of the Dave Campbell’s College Podcast Network. You’ll still get the same content with the same hosts, but now under the DCTF banner. If it’s happening in college football in Texas, we’re talking about it. You can find this podcast and all of our partner podcasts on Apple, Spotify and wherever you get your podcasts.

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Rice Basketball Routs College of Biblical Studies in Opener

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Rice basketball never trailed in its season opener against the College of Biblical Studies, dispatching the non-NCAA program with ease on the Owls’ home court.

Year 2 of the Rob Lanier era got off to an encouraging start with a no-doubt rout of the College of Biblical Studies. Jalen Smith scored the first points of the 2025-2026 Rice Basketball season with a three-pointer on the Owls’ first possession, repeating the favor on the ensuing possession. Rice before Andrew Akuchie scored on back-to-back possessions, too. Trae Broadnax followed with a layup to give Rice a prompt double-digit advantage.

The shot making continued to progress at a high level throughout the course of the game as the team rotated in the vast majority of its heathy roster. When combined with a an energetic defense, Rice was able to produce a staggering 29-0 run which turned a 28-14 game into a blowout in the span of less than seven minutes of game time.

NEWS: Rice Launches The Gateway Project, Rice Stadium Renovation

“We have to worry about ourselves,” Rice basketball center Stephen Giwa said. “Doesn’t matter who we’re playing against, that’s what’s going to carry us over. Getting stops, that’s going to lead to easy baskets. So we just gotta focus on that first as a team.”

By the time the halftime buzzer sounded, Rice had scored a record 65 points in the half and was well on its way to shattering other program bests. Rice would go on to win by a final score of 109-38, the 33rd 100-point game in program history. The 71-point differential represents their second-largest margin of victory in program history, falling just short of the all-time record, a 73-point win in a 97-22 victory over Baylor in 1945.

Final Box | Rice 109, College of Biblical Studies 25

What They’re Saying

Key takeaway | Defense. Defense. Defense.

When he met with the media before the season, Lanier made his expectations and ambitions for this team crystal clear. “It starts with being a great defensive team,” he said. “Without that, any goals that we might set out to achieve, we’re going to fall short.”

Lanier had hinted that the team had taken steps in that direction a season ago, but still had work to do. They didn’t completely close the gap between those desires and their current state on Tuesday night in Tudor, but they did put forth a strong first step.

When asked for what led to the early separation in the game, Lanier credited that defense.

“It was the defense. I thought the bigs, Stephen and Jimmy, they rebounded the ball really well and we got out and ran,” Lanier said. “To be the team we want to be, we’re going to have to defend at a high level and we’re going to have to run and play with some space and we still haven’t quite gotten that yet.”

The College of Biblical Studies scored just 38 points and was held 27 percent shooting from the field. The Owls’ press was harrowing and confusing for the Ambassadors who never came close to finding any sort of offensive rhythm.

Up Next: at Oregon (Nov. 7 at 9:00 pm)

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Rice Football 2025: UAB presser quotes and depth chart

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Next up for Rice football, a home game against UAB. Here’s what head coach Scott Abell had to say about the matchup and a few depth chart notes.

Head coach Scott Abell and a set of players met with the media for their customary weekly availability. They recapped the Memphis game and looked ahead at their upcoming matchup with UAB.

We touch on those items, then dig into the Rice football depth chart and what the team looks like heading into the weekend. First, the quotes:

Press Conference Quotes

We’re looking at everything from, what’s our Saturday morning schedule to what is our Friday evening schedule with our guys to what is our pre-game schedule? To what music are we warming up to? We are really tackling every possible thing that we have control over so we can get out the gate a little better. Because that’s been a common theme. I’ve stood here before and said we’ve played some really good football after the first quarter. This is not the first time I’ve said that. Some of that is our opponents and some of it is ourselves. So what can we control? – Rice Football head coach Scott Abell on getting the team to start faster

He gives them the ability to expand their running game and still keep the pass game concepts that they’ve worked hard on in place. I think he’s a little more mobile. I think he makes plays with his feet. He improvises. I think that’s a challenge for your defense that maybe you don’t get that full range with the other two guys. I think he gives them a well-rounded picture of being more balanced and getting a run game going because I think they have some talented running backs. I’m not surprised that he got most of the snaps last week. – Rice Football head coach Scott Abell on UAB quarterback Ryder Burton

We gotta control the line of scrimmage. We gotta start fast. You’ve heard me talk about that a lot these last couple weeks. We gotta find a way that when that clock starts that we’re ready to roll and play our best football and then maintain that. The third thing for me, we’ve got to generate some turnovers and we have to protect the ball. – Rice Football head coach Scott Abell on keys to victory over UAB

Our mindset is to go 1-0 each week. I feel like if we keep that mindset and block out any external noise, anything like that, just keep our head down and work, we’ll be happy with the result, come Saturday. – Quarterback Chase Jenkins on the team’s mindset right now

They have good athletes all over the place, some really good athletes at receiver. … I think they’ve got some good backs. On the quarterback side, they have two guys that can go in there and get the job done. Like I said before, we can’t take any position, any situation lightly and I think they’ll be ready to come out here and compete. – Safety Marcus Williams on the UAB offense

Full Press Conference

Depth Chart

Rice Football, Depth Chart

Depth Chart Notes

There weren’t any major changes to the depth chart this week, just one change of any kind, actually. Semaj Pierre has moved in front of Landon Ransom. Any other adjustments will likely be injury related or driven by the subtle schematic shifts the Owls employ for this game. We’ll cover those in depth on this week’s practice report, available to those subscribed to our Starting Lineup Tier on Patreon, which should be out later this week.

