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Rice Football 2023 Game Preview: Houston

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Rice football returns home this week to host the Bayou Bucket matchup against rival Houston. How to watch, key stats, x-factor picks and more.

Following a tough loss to Texas, Rice football looks to rebound against another familiar foe from the Lone Star State. They’ll face Houston this week, hosting the Bayou Bucket matchup after playing across town a year ago. The Cougars are coming off a narrow victory over UTSA, edging the Roadrunners by a field goal. Here’s everything you need to know about this week’s matchup between Rice and Houston.

Kickoff time | 6:00 PM CT
Venue | Historic Rice Stadium – Houston, Texas
TV | NFL Network (Viewing Guide)
Radio | Varsity Radio App (Online)

Audio / Visual Preview

We’ll preview Rice football vs Houston on this week’s episode of the Blue and Gray Preview Show, streaming live on Wednesday at Noon on the Rice Athletics YouTube channel. Look for a recap of the game on the site afterward as well as on The Roost Podcast, which should be released early next week. Find us on the podcast page or wherever you like to listen to podcasts. (And consider leaving us a 5-star review while you’re at it.)

Sizing up the contenders

Houston bought itself some breathing room with a season-opening win over UTSA, but expectations remain high for Dana Holgerson and company in their first year as members of the Big 12. They play their first league game the week following the Bayou Bucket against TCU, but they can’t afford to look ahead quite yet.

As for Rice football, avoiding a 0-2 start is paramount. Losing to Texas is forgivable, dropping another game in a row to Houston would be disappointing and amp up the pressure for the rest of the way. This would be a big one for the Owls if they can find a way to bring home the victory.

Series History

All Time | Houston leads, 33-11
Last Five | Houston leads, 5-0
Last Meeting | Away 2022, Houston won 34-27

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Get access to practice reports, analysis and special features during the week when you subscribe to our Starting Lineup Tier on Patreon today. If you want updates on how Rice football plans to attack this week’s opponent, position battles, standouts, injuries and more, this is your go-to source. Don’t miss out! Join now!

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Rice Football Stat Notables

Passing | Daniels – 14/26 (53.8 percent), 149 yards, 1 TD, 2INT
Rushing | Connors – 8 carries, 23 yards (3.5 yards per carry), 0 TD / Otoviano – 6 carries, 1 yards (0.2 yards per carry), 0 TD
Receiving | McCaffrey – 2 receptions, 22 yards (11.0 yds/rec), 1 TDs / Groen – 4 receptions, 28 yards (7.0 yds/rec), 0 TD
Tackles | Fresch, Wyatt – 8 / Morrison – 7 / Devones, M. Williams – 6
Pass Breakups | Jean – 2 / Fresch – 1 / Narcisse – 1
Interceptions | n/a

Houston Stat Notables

Passing | Smith – 22/34 (64.7 percent), 233 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT
Rushing | Smith – 13 carries, 31 yards (2.4 yards per carry), 0 TD / Mathis – 8 carries, 38 yards (4.8 ypc), 0 TD
Receiving | Brown – 6 receptions, 106 yards (17.7 yards per reception), 0 TD / Manjack – 6 receptions, 67 yards (11.2 yds/rec), 1 TD
Tackles | Robinson – 6 / Haulcy, Hogan – 5 / Seven tied with four
Pass Breakups | Hamilton, Ugwoegbu – 1
Interceptions | Fleming – 2 / Payne – 1

Houston X-Factor | Keep the ball in front of you

There have been 126 FBS teams to play at least one game so far this season. Houston has allowed more plays on defense of 10 or more yards than all but 16 of those teams. Exclude the teams that played in Week 0 and have two games to reach that total and the tally is down to eight squads more prone to allowing a chunk play on defense than the Cougars.

Now, some of that is to be expected when you play Frank Harris and what is expected to be a potent UTSA offense. Nevertheless, the results are the continuation of a trend that dates back into last season. The Cougars were the 10th worst defense nationally in that metric a year ago. They give up big gains.

