The source for Rice sports news

The Roost Podcast | Ep. 221 – Rice Football Season Review and Signing Day Recap

By

As we close the book on the 2025 Rice Football regular season, we review learnings from the year, signing day and what might be next for the program moving forward.

Rice football finishes the regular season 5-7 with a big win over UConn and many reasons for optimism. On this week’s show, we talk through how we got here, what we probably should have seen coming and what else might be in the future for the Owls with head coach Scott Abell at the helm.

We talked through it all. You can find previous episodes on the podcast page. For now, give a listen to Episode 221.

Episode Notes

Patreon

Get exclusive insight on Patreon. Be the first to get the inside scoop on what’s going on with Rice football and stick around for even further analysis. That includes practice updates, analysis and more. Your support matters and makes The Roost better. Join our discussion on Discord here.

Become a Patron!

Homefield

We’re thrilled to partner with Homefield Apparel, the premier proprietor of college football clothing. First-time buyers can use the code ROOST for 15% off their order. The Owls hoodie is a personal favorite as is the Luv-Ya-Owls shirt. Make sure you check out the sailor hat (pictured below) as you shop the Rice collection or pick up something else (or both)!

Homefield

Rice Football 2025 Regular Season and Early Signing Period Recap

  • The 2025 Rice Football team overachieved vs expectations
  • Scheme shifts are hard, and it’ll probably stay that way
  • This roster wasn’t as good as we had it hoped it would be
  • What additional benefits might consistency bring next season and beyond
  • Rice flips a player from Baylor, inks highest rated recruiting class in program history

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.

Subscribe on Patreon for exclusive Rice football recruiting updates, practice notes and more.

Recent Posts

Rice Football Recruiting: DL Chris Knauls commits to Owls

By

The 2026 Rice Football recruiting class just keeps adding more playmakers during the Early Signing Period. Defensive lineman Chris Knauls has committed to the Owls.

Months ago, Chris Knauls was one of the top targets in the 2026 Rice Football recruiting class but the timing wasn’t right. Knauls made plans to sign with Michigan State before the coaching change opened the door for further conversations with Rice. Those progressed over the past week and are paying off now. Knauls has committed to the Owls.

Knauls will be one of the highest-rated players in the Owls’ class and had a long list of interested suitors before initially settling with the Spartans. The Frisco Lone Star product had offers from Texas Tech, Indiana, Houston, Utah, Kansas State, Tulane, Boise State, Cal, Colorado and a host of others. He’s one of a growing list of players to pick the Owls over a choice of Power conference programs.

With Knauls accounted for, the class now boasts seven defensive linemen, including a pair of rush ends. Knauls is the second new addition this week to the defensive front, joining JUCO signee Brock Reddic, who made things offer on Wednesday.

Premium: Rice Football Recruiting Offer and Commitment Tracker

There’s so much to love with Knauls on tape. The 6-foot-4, 250-pound is quick on his feet and versatile, something that Rice will certainly take advantage of when he arrives on South Main. His length will make him problematic for opposing quarterbacks.

Subscribe on Patreon for exclusive Rice football recruiting updates, practice notes and more.

Recent Posts

The Latest on Rice Football and a Potential Bowl Opportunity

By

The 2025 Rice Football season may not be over after all. Here’s what I’m hearing about a potential path for the Owls to play in a bowl game this year.

Subscriber content. Please login to see the full post or visit our Patreon page.
Sorry! This part of content is hidden behind this box because it requires a higher contribution level ($10) at Patreon. Why not take this chance to increase your contribution?
Subscribe on Patreon for exclusive Rice football recruiting updates, practice notes and more.

Recent Posts

Rice Basketball Survives “Test of Our Mettle” vs Texas State

By

Rice Basketball earned a big lead and lost it, rallying late and holding on to secure a home win over Texas State.

Physicality was on full display when Rice basketball hosted Texas State on Wednesday evening. A tight contest in the early goings was turned into a sturdy halftime lead in favor of the Owls’ behind one of the more dominant rebounding efforts the program has seen in some time.

Texas State committed just five turnovers in the first half and shot a respectable 42 percent from the floor. And yet, they trailed by 12 points in large part because the Owls outrebounded the Bobcats 22-10 with a whopping 11 offensive boards leading to 16 second chance points.

