Next up for Rice football, a road game at UTSA. 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 FAU Navy game and looked ahead at their upcoming matchup with UTSA.
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
He’s a talented guy. He understands their system really well. He can make a lot of throws and he’s really athletic. His feet are the thing people don’t talk about enough… He’s just a mature guy, a good quarterback for them – Rice Football head coach Scott Abell on the UTSA quarterback Owen McCown
I think it’s best front seven we’ve seen all year. I really do. I think they’re athletic. I think they’re physical. I think there’s a lot of talent there. That jumps off at me… There’s no shortage of athletes running around. They play a lot of guys. – Rice Football head coach Scott Abell on the UTSA defense
I think he’s the guy that makes it go. If you watch their success offensively, when they’ve been real explosive, he’s making them go. When they haven’t been quite as explosive it’s when he’s not on the field… They’re still good, but they’re not as explosive. I think he’s the key. We’ve got to contain him. We have to tackle well in space. He’s one of the nations’ leading rushers. That’s our defensive challenge this week.- Rice Football head coach Scott Abell on UTSA RB Robert Henry
It’s been a steady, slower pace than any of us would want, but it’s certainly making strides in the right direction. I’m excited about it. I think the players see that now. There’s been more explosive plays over the last three weeks, now you gotta put it all together. You’ve gotta be able to sustain drives. –Rice Football head coach Scott Abell on the growth of the offense
Their defense is very athletic. Their front seven is very big, very physical. They fly to the ball. They don’t miss a lot of tackles. I think it’s going to be a good game for us up front. I think we have to match their intensity, be more physical. The UTSA defense is very physical. They’re fast. They’re athletic. They’re going to fly around the ball so I think it’s going to be a very good game come Saturday night. – Running back Quinton Jackson on the UTSA defense
It’s always been a game that I really want to win against these guys, especially. They’re a good football team, play well, play hard. That’s what we like to do, so it’s a battle of wills at this point.- Linebacker Andrew Awe on the rivalry with UTSA
Full Press Conference
Depth Chart
Depth Chart Notes
There are two notable additions to the two deep this week, wide receiver Payton Matthews and safety Jack Kane. The latter’s inclusion is a positive sign that he might be available for the Owls after missing the last several games with an injury. Matthews has moved up the ranks, displacing a few veterans that didn’t make their mark in non-conference play. His role should continue to grow moving forward.
As always, there are plenty of moving parts. Edge Michael Daley, who was a surprise inactive last Saturday, is not listed on this depth chart. I’ll have more updates on his potential availability 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 fell back to .500 with its first truly disappointing loss of the Scott Abell era against FAU. We dissect how it happened and what it means going forward.
A home favorite against FAU, Rice football couldn’t secure a win, dropping their second consecutive conference games and falling to 3-3 on the season as a result. The offense showed some growth. The defense remained challenged on third down. What does this mean for the program with half the season ahead and a bye-week not close enough. You can find previous episodes on the podcast page. For now, give a listen to Episode 215.
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Rice Football vs FAU Game Recap
Offense starts fast, shows improvement
Defensive injuries are starting to stack up
Bad breaks, bad officiating and make-or-break moments
Optics of a 3-3 start to the season
A looming bye week offers hope at the end of the tunnel
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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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Garcia saw inactive for the Giant’s Week 5 game against the Saints. This was the first time he’s been inactive this season after appearing in the teams’ first four contests.
McCaffrey made another highlight play this weekend, hauling in a 50-yard bomb from quarterback Jayden Daniels. The catch was the longest reception of McCaffrey’s career.
Granson saw his highest snap count of the season in Week 5 against the Broncos, splitting time between the offense and special teams. He didn’t record any receptions, but he does have at least one tackle in every game this season.
Fox punted five times in the Lions’ Week 5 victory over the Bengals, averaging a 44.8 yards per kick with a long of 64 yards. He pinned four of his five kicks inside the 20 yard line.
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 travels to San Antonio this weekend to take on the UTSA Roadrunners. How to watch, key stats, x-factor picks and more.
Both Rice football and it’s Week 7 opponent, UTSA, are coming off disappointing losses suffered last weekend to teams sporting Owl mascots. Rice fell at home to Florida Atlantic while UTSA stumbled on the road against Temple. Both teams are seeking a bounce-back this weekend in San Antonio. Here’s everything you need to know about the matchup between Rice and UTSA.
Kickoff time | 6:30 PM CT Venue | Alamodome – San Antonio, TX TV | ESPNU (Viewing Guide) Radio | Varsity Radio App (Online)
Sizing up the Contenders
Even though they didn’t receive any first place votes, UTSA (2-3) was picked to finish fourth in the preseason media poll. Every successive loss dials up the pressure on a season not going according to plan. They’d been on an eight-game winning streak against Rice until the Owls defeated them in Houston last season making the potential for a two-game skid rather unpalatable for Roadrunner fans.
As for Rice, building a winning streak over UTSA in head coach Scott Abell’s first season would help perpetuate the belief that the program is ahead of schedule and keep the Owls above .500, a mark they’ve yet to be below under Abell to this point.