The Rice offense struggled against Texas. Even if they have their hands full up front against Houston, a leaky defense can help overcome any size advantages the Cougars have up front. It’s crucial Houston finds a way to keep the ball in front of them and make opposing offenses earn every yard. If they don’t it’s unlikely they’ll be holding many teams to 14 points again any time soon.

Rice X-Factor | Win the line of scrimmage

Proving the offensive struggles were a fluke last week against Texas has to be at the top of the Owls’ to-do list for this game. For one, the proof of concept in an offense that found success throughout camp would be huge for this team’s psyche, but even more than that, they’re going to need points to beat Houston.

Getting those points has to start in the trenches. The Rice defensive line held its own against Texas. The offensive line did not. Both sides of the ball should have more manageable opportunities this week and allow Rice to play a more balanced version of football than they were able to on opening weekend.

In this matchup last season, Rice was able to go toe-to-toe with Houston and present themselves as equals for nearly the entirety of four quarters. For a team moving up in conference affiliation with a roster full of talent, another such performance is a must. Winning up front will allow Rice to run the ball and dictate how this game is played. If they can do that, they’ll be in the driver’s seat.

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One Final Thing

Rice football narrowly missed an upset in this game a year ago, and the 2023 version of the Cougars doesn’t have Clayton Tune, Tank Dell or Derek Parish. It’s still a very talented football team, but it’s not one that should be in an entirely different weight class like the squad the Owls faced in their opening game. And technically, a win this weekend would be the Owls’ first Power 5 victory under Bloomgren.

Quarterback JT Daniels shared some perspective following Saturday’s defeat. “As much as we would have wanted a different outcome I think there’s a ton to learn from and this doesn’t kill your season,” he said. He spoke of the teams’ aspirations in the AAC and the Owls’ intentions to compete for the league title.

Houston isn’t in the AAC anymore, but this game could very well serve to set the tone for the Owls’ season moving forward.

And with realignment swirling, this game is the final scheduled contest between these two crosstown rivals as things currently stand. In the event future meetings aren’t forthcoming — that’ll be a hot-button topic this week, I’m sure — It sure would be nice to go out on top.

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Rice Football: Behind enemy lines with Texas expert Eric Henry

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Texas is next up on the 2023 Rice football schedule so we’re going behind enemy lines with Texas insider Eric Henry of 247 Sports.

Longhorns’ insider Eric Henry was kind enough to stop by and answer a few questions about the upcoming season-opening matchup between Rice Football and Texas. The answers below should shed some light on the Owls’ upcoming opponent.

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Rice Football 2023 Game Preview: Texas

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Rice football opens its 2023 season in Austin against the Texas Longhorns this week. How to watch, key stats, x-factor picks and more.

Head coach Steve Sarkisian and the Texas Longhorns have sky-high expectations entering the 2023 season. Many tabbed the burnt orange squad as favorites to win the Big 12 conference and some went as far as to label the ‘horns a darkhorse Playoff contender.

On the other side of the field, the Owls look to play spoiler and added another signature win to Mike Bloomgren’s resume which already features a road upset of a top 15 squad, that came against Marshall in 2020.   Here’s everything you need to know about this week’s matchup between Rice and Texas.

Kickoff time | 2:30 PM CT
Venue | Darrell K. Royal Stadium – Austin, Texas
TV | Fox (Viewing Guide)
Radio | Varsity Radio App (Online)

Audio / Visual Preview

We’ll preview Rice football vs Texas on this week’s episode of the Blue and Gray Preview Show, streaming live on Wednesday at Noon on the Rice Athletics YouTube channel. Look for a recap of the game on the site afterward as well as on The Roost Podcast, which should be released early next week. Find us on the podcast page or wherever you like to listen to podcasts. (And consider leaving us a 5-star review while you’re at it.)