MORE: Scott Abell Inks Tremendous 2026 Rice Football Recruiting Class

Then, it was as if the visitors flipped a switch. Texas State exploded out of the gates in the second half, nearly evening the rebounding battle in the next 10 minutes as they rallied to retake the lead in a 23-3 outburst. That Rice opened the half 2-for-9 from the field did them no favors.

Facing a six point deficit, Rice fought back. Trae Broadnax keyed the rally with several heads up defensive plays, putting the Owls back in front on a marvelous fadeaway followed by consecutive made free throws. Rice took a five-point lead into the final minute before Texas State cut it to one. Jalen Smith then made consecutive free throws to extend the edge to three before Nick Anderson iced things with a pair of foul shots of his own with 1.5 seconds remaining.

Rice Basketball improves to 4-6 with the win. The Owls are 3-2 at Tudor Fieldhouse this season.

Final Box | Rice 77, Texas State 72

What They’re Saying

Key takeaway | Learning on the Go

Following a week of consecutive gut punches, Rice basketball found a way to finish on Wednesday in a game that felt much more meaningful than just a singular win. But of course, it wouldn’t come easily.

That Rice saw a double-digit advantage wither in minutes in the second half and still found a way to rally spoke volumes about how far this team has come.

“I think those are the moments that kind of define teams a little bit,” guard Trae Broadnax said. “It was like a test of our mettle and our toughness.”

“I think coming off the week that we had last week where we went 1-2 but we felt like we took a step forward. We tried to put our best foot forward today in some spurts, for sure.”

ESPN win probability gave Rice more than a 90 percent chance of winning in this game on three separate occasions. Between them, Texas State mounted their rally. Afterward, Rice saw the late game lead dwindle to one point. The next step will be finding ways to maintain that consistent advantage and render the need for a furious comeback moot

“I feel like these experiences we’ve had over the last 10 games have not been lost on the guys,” Lanier said. “They’ve learned from it and I think tonight was an example of learning from previous games.”

Up Next: vs Arkansas State (Sat, Dec. 13 at 2:00 pm)

Subscribe on Patreon for exclusive Rice football recruiting updates, practice notes and more.

Recent Posts

Big Fourth Quarter Propels Rice Women’s Basketball ast SHSU

By

Rice women’s basketball battled through three close quarters before blowing the game open with a big fourth quarter run to take down Sam Houston at home.

Sam Houston entered their Wednesday night game with Rice women’s basketball 5-1, but largely untested to this point. The Owls were quickly forced to reckon with the quality of their opponent, falling behind 5-0 after the opening tip. Rice would close out the first quarter trailing by six, not truly finding their offensive rhythm until the midpoint of the second quarter.

A three from Louann Battiston jump started a five-minute rally in which the Owls outscored the Bearkats 14-4, turning a seven-point deficit into a five-point lead. Sam Houston would cut the gap to three just before halftime.

MORE: Scott Abell Inks Tremendous 2026 Rice Football Recruiting Class

The lead flipped four times in the third quarter. Then, with Rice leading by just one point in the opening minute of the final frame, the Owls’ deep shooting finally started to connect. The Owls hit more three pointers in the fourth quarter (five) than they did in the first three quarters, turning a razor-thin contest into one with a 15-point cushion in the final minute.

With the win, Rice women’s basketball improves to 6-3 on the season and 3-0 at Tudor Fieldhouse.

Final Box | Rice 66, SHSU 50

What They’re Saying

Key takeaway | Finding that Fourth Quarter

The Owls’ fourth quarter box score was immaculate. Rice women’s basketball shot 64 percent from the field, out-rebounded Sam Houston 11-4 and had three steals and two blocks. It was one of the best 10 minute stanzas this team has played all season.

“That fourth quarter outing was what I expect from my team,” head coach Lindsay Edmonds said. “I’m excited to see that team show up more.”

When asked how Edmonds plans to get her team to replicate that performance, Edmonds pointed toward the growth her team has experienced so far this season and how much more poised they’re playing compared to this time last year.

“I don’t expect us to be, right now, as good as we’re going to be in March. We’re going to continue to get better. It’s their job to continue to get better. It’s my job to continue to get us better. And we will,” Edmonds said. “We will continue working on it. Every day I feel like we’ve done something better. I’m proud of that growth. I’m proud of where we’re at.”

Up Next: vs UNLV (Sat. Dec. 6 at 2:00 pm)

Subscribe on Patreon for exclusive Rice football recruiting updates, practice notes and more.

Recent Posts