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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 Football 2025 Game Preview: UAB

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Rice football aims to keep their bowl eligibility hopes alive with a Homecoming game against UAB. How to watch, key stats, x-factor picks and more.

Four-win Rice football is still mulling the possibility of a postseason berth, but getting their will likely require a win over UAB following a Halloween night loss at the hands of No. 25 Memphis. The Blazers didn’t fair much better in their most recent action, falling to UConn who had lost to Rice the week prior. Here’s everything you need to know about the matchup between Rice and UAB.

Kickoff time | 1:00 PM CT
Venue | Rice Stadium – Houston, TX
TV | ESPN+ (Viewing Guide)
Radio | Varsity Radio App (Online)

Sizing up the Contenders

A fifth win would exceed the program’s total a season ago and mark a significant step forward for head coach Scott Abell in his first season, but it would also keep those bowl hopes alive for one more week. That gives Rice football plenty of motivation to avoid another misstep against UAB.

The Blazers are playing under an interim head coach, but still technically have an outside shot at the postseason by virtue of their upset of Memphis prior to the Tigers’ trip to South Main. At a minimum, this is a program eager to put the Trent Dilfer era behind them and move forward.

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Get access to practice reports, analysis and special features during the week when you subscribe to our Starting Lineup Tier on Patreon today. If you want updates on how Rice football plans to attack this week’s opponent, position battles, standouts, injuries and more, this is your go-to source. Don’t miss out! Join now!

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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 | UAB leads, 7-5
Last Five | UAB leads, 3-2
Last Meeting | Away 2024, UAB won 40-14

Rice Football Stat Notables

Passing | Jenkins – 88/127 (69.3 percent), 844 yards, 6 TD, 2 INT
Rushing | Jackson – 126 carries, 677 yards (5.4 yards per carry), 6 TD / Jenkins – 112 carries, 366 yards (3.3 yards per carry) – 4 TD / Alexander – 74 carries, 392 yards (5.3 yards per carry), 3 TD
Receiving | Dickmann – 32 receptions, 305 yards (9.5 yds/rec), 3 TD / Turner – 32 receptions, 214 yards (6.7 yds/rec)
Tackles | Awe – 71 / Morris – 61 / Williams – 51
Pass Breakups | Crump (Suspended) – 6 / Williams – 5 / Porter – 4
Interceptions | Kane, Stevenson, Wyatt – 1

UAB Stat Notables

Passing | Burton – 42/58 (72.4 percent), 467 yards, 5 TD, 3 INT
Rushing | Jackson – 97 carries, 503 yards (5.2 yds/car), 3 TD / Beebe – 34 carries, 249 yards (7.3 yds/car), 5 TD
Receiving | Hooks – 45 receptions, 588 yards (13.1 yds/rec), 5 TD / Hawkins Jr. – 30 receptions, 344 yards (11.5 yds/rec), 2 TD / Milliner – 21 receptions, 294 yards (14.0 yds/rec), 3 TD
Tackles | Hightower – 55 / Small – 39 / Royster – 37
Pass Breakups | Crumpley – 6 / Fisher – 3 / Four tied with two apiece
Interceptions | Royster – 2 / Hightower – 1

UAB X-Factor | Limit the Owls’ Opportunities

Part of what has led to a more feisty UAB squad in recent weeks has been the Blazers seemingly newfound ability to maintain drives. UAB ranks fourth in third down conversion rate on offense in conference games, converting at a 49.1 percent clip. That’s a massive jump from their 39.6 percent conversion rate against non-conference opponents.

Rice has shown they’re good for a few strong offensive drives each game. The likeliest way for UAB to prevent those from happening is not to produce an abnormally potent defensive showing, but rather to keep the Rice offense off the field and dare the Owls to not waste limited opportunities.

Rice X-Factor | Avoid Negative Plays

Consistency on offense will remain the focal point for Rice football until the unit fully hits its stride. There were moments where that seemed to be the case coming out of the bye, but eight offensive drives without a first down against Memphis underscores how much work to be done. To get there, Rice has to eliminate the negative plays.