Sizing up the contenders

Texas will enter the game as heavy favorites, boasting a No. 11 national ranking and winners of 15 in a row in their series with Rice.  The Longhorns had best be careful not to be caught looking ahead to their Week 2 game against the Alabama Crimson Tide. Bloomgren and Co. have a Top 15 upset under their belt already, knocking off a previously undefeated Marshall team on the road in 2020.

Series History

All Time | Texas leads 74-21-1
Last Five | Texas leads, 5-0
Last Meeting | Away 2021, Texas won 58-0

Get the Inside Scoop

Get access to practice reports, analysis and special features during the week when you subscribe to our Starting Lineup Tier on Patreon today. If you want updates on how Rice football plans to attack this week’s opponent, position battles, standouts, injuries and more, this is your go-to source. Don’t miss out! Join now!

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Rice Football Stat Notables (2022 stats)

Passing | Daniels (at WVU) – 200/327 (61.2 percent), 2107 yards, 13 TD, 9 INT
Rushing | Otoviano – 71 carries, 403 yards (5.7 yards per carry), 1 TD / Connors – 27 carries, 128 yards (4.7 yards per carry), 0 TD
Receiving | McCaffrey – 58 receptions, 723 yards (12.5 yds/rec), 6 TDs / Campbell – 17 receptions, 192 yards (11.3 yds/rec), 0 TD
Tackles | Conti – 75 / Morrison – 73 / Taylor – 60
Pass Breakups | Dunbar – 10  / Taylor – 6 / Fresch – 5
Interceptions | Taylor, Morrison – 2 / Fresch, Narcisse – 1

Texas Stat Notables (2022 stats)

Passing | Ewers – 172/296 (58.1 percent), 2177 yards, 15 TD, 6 INT
Rushing | Brooks – 30 carries, 197 yards (6.6 yards per carry), 5 TD / Robinson – 25 carries, 86 yards (3.4 ypc), 0 TD
Receiving | Worthy – 60 receptions, 760 yards (12.7 yards per reception), 9 TD / Whittington – 50 receptions, 652 yards (13.0 yds/rec), 1 TD
Tackles | Ford – 119 / Thompson – 83 / Barron – 78
Pass Breakups | Thompson – 7 /  Sweat – 5 / Barron, Watts – 3
Interceptions | Ford – 4 / Barron – 2 / Watts, Thompson – 1

Texas X-Factor | Play clean

The sheer athleticism of the Texas offense will put them in an advantageous position against most teams they face this season, but talent alone doesn’t win football games. That requires execution. For the most part, Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers excelled at that aspect of the game. He protected the football and did not throw many interceptions — just six in 10 appearances. Ewers’ worst outing of last season came against Oklahoma State. He tossed three picks and the Longhorns lost.

Most upsets require some luck. If Texas brings their A game, it’ll be tough for Rice to overcome. But if the Longhorns look rusty, commit turnovers and find themselves in penalty troubles, things could get interesting. The longer the game stays within striking distance, the better the Owls’ chances get.

Rice X-Factor | Control the clock and be clutch

Rice does not want to get into a slugfest with Texas. They want to have a rock fight. The Owls’ longstanding aspirations of ground and pound will be tested against the Longhorns’ front seven, but the key success factor isn’t the run itself, it’s maintaining position. Rice will look to extend drives, kill the clock and turn a 12-possession game into an eight-possession game. If Rice can capitalize on some of those extended drives, they’ll be right where they need to be.

Having quarterback JT Daniels at the helm should aid this effort. Going down to the wire with a proven passer at the helm should embolden the Owls to stick to the script at trust their signal caller to make the plays when they need to be made. Daniels doesn’t have to be perfect, but if he’s going to engineer this size of an upset, he’s going to have to pull a few wow moments out of his bag.

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One Final Thing

Why does Rice play Texas? Sorry, Mr. President, these days the Owls and Longhorns meet on the gridiron so that the team from Houston and collect a nice check from the folks in Austin. Were it not for that generous transaction, this game wouldn’t be played as frequently as it has been over the last several seasons. But a money game doesn’t predetermine the outcome, far from it, that still requires 60 minutes of action on the field of play.

