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Rice Football 2020: Owls get multiple starters back to practice this week

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Rice football has been hit hard by injuries prior to their season opener. Several of those players were back at practice this week.

Rice football is less than two weeks away from their first game of the 2020 season. The Owls remain on track to host Middle Tennessee on Oct. 24, with no fans. If you haven’t yet, check out some of the virtual offerings Rice has put together for the game. There should be a few more things in store this week.

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Perhaps the most notable happening in prior Rice football practices was the number of players who weren’t on the field. The injury bug hit Rice hard during fall camp. It’s already cost them the entire seasons of Cam Montgomery and Bradley Rozner. The Owls’ are still a ways from being fully healthy, but this week brought with it much more encouraging news.

First, Rice football is COVID-19 free after reporting one positive test on Oct. 3. They do not have any players unavailable because of positive tests or contact tracing right now. In non-COVID related news, we’ve seen a turn for the better with several key players who were on the field this week after missing time earlier in camp.

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What’s coming next?

I’ve got a few breakout freshmen that I’ll be sharing soon. It’s probably safe to say a few of them could play important roles this fall, especially if the Owls enter the season banged up. I have some more depth chart updates that I’ll work to have finalized following the third and final scrimmage on Saturday. Stay tuned for another update then, the last before we get to game week against Middle Tennessee.

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Conference USA Football: Championship game moved to Dec. 18

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The 2020 Conference USA Football championship game has been moved to Dec. 18, a two-week delay to allow the conference scheduling flexibility.

In an announcement that seemed several weeks in the making, the Conference USA football championship game will be delayed two weeks. The game was initially scheduled to take place on Dec. 5, but will now take place on Dec. 18. Per the league office, it will be televised at 6 p.m. CT and be hosted by the team with the highest league winning percentage.

In their release, Conference USA cited scheduling flexibility as a driving force for the change.

The shift of the Championship Game from its originally scheduled December 5th date will create two additional weeks to schedule games that were postponed due to COVID-19-related issues.  Dates and matchups for those re-scheduled games will be announced at a later date.

More: Week 6 Conference USA Football Roundup

It should be noted the conference opted to delay the game two weeks rather than one. This gives two additional weekends to play games. There have been multiple league games already postponed and one team, FAU, had already scheduled a game for Dec. 5 prior to the conference formally moving the championship game. The Owls are slated to take on Georgia Southern on that date, a makeup of a game postponed earlier in the year.

For Rice Football, this move allows for two additional weeks on the back end of the current schedule. I expect a rescheduling of the UAB to be among the Owls’ most pressing items, completing a full C-USA West schedule.

There’s also a chance the Bayou Bucket game against Houston is rescheduled later in the year. Houston is tentatively free on Dec. 5. One would assume conference games would be the priority, but if those are played as scheduled don’t rule an intra-city matchup between the Owls and Cougars this fall.

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Rice Football 2020: Owls in the NFL Week 5 Update

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Rice Football is well represented on 2020 NFL rosters. Here’s the latest from the NFL Owls in action in Week 5.

There are former Rice football players scattered across the NFL. Stay tuned each week for their game results and notables from each player.

Week 5 results

Cleveland (Sendejo) def. Indianapolis, 32-23
Baltimore def. Cincinnati (Covington), 27-3
Denver (Anderson, Callahan) vs New England, postponed
Pittsburgh (Boswell, McDonald) def. Philadelphia, 38-29
Houston (Gaines) def. Jacksonville, 30-14
Seattle (Willson) def. Minnesota, 27-26
Detroit (Fox) — BYE

Offense

Calvin Anderson – OT, Broncos

The Broncos thought they were playing the Patriots in Week 5 and the Dolphins in Week 6. Neither of those things came to pass. A positive COVID-19 test in New England delayed the DEN-NE game to next weekend with Denver receiving an unexpected off weekend. The Broncos will now visit the Dolphins in Week 6.

Vance McDonald – TE, Steelers

McDonald caught the only pass thrown to him in Week 5, hauling in the four-yard reception which contributed to a 14-play, 62-yard drive which ended in the Steelers’ first touchdown of the day against the Eagles. McDonald has at least one reception in each of Pittsburgh’s first four games. The Steelers host the Browns in Week 6.

Luke Willson – TE, Seahawks

Willson continues to see most of his action on special teams. Through the first five weeks of the 2020 season, 77 percent of his snaps have come on special teams with just a handful of plays run with the offense. The Seahawks are on a bye in Week 6.

Defense and Special Teams

Chris Boswell – K, Steelers

Boswell was busy on Sunday with the Steelers scoring early and often against the Eagles. Boswell had at least one extra point made in each of the four quarters, five in total, and converted his lone field goal attempt of 41 yards. The Steelers host the Browns in Week 6.