Rice allowed 11 tackles for a loss against Memphis, two more than nine allowed against UConn (in two overtimes). That drops Rice down to 136th in the nation — dead last — in tackles for loss allowed per game. That’s the opposite of what should be normative for an option offense. Navy is No. 2. Army is No. 17.

The Owls could see their offensive success sky rocket and ensure themselves a better chance to win this game if they can turn those second down runs that lose a yard into ho-hum three yard gains that set up manageable third down opportunities. It’s not a Herculean ask, but it could make all the difference.

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One Final Thing

A repurposed roster and a slew of injuries have contributed to an inconsistent Rice football team this season. This isn’t a group that has reliably bested teams it should, nor has it been a bunch that’s been afraid to out-punch it’s weight class and dare to deliver a marquee upset or two. Two wins as double-digit underdogs already this season is proof to all opponents this isn’t a team to be underestimated.

That won’t be the case this coming weekend, though. Rice and UAB are more closely matched in terms of talent and projected margins. That shouldn’t have any impact on the Owls’ preparation, but it does make this game one the team probably needs to win if they want to keep those dreams of a bowl berth alive.

That Abell brought up a bowl game in his post game comments on Friday was bold. It would have been much easier to sweep those thoughts under the rug, only to mention them if the team had taken care of business and gotten within a game of that crucial sixth win. But Abell didn’t play it safe and spoke confidently about his team.

If this team is going to defy the odds, double their preseason win projections and make a bowl game, beating a flawed UAB team is the best place to start.

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Rice Football 2025: Memphis Game Week Practice Notes

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The Rice Football offense took a step forward last week. What did the Owls learn and what can they replicate against Memphis? Here’s news from the practice field.

Chase Jenkins took a big step on Saturday against UConn and that’s carried over into practice this week as Rice football prepares for Memphis on Friday. This update digs into how Jenkins’ growth has impacted how the staff builds their game plan, which players have risen up to help him execute it and some important revelations in the offensive and defensive trenches.

Jenkins’ Keeps Growing

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Rice Football 2025 Game Preview: Memphis

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Rice football hosts Memphis on Halloween in a nationally televised matchup. How to watch, key stats, x-factor picks and more.

Both Rice football and Memphis posted thrilling come-from-behind wins in their most recent games. The Owls rallied to defeat UConn in double overtime, while the Tigers scored 17 unanswered fourth quarter points to beat South Florida. Now they square off in Houston on Halloween night. Here’s everything you need to know about the matchup between Rice and Memphis.

Kickoff time | 6:00 PM CT
Venue | Rice Stadium – Houston, TX
TV | ESPN2 (Viewing Guide)
Radio | Varsity Radio App (Online)

Sizing up the Contenders

A week removed from a head-scratching loss at UAB, Memphis kept its American Conference championship hopes alive with a gutsy home win over South Florida. The Tigers aren’t out of the woods, yet, though. Every win counts and they need another over the Owls if they want to play for that conference title.

Rice football is equally invested in the outcome of this one, with a potential bowl bid hanging in the balance. Knocking off Memphis would put the Owls one win away from a postseason trip in head coach Scott Abell’s debut season.

Get the Inside Scoop

Get access to practice reports, analysis and special features during the week when you subscribe to our Starting Lineup Tier on Patreon today. If you want updates on how Rice football plans to attack this week’s opponent, position battles, standouts, injuries and more, this is your go-to source. Don’t miss out! Join now!

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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 | Memphis leads, 3-2
Last Five | Memphis leads, 3-2
Last Meeting | Away 2024, Memphis won 27-20

Rice Football Stat Notables

Passing | Jenkins – 77/111 (69.4 percent), 744 yards, 5 TD, 1 INT
Rushing | Jackson – 117 carries, 655 yards (5.6 yards per carry), 6 TD / Jenkins – 97 carries, 332 yards (3.4 yards per carry) – 4 TD / Alexander – 68 carries, 379 yards (5.6 yards per carry), 3 TD
Receiving | Dickmann – 28 receptions, 292 yards (10.4 yds/rec), 3 TD / Turner – 28 receptions, 185 yards (6.6 yds/rec)
Tackles | Awe – 59 / Morris – 52 / Williams – 45
Pass Breakups | Crump (Suspended) – 6 / Williams – 5 / Porter – 4
Interceptions | Kane, Stevenson, Wyatt – 1