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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 | UTSA leads, 8-4 Last Five | UTSA leads, 4-1 Last Meeting | Home 2024, Rice won 29-27
Passing | McCown – 111/175 (63.4 percent), 990 yards, 9 TD, 4 INT Rushing | Henry – 80 carries, 666 yards (8.3 yds/car), 7 TD / Henderson III – 40 carries, 159 yards (4.0 yds/car) Receiving | McCuin – 28 receptions, 277 yards (9.9 yds/rec), 3 TD / Wilson – 10 receptions, 223 yards (22.3 yds/rec), 2 TD / Amador II – 15 receptions, 104 yards (6.9 yds/rec) Tackles | Banks Jr. – 37 / Wyrick – 24 / Blackshire – 24 Pass Breakups | Rodgers, Meier – 3 / Wyrick, Martin – 2, 11 others tied with one Interceptions | Banks Jr. – 2 / Martin – 1
UTSA X-Factor | Be Ready for the Shots
UTSA owns the fourth best run defense in the American Conference. That’s the good news when it comes to facing off against the Owls’ run-first option attack. However, the Roadrunners rank dead last against the pass, allowing opponents to complete 64.6 percent of their passes and allowing 11 passing touchdowns, second most in the conference.
Rice has been progressively demonstrating competency in their downfield passing attack, buoyed by the return of Braylen Walker to the lineup in recent weeks, even in a limited capacity. Rice might not throw it a ton, but they’re going to make it a point to test this UTSA secondary through the air. If the Roadrunners can hold up on the back end, it could be a long day for the Rice offense.
Rice X-Factor | Get Off the Field
Third down defense will continue to be the x-factor for the Rice football defense until they find a way to sort it out. The Owls are one of eight teams nationally that allow opponents to convert on 50 percent or more of their third down attempts. Of those teams, only one other (Central Michigan) has won multiple games. Many of them are 1-4 or worse.
That Rice isn’t hapless speaks to how potent their defense has been in so many other areas. The variance will probably balance itself out sooner or later, but if it takes too long Rice will allow more winnable contests to slip through their fingers because they were unable to get off the field when they needed to do so.
Injury Report (Subscribers only)
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One Final Thing
Even when looking at the Rice football offense through the most optimistic of lenses, it feels like a bye week is necessary, at a minimum, for the group to take a material step forward in the imminent future. There are just too many players banged up and too much inconsistency when it comes to execution to believe this offense is going to click to a degree it wasn’t capable of just a few days prior against Florida Atlantic.
However, just because the offense might not be in its final form doesn’t mean Rice can’t win this game. Their ability to be in every game they’ve played at the middle of the fourth quarter is proof they have the mental fortitude to hang tough, absorb a few punches and find a way to respond. The key right now is not waiting until the curtains begin to close to throw that next punch.
Winning ugly is a skill, and often a prerequisite to winning comfortably, a hopeful reality which seems a ways away from this current iteration of Rice football. Still, a stout defense and just enough grit can go a long way against an imperfect team, which UTSA certainly measures up to in their current state. That’s going to require all phases to step up just a bit and find a way to get it done in San Antonio for the first time since 2013.
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Here’s the complete list of FBS teams that are bowl eligible as of the end of Week 6: Memphis. That it’s. That’s the list. The Tigers became the first and only team to clinch bowl eligibility this week, cleanly dispatching of Tulsa without much concern. 6-0 heading into a bye week. It doesn’t get much better than that.
Not the Same Old Owls
Speaking of high notes, Temple stunned UTSA on Saturday on the arm of quarterback Evan Simon, who threw two touchdowns to secure the Owls’ first conference win under head coach K.C. Keeler. Additionally, Temple is the only FBS team to have not committed a turnover of any kind so far this season.
Getting in the (Conference) Win Column
It’s been an eventful start to the season for both Army and South Florida, with the Black Knights on the wrong end of an FCS defeat and USF falling just short of a miracle run through a gauntlet that included Boise State, Florida and Miami. None of that matters in the battle for a spot in the conference championship game. Their comfortable wins this weekend do. Both squads are 1-0 in league play.
Looking ahead – Key storylines
American Showcase
Few had a Week 7 game between North Texas and South Florida circled as one that might have College Football Playoff implications, but here we are. The two teams have combined to start 9-1, with the only loss coming at the hands of a Top 10 Miami team. The winner gets a leg up in the race for a conference championship berth and an all-important potential tiebreaker in what is expected to be a contentious race.
Keep an Eye on the Big Easy
While it might not draw too much initial focus, next weekend’s battle between the Pirates and Green Wave could be particularly intriguing. An ECU win would emphatically announce their intentions to contend under first-year head coach Blake Harrell while Tulane has an opportunity to post what could be their most impressive conference win of the season thus far.
Owls Facing Gut Checks
This week it was Florida Atlantic staving off a lost season with an upset win over Rice. Next week the other Owls in the league face potential turning-point games in their respective seasons. Rice can bounce back above .500 and keep those bowl hopes alive with a win over UTSA while Temple could firmly cement themselves as ahead of schedule should they find a way to shock the Midshipmen.
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