Bryce Callahan – CB, Broncos

The Broncos thought they were playing the Patriots in Week 5 and the Dolphins in Week 6. Neither of those things came to pass. A positive COVID-19 test in New England delayed the DEN-NE game to next weekend with Denver receiving an unexpected off weekend. The Broncos will now visit the Dolphins in Week 6.

Christian Covington – DL, Bengals

Covington had three tackles in the Bengals’ Week 5 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. He tied Amani Bledsoe and Sam Hubbard with the most tackles among Cincinnati’s defensive linemen. The Bengals visit the Colts in Week 6.

Jack Fox – P, Lions

The Lions were off in Week 5, but Jack Fox still leads the NFL in net punting and average. Detroit visits the Jaguars in Week 6.

Phillip Gaines – CB, Texans

Gaines did not record a tackle but was active in coverage against the Jaguars in Week 5, Houston’s first win of the season. The Texans visit the Titans in Week 6.

Andrew Sendejo – Saf, Browns

Sendejo had four tackles in the Browns’ Week 5 victory over the Colts. He’s had four or more tackles in four of his five games this season. The Browns visit the Steelers in Week 6.

More Owls in the NFL

From practice squads to current free agents, there are others Owls on the cusp of returning to active rosters. Find more detail on current contractual agreements and former Rice football players waiting for their next opportunity here.

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2020 Rice Football Schedule: How to watch, tv channels and broadcast info

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The broadcast lineup for the 2020 Rice football schedule is as up in the air as the season itself. Here’s everything you need to know to watch the Owls.

Every game of the Rice Football schedule in 2020 should be available to watch either through a local cable provider or some sort of streaming service. This guide will have the most up to date information for all of the Owls’ broadcasts, so be sure to bookmark it and refer back every Saturday.

Basketball update

Most of the currently scheduled Rice men’s and women’s basketball games will air on ESPN+. It is a separate, stand-alone streaming service from ESPN3. This streaming-only service is not included in a basic cable subscription or any other ESPN offering. You can subscribe to ESPN+ here. They also offer seven day free trials at any time.

Radio

Rice Owls Voice JP Heath will be on the call for every Rice football game of the season. Listen to him here:

  • Sports Map 94.1 (FM)
  • Stretch Internet (Online)

TV Schedule

The original Rice football schedule featured games exclusively on ESPN3 or ESPN +. The list below will be updated as revised information is made available.

  • 10/24 – vs Middle Tennessee | ESPN3
  • 10/31 – at Southern Miss | ESPN3
  • 11/7 – vs UTSA | ESPN3
  • 11/14 – at Louisiana Tech | ESPN3
  • 11/21 – at North Texas | ESPN3
  • 11/28 – vs UTEP | ESPN3
  • 12/5 – at Marhsall | ESPN+
  • 12/12 – vs UAB | ESPN3

Get to know the Owls’ Opponents

Profiles on every opponent on the 2020 Rice Football schedule as well as all Conference USA peers, including key conference games to watch and storylines across Conference USA are featured in our 2020 Rice Football Season Preview, available for purchase now.

How to watch

ESPN+ is a separate, stand-alone streaming service from ESPN3. This streaming-only service is not included in a basic cable subscription or any other ESPN offering. You can subscribe to ESPN+ here. They also offer seven day free trials at any time.

ESPN3 is available with all major cable providers and can be streamed on the ESPN mobile device or online. Access the streaming service here.

Possible Alternates

CBS SN (Channel Information | DirecTv 221, Dish 158, AT&T Uverse, 643, Xfinity 106). This is not the same as CBS. Depending on your cable provider, it might require a subscription beyond the basic package.

Stadium will broadcast through Facebook for this year’s game with no tv broadcast component. You can find the Stadium page on Facebook here.

Game Previews

Rice Football Game Preview

Rice Football 2025 Game Preview: Charlotte

Posted: September 14, 2025

Rice football is looking to kick off conference play with a win against Charlotte. How to watch, key stats, x-factor picks and more. Both Rice football and Charlotte played FCS opponents last week and trailed in the first quarter against their respective foes. The Owls caught fire and rolled to a comfortable victory over Prairie […]

Rice Football Game Preview

Rice Football 2025 Game Preview: Prairie View A&M

Posted: September 7, 2025

Rice football is looking for their first home win of the 2025 season when they host Prairie View A&M. How to watch, key stats, x-factor picks and more. Both Rice football and Prairie View A&M are coming off in-state losses suffered on their home turf. The Owls dropped a rivalry game to Houston, ceding the […]