The Owls are heavy underdogs and won’t be expected to win this one, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty still to play for on Saturday. For one, an upset would send shockwaves throughout the nation and shatter the Longhorns’ College Football Playoff hopes before Labor Day.

Beyond that, though, conference play will be here before we know it and the Owls still have their sights on six-plus wins and a second consecutive bowl trip. Getting quality reps in a hostile atmosphere will enable younger players to get their feet wet, gaining crucial experience for the long season ahead. There is no substitution for the game itself, and Rice has plenty of new faces that will be seeing live bullets in large quantities for the first or second time.

Winning is the goal, with a healthy football team also atop the list of things Rice wants to walk away from Austin with on Saturday. But playing a good game, a well-executed game with things to build on for the future, that’s going to pay dividends, too.

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Rice Football 2022: USM Insider gives his take on the Golden Eagles

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Rice Football is bowling against Southern Miss. Golden Eagles’ insider Jamie Arrington of To the Top Talk fills us in on what to expect in this game.

Golden Eagles’ insider Jamie Arrington was kind enough to stop by and answer a few questions about the upcoming Lending Tree Bowl matchup between Rice Football and Southern Miss. The answers below should shed some light on the Owls’ upcoming opponent.

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For those checking in for the first time, or those returning, a quick programming note. Special features like this are reserved for our subscribers. Have questions? You can get those answered in our monthly Q&As and get access to all practice notes, recruiting updates and features like this one when you subscribe on Patreon today.

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Rice Football 2022 Bowl Game Preview: Southern Miss

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Rice football takes on Southern Miss in the Lending Tree Bowl this week. How to watch, key stats, x-factor picks and more.

Southern Miss secured bowl eligibility on the final week of the regular season, defeating Louisiana Monroe on the road for their sixth win. Rice football wasn’t assured of a bowl trip until all of that weekend’s games had concluded and a shortage of six-win teams remained. The Owls are bowling because they were the program with the highest remaining APR score.

How they got here doesn’t matter now, though. Here’s everything you need to know about this week’s game.

Kickoff time | 4:45 PM CT
Venue | Hancock Whitney Stadium – Mobile, AB
TV | ESPN (Viewing Guide)
Radio | Sports Map 94.1 (FM) / Stretch Internet (Online)

Audio / Visual Preview

We’ll preview Rice football vs Southern Miss on this week’s episode of the Blue and Gray Preview Show, streaming live on Wednesday at Noon on the Rice Athletics YouTube channel. Look for a recap of the game on the site afterward as well as on The Roost Podcast, which should be released early next week. Find us on the podcast page or wherever you like to listen to podcasts. (And consider leaving us a 5-star review while you’re at it.)

Sizing up the contenders

This is a bowl game that means a lot to both programs, despite the appearance of modest stakes. The Owls and Mike Bloomgren are looking to secure win number six, something that many around South Main viewed as an understood prerequisite to even be in this game. Southern Miss, on the other side, could clinch a win season for the first time under coach Will Hall with a victory.

Series History

All Time | Tied, 6-6
Last Five | Southern Miss leads, 3-2
Last Meeting | Home 2021, Rice won 24-19

Get the Inside Scoop

Get access to practice reports, analysis and special features during the week when you subscribe to our Starting Lineup Tier on Patreon today. If you want updates on how Rice football plans to attack this week’s opponent, position battles, standouts, injuries and more, this is your go-to source. Don’t miss out! Join now!