Memphis Stat Notables

Passing | Lewis – 141/208 (67.8 percent), 1644 yards, 10 TD, 4 INT
Rushing | Smith – 85 carries, 515 yards (6.10 yds/car), 6 TD / Lewis – 97 carries, 470 yards (4.80 yds/car)
Receiving | Braham Jr. – 36 receptions, 566 yards (15.7 yds/rec), 7 TD / Hawkins – 24 receptions, 431 yards (18.0 yds/rec) / Bussey – 16 receptions, 201 yards (12.6 yds/rec)
Tackles | Brumfield – 54 / Watts – 49 / Wilson – 48
Pass Breakups | Bracy – 7/ Cooper – 5 / Wilson, Jordan – 4
Interceptions | Wilson, Ward – 2 / Seven tied with one apiece

Memphis X-Factor | Win Third Down on Defense

In their most recent games, the Memphis defense has struggled mightily to get off the field. They allowed UAB to convert 9-of-13 on third down and USF to convert 12-of-18. Rice wants nothing more than to control the pace of this game and grind out drives, keeping an explosive Memphis offense off the field to prevent Lewis and company from making game-changing plays.

The more direct path to prevent the Owls from controlling the game script is to force Rice into third-and-long situations and avoid extended drives. Rice has proven they’re at their best offensively when they’re able to possess the football and stack play after play of incremental gains. Memphis can’t allow Rice to dictate the pace.

Rice X-Factor | Stay Balanced

Coming into this past weekend, Memphis boasted the best rush defense in the American Conference, technically. The Tigers had shut down some largely unimpressive rushing offenses before they were roughed up on the ground by UAB (219 yards, 1 touchdown) and run through by South Florida (295 yards, 3 touchdowns).

This is a defense that has been susceptible through the air and while the Owls might be tempted to air it out against a secondary that has been up and down, there’s enough proof that the run game can work against the Tigers.

Rice quarterback Chase Jenkins threw for a career high 191 yards against UConn, but that probably doesn’t happen without a career day from Quinton Jackson, who had a career-best 168 yards on the ground to keep the offense on schedule. Running the ball keeps this offense moving.

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One Final Thing

Oddsmakers pegged Rice football as a 3.5 win team coming into the season. The Owls have surpassed those expectations with four games still to play. And while the journey has been bumpy, the results don’t feel fluky. This is a young team, visibly growing as the year progresses. The future is bright, but if you’ve heard a single sound bit from Abell, he has no intentions of punting on the 2025 season as they lay the foundation for that eventual success.

During the offseason, we posited on The Roost Podcast that the unique scheme would give the Owls a shot to upset a conference frontrunner. That hasn’t happened yet, but Rice played Navy within one score and just topped a UConn team that checks in at No. 59 nationally in Bill Connelly’s SP+ metrics. Memphis sits at No. 31, much better than the Huskies, but not infallible; just ask UAB.

Add in a short week and getting to play at home, and you’ve got the ingredients for an eventful night on South Main. Perhaps things get a little spooky for the visitors. The Rice football team that took the field this past Saturday looked more than capable of putting a scare into just about anyone in this echelon of the sport.

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Rice Football 2025: UConn Game Week Practice Notes

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It’s been a week of rest and strategizing for Rice football as they prepare to kick off the second half of their season against UConn. Here’s news from the practice field.

A week and a half removed from losing three quarterbacks in a game and suffering a third straight defeat, Rice football looks refreshed and restored heading into its Week 7 game against UConn. It’s not all positive news on the health front, but the program is certainly looking in much better shape than it did two weeks ago.

This week’s update will hit on those key injuries, particularly at quarterback, as well as what wrinkles the program has been able to implement in the bye week and a few other risers and fallers in the off week.

And This Week’s Starting Quarterback Will Be…?

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