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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: Memphis presser quotes and depth chart

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Next up for Rice football, a home game against Memphis. 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 UConn game and looked ahead at their upcoming matchup with Memphis.

The Roost Podcast: Rice Football vs UConn Game Recap

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

I think it’s much needed when you play your best opponents. You want to go into your Saturdays against your best opponents with momentum and confidence, and that we have coming out of Saturday. And we’ll need that. This is a Top 25 team and we’ll need to play with confidence. We’ll need to carry over that momentum from last Saturday into this week. That’s going to be important. It also enables us to be able to grow. – Rice Football head coach Scott Abell on the confidence the program gained from the UConn win

They’re a complete football team. And for me, it starts in two areas. They run the ball really well and they defend the run really well. I think whenever you do that, you give your program a chance to win a lot of football games, and they’ve done that. They’re an established program. Coach Silverfield has done a fabulous job. He’s the a longstanding standing coach in our conference, and he’s won a ton of games. There’s a lot of 10 winning seasons around him. The formula of running the football, establishing a run game, defending the run. Once again, it’s not sexy out there when you talk about it, but it gives your program a chance to win a lot of football games and he’s done that. That’s what jumps off the tape to me. They’re very well-rounded. They good in every phase, but they do a great job of defending the run, and they do a really nice job of running the football. They can put points up, but they do a really nice job of running the football. – Rice Football head coach Scott Abell on what Memphis does well

They have designed runs for him. They have some read schemes for him as well, and he’ll take off in their passing game. And when they’ve done that, that’s probably to me when they’re most dangerous, because it forces you to get an extra hat to the game. If you’re gonna put your quarterback in a running situation, you gotta defend that a little bit different. They’re getting the running back involved in their blocking scheme somehow, someway. I think that’s a different challenge for our defense. – Rice Football head coach Scott Abell on Memphis QB Brendon Lewis

We’re going to have to be great tacklers. We’re going to have to be physical up front and we’re going to have to limit the big play. To me, that’s the key to [Friday]. How do we limit explosive plays? And can we control the football, can we control the tempo and the pace of this game? And I think they want to do the same. – Rice Football head coach Scott Abell on the keys to beating Memphis

I feel like this Rice team, they’re playing like we got something to prove. The schedule right now, we’re blessed with having four straight home games. We don’t got to go nowhere. This is where we live at, we eat at, we sleep at, we breathe. Just being here and just planting our flag in the middle of the field and saying, whoever comes, they gotta come through us. I feel like we’re taking that personal. We don’t want to let nobody walk into our house and just do whatever they want, take whatever they want. It’s really a big pride thing. You can just see it. Guys in the weight room, guys on the practice field, guys are going harder. We only get one shot. Especially at a great team like this, you only get one shot. No second chances. – Safety Plae Wyatt on the program’s mentality heading into the Memphis game

Full Press Conference

Depth Chart

Depth Chart Notes

There is only one change to the official two-deep this week: John Long has been added back to the depth chart. He’s been out the last couple of weeks and his reinsertion points towards him being available on Friday. We’ll dig into that, as well the status of others like Braylen Walker who missed the UConn game in 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 8 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 8.

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 Chiefs (MNF)L, 28-7vs Seahawks (SNF)
Philadelphia EaglesKylen Granson (TE)vs GiantsW, 38-20— OFF —
Detroit LionsJack Fox (P)— OFF — —vs Vikings
Pittsburgh SteelersChris Boswell (PK)
Calvin Anderson (OL)		vs Packers (SNF)L, 35-25vs Colts

Offense

Luke McCaffrey – WR, Commanders

McCaffrey tied a season-high in catches with three in the Commanders’ Monday Night Football game against the Chiefs, highlighted by this incredible toe-tapping grab:

Calvin Anderson – OL, Steelers

Anderson saw action in his fourth game of the season this weekend, playing on special teams in the Steelers’ Week 8 game against the Packers.

Kylen Granson – TE, Eagles

Granson once again saw the bulk of his involvement come on special teams where he played 17 snaps compared to just nine on offense, the third lowest tally he’s had with the offense so far this season.

Special Teams

Jack Fox – P, Lions

Fox and the Lions were on bye this week.

Chris Boswell – K, Steelers

Boswell was a perfect 4-of-4 on his field goal tries against the Packers in Week 8, converting his lone extra point attempt, as well. He is 14-of-16 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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The Roost Podcast | Ep 217 – QJack Magic and a Rice Football 2OT win over UConn

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Fresh off the bye, Rice football rebounded with a double overtime win over UConn. We dig into how they got it done in this week’s episode of the Roost Podcast.

The version of the Rice football team that took the field on Saturday against UConn looked revitalized and ready, absorbing UConn’s advances and hanging tough for four quarters, and then some! In this week’s show we break down the win, talk about how the Owls got there and reassess what it means for the program’s growth moving forward. You can find previous episodes on the podcast page. For now, give a listen to Episode 217.

Episode Notes

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Rice Football vs UConn Game Recap

  • Defensive miscues loom large early
  • Jon Kay’s impressive adjustments
  • The Quinton Jackson show and triple option wizardry
  • New wrinkles on offense
  • Hope for this team moving forward

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: 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.

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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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