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Rice Football: The Good, The Bad and the Midseason Numbers

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At roughly the midpoint of the season, Rice football has felt like a mixed bag of some good and some bad. The numbers reflect that uncertainty.

The first Rice football bye week of the season doesn’t exactly bifurcate the season into two equal parts, but it does serve as a natural delineation between halves of the season. The staff had time to sit down during the week and make some adjustments, hopefully leading to improved performance across the board over the next five games.

What specific areas could they be targeting to improve? And what is this team already doing well? Here’s a quick look at what the numbers suggest.

The Good

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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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Rice Football 2025: NFL Owls Week 7 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 7.

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)at CowboysL, 44-22at Chiefs (MNF)
Philadelphia EaglesKylen Granson (TE)at VikingsW, 28-22vs Giants
Detroit LionsJack Fox (P)vs Bucs (SNF)W, 24-9— OFF —
Pittsburgh SteelersChris Boswell (PK)
Calvin Anderson (OL)		at Bengals (TNF)L, 33-31vs Packers (SNF)

Defense

Elijah Garcia – DL, Giants

Garcia was waived by the Giants this week.

Offense

Luke McCaffrey – WR, Commanders

McCaffrey was targeted twice in the Commanders’ Week 7 game against the Cowboys but did not record a reception. It was his first game without a catch since Week 1.

Calvin Anderson – OL, Steelers

Anderson saw action in his third game of the season this weekend, playing on special teams in the Steelers’ Week 7 game against the Bengals.

Kylen Granson – TE, Eagles

Granson officially got his second start of the season with the Eagles’ offense, splitting time between that phase and the special teams unit where he’s been a regular this season. He did not record any official statistics.

Special Teams

Jack Fox – P, Lions

Fox punted five times in the Lions’ Week 7 win over the Bucs, averaging 51.2 yards per kick with a long of 66 yards. He pinned one of his kicks inside the 20 yard line.

Chris Boswell – K, Steelers

Boswell was 1-of-1 on his lone field goal against the Bengals in Week 7, converting all four of his extra point tries. He is 10-of-12 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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Rice Football 2025: UConn presser quotes and depth chart

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

Head coach Scott Abell, this time with no players alongside him, met with the media for his customary weekly availability. He recapped the UTSA game and the bye week before looking ahead at the Owls’ upcoming matchup with UConn.

The Roost Podcast: Rice Football vs UTSA Game Recap and Midseason Review

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

You got to tackle better. You got a block better. and those are two fundamental things of football that will never change. Those are things that we worked on the entire bye week as we prepared for our next opponent. we’ll really find out when we step on the field the next time if the work pays off. I’m going to tell you I’m really excited about the work that we got done. I anticipate that you’ll see a much different football team when we step on the field Saturday against UConn. – Rice Football head coach Scott Abell on what they team is taking away from the UTSA game

When you see them on film, they are a unit that, they know exactly who they are… They understand their scheme really well and they fit. Teams that want to be multiple have to fit. Because if you’re multiple, but yet you don’t fit, then you open yourself up. They fit really well with all their multiplicity and their blitz and stunt packages that they use with their front, their front six. – Rice Football head coach Scott Abell on the UConn defense

He doesn’t make mistakes, takes care of the football. It’s what we all want our quarterbacks, no matter what system you run, you want to protect the football. [He] does a phenomenal job doing that. – Rice Football head coach Scott Abell on UConn quarterback Joe Fagnano

Without mentioning specific things right now, all of them have some type of day-to-day with whatever they’re dealing with underneath their name. Whatever that looks like, maybe it inhibits one of them from doing something, but another one can do something [else]. You could see multiple quarterbacks in a game because of what they’re capable of, health-wise. I won’t know that, probably until we get closer to the end of the week…
PJ [Crayton] had stitches when he went out. He’s fully cleared. He’s one on the [depth] chart that really has no restrictions. Everyone else, we’re day-to-day. How close can we get them to full reps as we get to the weekend will probably determine who gets the nod and what set of schemes do they get the nod in. But we’ll be prepared. Whatever they’re capable of, we’ll figure out what they can do best. – Rice Football head coach Scott Abell on the state of the Owls’ quarterback room

Full Press Conference

Depth Chart

Depth Chart Notes

This week’s depth chart looks significantly different than it did heading into the bye week. At center David Stickle is listed for the first time since his injury. Netane Fehoko fills in for the spot vacated by John Long, who’s availability this week is uncertain. Also on offense, Landon Ransom-Goelz makes his first appearance since his injury several weeks ago and Semaj Pierre moves into the two-deep at slot.

The quarterback position doesn’t have any listed changes just yet, but Abell addressed the availability of those players specifically in his remarks above.

On defense, a healthy safety room moves Peyton Stevenson to Viper and Daveon Hook back to their starting free safety spots. At corner, the indefinite suspension of Khary Crump pushes Jerrick Harper into a potential starting spot ahead of Lavonte Johnson.

Whether or not all of these new faces will see action, how much they’ll be able to do and what additional permutations could happen — particularly at quarterback — will be addressed in this week’s practice report, available to those subscribed to our Starting Lineup Tier on Patreon. That will be published later in the week.