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Rice Football Stat Notables

Passing | Padgett – 20/40 (50.0 percent), 339 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing | Montgomery – 86 carries, 498 yards (5.8 yards per carry), 0 TD / Otoviano – 65 carries, 391 yards (6.0 yards per carry), 1 TD
Receiving | Rozner – 41 receptions, 834 yards (20.3 yds/rec), 9 TDs / McCaffrey – 51 receptions, 656 yards (12.9 yds/rec), 6 TD / Esdale – 39 receptions, 461 yards (11.8 yds/rec), 0 TD
Tackles | Conti – 69 / Morrison – 66 / Taylor – 55
Pass Breakups | Dunbar – 8  / Taylor – 6 / Fresch – 5
Interceptions | Taylor, Morrison – 2 / Nyakwol, Chamberlain, Fresch, Narcisse – 1

Southern Miss Stat Notables

Passing | Lowe – 55/103 (53.4 percent), 795 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT
Rushing | Gore Jr. – 207 carries, 1053 yards (5.1 yards per carry), 7 TD / Dean – 58 carries, 179 yards (3.1 ypc), 3 TD
Receiving | Brownlee – 52 receptions, 819 yards (15.8 yards per reception), 7 TD / Mims – 23 receptions, 361 yards (15.7 yds/rec), 2 TD
Tackles | Shorts – 91 / Latham – 81 / Gill – 76
Pass Breakups | Stanley – 6 / Latham – 4 / Shorts – 3
Interceptions | Stanley – 4 / Shorts – 3 / Scott, Brooks, Harrell – 2

Southern Miss X-Factor | Limit the big play

Southern Miss is going to try and make this a defensive struggle. The Golden Eagles lauded “Nasty Bunch” defense has made a significant jump this year, climbing to No. 80 in the nation in scoring defense to No. 43. The Golden Eagles allow 23.5 points per game. Keeping opponents out of the endzone is something they’ve largely excelled at compared to their peers.

The path to those points, has been suspect, though. Southern Miss ranks 12th of 14 teams in the Sun Belt in plays allowed of 20 or more yards with 63, an average of 5.3 such occurrences per game. Georgia Southern and Coastal Carolina — the two defenses in their conference that allow more explosive plays — each rank worst than 100th in the nation in scoring defense.

To some extent, the way this defense has been winning is unsustainable, but something is undeniably working. This is a defense that bends but doesn’t break. If something miss stiffens on the back end and allows less wiggle room, they’ll have Rice right where they want them.

Rice X-Factor | No turnovers

No team has turned the ball over this season more often than Rice football. None. Zilch. Zero. Nada. Rice football ranks dead last in the nation with 30 turnovers in 12 games, an average of 2.5 giveaways per contest.

When they don’t implode, this offense has proven itself adequate, perhaps even dangerous with its explosiveness and diversity. The Owls have put up more than 440 yards of total offense in four of their five wins and have largely moved the ball well with a variety of different quarterbacks under center. The bugaboo — and it’s been a big one — has been protecting the football.

Coaches are oft to say things like “we beat ourselves,” and in this case, that largely seems to be true. If Rice can avoid shooting themselves in the foot and give themselves a chance to complete their drives, they will be able to hang with a low-scoring offense on the other side of the ball. If they spot that other offense points, things could get dicey, quickly.

Injury Report (Subscribers only)

When Rice football last took the field, they were without quarterback TJ McMahon, wide receiver Luke McCaffrey and several other key players on each side of the ball. Subscribers, stay tuned later this week for a deeper dive on those key injuries with the latest on who is (and isn’t) likely to go in this upcoming contest. Not a subscriber (yet)?

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One Final Thing

Getting to a bowl game is an accomplishment in itself, but things could hardly have set up better for Rice football in this season-ending showdown with a familiar foe. Instead of having to travel a great distance, the Owls will be playing as close to home as they could have been beyond a return to Frisco. They’re not being shipped to Detroit or South Carolina.

Better still, this is a winnable game against a team with a commensurate level of talent. They’re not playing an underachieving SEC school that simply has better players who played tougher competition. No, Southern Miss is on Rice’s level and in fact, the Owls have beaten them as recently as last season.

This game matters to Rice football. It matters to the staff, the players and to the fans. To those who care, it’s not a random bowl sponsored by who’s-it-called or what’s-it-named. With that in mind, the effort should be equal to the task. Rice needs to play this game with the effort they put forth against North Texas in the season finale. If they can clean up the mistakes, they’re got all they need to walk away as winners.

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