Rice Football

Know Your Foe: Rice Football vs Houston

Posted: September 5, 2025

Houston is next up on the 2025 Rice football schedule so we’re going behind enemy lines with Coogs’ insider Sam Razz from the Scott and Hollman Pawdcast. Coogs’ insider Sam Razz was kind enough to stop by and answer a few questions about the upcoming matchup between Rice Football and Houston. The answers below should […]

Rice Football Game Preview

Rice Football 2025 Game Preview: Houston

Posted: August 31, 2025

Rice football returns home for the last scheduled installment of the Bayou Bucket against crosstown rival Houston How to watch, key stats, x-factor picks and more. The 2025 battle for the Bayou Bucket pits a pair of undefeated teams following Week 1 wins by Rice football and Houston in their respective openers. The Owls upset […]

Rice Football Game Preview

Rice Football 2025 Game Preview: Louisiana

Posted: August 24, 2025

Rice football kicks off its first game of the 2025 season this week as the Owls travel to Louisiana. How to watch, key stats, x-factor picks and more. Following months of anticipation, the Scott Abell era of Rice football arrives in earnest this week with the Owls’ season opening matchup against Louisiana. Can the new-look […]

Rice Football

Rice Football: Behind enemy lines with a USF Insider

Posted: November 29, 2024

USF is next up on the 2024 Rice football schedule so we’re going behind enemy lines with Bulls’ insider Seth Varnadore from the Bay Area Examiner. Bulls’ insider Seth Varnadore was kind enough to stop by and answer a few questions about the upcoming matchup between Rice Football and USF. The answers below should shed […]

Rice Football Game Preview

Rice Football 2024 Game Preview: USF

Posted: November 24, 2024

Rice football is set for Senior Day and their final game of the 2024 season where they’ll host South Florida. How to watch, key stats, x-factor picks and more. Any hopes of a five-win bowl berth for Rice football were squashed last weekend in a one-sided loss to UAB on the road. The Owls’ upcoming […]

Rice Football

Rice Football: Behind enemy lines with a UAB Insider

Posted: November 22, 2024

UAB is next up on the 2024 Rice football schedule so we’re going behind enemy lines with Blazers’ insider Evan Dudley from AL.com. Blazers’ insider Evan Dudley of AL.com was kind enough to stop by and answer a few questions about the upcoming matchup between Rice Football and UAB. The answers below should shed some […]

Rice Football Game Preview

Rice Football 2024 Game Preview: UAB

Posted: November 17, 2024

Rice football is back from the bye week and hopes to finish the season strong with a win over UAB. How to watch, key stats, x-factor picks and more. Both Rice football and their upcoming opponent, the UAB Blazers, most recently squared off with UAB and met similar results. Rice fell 27-20 in a Friday […]

Rice Football

Rice Football: Behind enemy lines with a Memphis Insider

Posted: November 7, 2024

Memphis is next up on the 2024 Rice football schedule so we’re going behind enemy lines with Tigers’ insider John Maddox from Rivals’ Tiger Sports Report. Tigers’ insider John Maddox was kind enough to stop by and answer a few questions about the upcoming matchup between Rice Football and Memphis. The answers below should shed […]

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Rice Football Recruiting: JUCO DL AJ Sargent commits to Owls

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The 2021 Rice Football recruiting class has picked up its first JUCO addition. Defensive lineman AJ Sargent has committed to the Owls.

The summer is in the books and Rice football is in the home stretch for its 2021 recruiting class. The early signing period is two months away and its time for Rice, and their peers to begin finishing up their classes. Rice has already turned some of its attention to offers for the 2022 class ($).  Rice entered October with a Top 5 class in Conference USA and 13 commitments from high school recruits.

On Saturday they added their first junior college player to the fold. Coffeyville C.C. defensive lineman AJ Sargent has committed to the Owls. Rice offered Sargent in September. The Owls’ primary competition for Sargent was an offer from Missouri State.

Sargent will provide a much-needed injection of talent on the interior of the defensive line where numbers have grown a bit thin. De’Braylon Carroll is the Owls’ only interior defender with meaningful game experience that won’t be a senior this coming fall. Adding someone who can contribute quickly will be a big building block for this class.

Premium: 2021 Rice Football Recruiting Offer and Commitment Tracker

Beyond what he can do in the fall of 2021, Sargent is expected to enroll early. He’ll be on campus for the upcoming semester, ensuring he’ll be available for spring practice next February/March. Getting transfers on campus early is always a plus. Head coach Mike Bloomgren acknowledge its benefits multiple times this spring when grad transfer Mike Collins saw his first action on the field with the Owls.

For Sargent, it only takes one quick glance through the film to see how impactful he could be at South Main. The 6-foot-1, 290-pound tackle sheds blockers quickly and has great pursuit. Having him and Carroll along the same front could prove to be a powerful combination for the Owls in the trenches.

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