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Rice Football 2025 Game Preview: UConn

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Rice football is off the bye, readying to host UConn this week in the Owls’ final non-conference game. How to watch, key stats, x-factor picks and more.

Rice football returns to the gridiron this Saturday for an extended stretch of home games following a much-needed bye week on bye after a one-sided rout at the hands of UTSA. UConn faired much better in their last two weekends, taking their bye week two weeks ago while Rice was in San Antonio before knocking off Boston College on Saturday. Here’s everything you need to know about the matchup between Rice and UConn.

Kickoff time | 2:00 PM CT
Venue | Rice Stadium – Houston, TX
TV | ESPN+ (Viewing Guide)
Radio | Varsity Radio App (Online)

Sizing up the Contenders

UConn will almost assuredly reach bowl eligibility with five wins so far and games remaining against UAB and Florida Atlantic after their game at Rice. The question now is how high can the Huskies climb? If things break the right way, this team could win nine games for a second consecutive season. That would likely require a win in Houston, though.

As for Rice football, they have bowl aspirations of their own, which took a hit with a three-game skid going into the bye week and games still remaining against conference heavyweights like Memphis, North Texas and South Florida.

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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 | UConn leads, 2-0
Last Five | UConn leads, 2-0
Last Meeting | Away 2024, UConn won 17-10

Rice Football Stat Notables

Passing | Jenkins – 60/89 (67.4 percent), 553 yards, 4 TD, 1 INT
Rushing | Jackson – 96 carries, 487 yards (5.1 yards per carry), 3 TD / Jenkins – 80 carries, 275 yards (3.4 yards per carry) – 4 TD / Alexander – 63 carries, 370 yards (5.9 yards per carry), 3 TD
Receiving | Dickmann – 24 receptions, 262 yards (10.9 yds/rec), 3 TD / Turner – 21 receptions, 136 yards (6.5 yds/rec) / Walker – 6 receptions, 49 yards (8.2 yds/rec)
Tackles | Awe – 53 / Morris – 45 / Williams – 37
Pass Breakups | Crump – 6 / Williams – 5 / Porter – 4
Interceptions | Kane, Stevenson, Wyatt – 1

UConn Stat Notables

Passing | Fagnano – 154/226 (63.4 percent), 1918 yards, 15 TD, 0 INT
Rushing | Edwards – 113 carries, 694 yards (6.10 yds/car), 7 TD / Brown – 16 carries, 159 yards (9.9 yds/car)
Receiving | Bell – 58 receptions, 687 yards (11.9 yds/rec), 7 TD / Neider – 14 receptions, 254 yards (18.1 yds/rec), 1 TD / Murphy – 18 receptions, 228 yards (12.7 yds/rec), 3 TD
Tackles | Bryun – 61 / Diomande – 55 / Chadwick – 37
Pass Breakups | Brinson – 6 / Mills – 4 / Molette, Pringle – 3
Interceptions | Five tied with one apiece

UConn X-Factor | Offset the Owls’ Attack

Given the productivity of the UConn offense, Rice will be doing all it can to find success of its own when they have the ball and keep it out of the Huskies’ hands. Questions in the Owls’ secondary and uncertainty at quarterback are already going to make things difficult for Rice. UConn can multiply those woes by frustrating the Rice offense with negative plays and excellent third down defense.

UConn ranks 14th in the nation in third down defense, allowing just 30.1 percent conversions. Top-flight pressure has contributed to that. Only 17 schools in the nation average more than UConn’s seven tackles for loss per contest. The Huskies’ formula has been consistent and it’s worked. All they need to do is replicate it in Houston.

Rice X-Factor | Corner Room Chaos

Rice football ranks third in the American Conference and top 50 nationally in passing defense. They’ve gotten to that mark with a makeshift safety room, which finally appears to be nearing full strength at the midpoint of the season. However, in reaching those marks the Owls have had the luxury of trusting the same two starting corners for the long haul.

Khary Crump is not with the program right now after he was indefinitely suspended following an altercation with officials last week. Omari Porter was briefly sent to the bench against UTSA for Lavonte Johnson. That tandem will now be asked to UConn quarterback Joe Fagnano, who is one of only two quarterbacks in the nation with 10 or more touchdown passes and no interceptions.

If Rice can hold up on the outside and control the UConn passing attack, they’ll have a very good chance to win this game, but that’s something that certainly would have seemed much easier before their last game in the Alamodome.

Injury Report (Subscribers only)

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One Final Thing

The 2024 Rice football team, which struggled to such a degree that Mike Bloomgren was fired, never lost more than three consecutive games. There was a stretch when the Owls lost five of six contests, but a win over UTSA in Houston was sandwiched between those losses to steal some fleeting hope. That’s really what’s at stake for Rice this coming weekend.

No, Abell isn’t getting fired, nor is his vision for the program in doubt in any material capacity. But hope? That’s in low supply around South Main right now and could use a boost. A boost that could come in the form of a skid-stopping win at home.

More than anything, fans want to see progress, something that has seemed largely evasive over their losing streak. They want to see a team that is getting better, particularly on the offensive side of the ball, where Abell has honed his craft for decades. And while he’s at it, getting back to .500 before a brutal closing schedule would certainly be a nice way to come out of the off week.

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