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Rice Football 2025: NFL Owls Week 9 Roundup

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Rice Football is well represented on 2025 NFL rosters. Here’s the latest from the NFL Owls in action in Week 9.

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

TeamNFL Owl(s)This WeekResultNext Week
Washington CommandersLuke McCaffrey (WR)vs Seahawks (SNF)L, 38-14vs Lions
Philadelphia EaglesKylen Granson (TE)— OFF — —at Packers (MNF)
Jacksonville JaguarsAustin Trammell (WR)vs RaidersW, 30-29 (OT)at Texans
Detroit LionsJack Fox (P)vs VikingsL, 27-24at Commanders
Pittsburgh SteelersChris Boswell (PK)
Calvin Anderson (OL)		vs ColtsW, 27-20at Chargers (SNF)

Offense

Luke McCaffrey – WR, Commanders

McCaffrey suffered an injury on the opening kickoff of the Commanders loss to the Seahawks and was quickly ruled out for the remainder of the contest. He has since been placed on injured reserve with a broken collarbone.

Austin Trammell – WR, Jaguars

Trammell made his 2025 debut for the Jaguars against the Raiders this week, seeing one target on offense while making his biggest impact on special teams where he returned a kick 54 yards.

Calvin Anderson – OL, Steelers

Anderson saw action in his fifth game of the season this weekend, playing on special teams in the Steelers’ Week 9 game against the Colts.

Kylen Granson – TE, Eagles

Granson and the Eagles were on bye this week.

Special Teams

Jack Fox – P, Lions

Fox punted five times in the Lions’ Week 7 win over the Bucs, averaging 47.6 yards per kick with a long of 58 yards. He pinned two of his kicks inside the 20 yard line.

Chris Boswell – K, Steelers

Boswell was a perfect 2-of-2 on his field goal tries against the Colts in Week 9, converting all three of his extra point attempts, as well. He is 16-of-18 on field goals this season, including one blocked kick.

More Owls in the NFL

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

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American Conference Football 2025: Week 10 Roundup

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American Conference Football was back in action this weekend. Here’s the latest from the teams on the gridiron this week.

TeamRecord This WeekResultUp Next
Army4-4 (2-3)at Air ForceW, 20-17vs Temple
Charlotte1-7 (0-5)— OFF — —at ECU
ECU5-3 (3-1)at TempleW, 45-14vs Charlotte
FAU3-5 (2-3)— OFF — —vs Tulsa
Memphis8-1 (4-1)at Rice (FRI)W, 38-14Tulane (FRI)
Navy7-1 (5-1)at North TexasL, 31-17at Notre Dame
North Texas8-1 (4-1)vs NavyW, 31-17— OFF —
Rice4-5 (1-4)vs Memphis (FRI)L, 38-14vs UAB
Temple5-4 (3-2)vs ECUL, 45-15at Army
Tulane6-2 (3-1)at UTSA (THR)L, 48-26at Memphis (FRI)
Tulsa2-6 (0-5)— OFF — —at FAU
UAB3-5 (1-3)at UConnL, 38-19at Rice
USF6-2 (3-1)— OFF — —vs UTSA (THR)
UTSA4-4 (2-2)vs Tulane (THR)W, 48-26at USF (THR)

Storylines // Standings // Preseason Poll

The Home Tree Strike Again

This offseason UTSA head coach Jeff Traylor made an Avatar reference when he equated the connection between his Roadrunners and the Alamodome to the relationship between the alien natives to their home tree in the film. Something mystical appears to be happening in San Antonio, though. The heavy underdogs whipped American conference title contender Tulane to improve to 3-1 at home this season.

Mean Green Mash Midshipmen

It doesn’t matter where they play, North Texas is mauling almost everyone these days. The Mean Green comfortably put away the previously unbeaten Navy Midshipmen to put themselves in position to make their first American Conference Championship Game appearance. In this one, UNT running back Caleb Hawkins rushed for 197 yards and four touchdowns.

Don’t Sleep on the Pirates

East Carolina was handed a one-score loss by Tulane, but has taken care of business against every other G5 team on their schedule and remains alive in the conference title race after thumping Temple on Saturday. Tied at 15 apiece, East Carolina rattled off 31 unanswered points and had the game in hand midway through the third quarter.

Looking ahead – Key storylines

A Possible Title Game Elimination Game?

East Carolina, Memphis, Navy, North Texas, Tulane and South Florida enter Week 11 with just one conference loss. Two of them, Tulane and Memphis, face each other. Given how tight the race is, a second conference loss might spell the end of a any of these school’s championship hopes and knock them out of College Football Playoff contention as well.

Birds Leaving the Nest

UTSA has been a different team away from San Antonio this season, but they just proved they can hang with the upper tier of this conference when they’re at their best. South Florida remains within striking distance of the conference title game and needs to avoid a scare against the suddenly feisty Roadrunners.

Keeping Hopes Alive

On the other end of the standings, both Rice and UAB are battling for an outside shot at bowl eligibility. The winner of Saturday’s contest gets a step closer to threading that needle. The Owls would be just one win away with two games remaining. Any form of postseason appearance would be impressive for head coach Scott Abell in his first season on campus.

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