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Rice Football 2020 Game Preview: Louisiana Tech

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Rice Football and Louisiana Tech played to the wire last season. Could this year be different? How to watch, key stats, x-factor picks and more.

Neither Rice football nor Louisiana Tech saw action this past Saturday, although both were originally scheduled to play. North Texas pulled out of its game with Louisiana Tech and UTSA left Rice without an opponent. Fresh from a week of rest, both schools will be eager to get back to the field this coming Saturday.

Broadcast Info

Kickoff time | 2:30 PM CT
Venu | Joe Aillet Stadium – Ruston, LA
TV | ESPN3 (Streaming)
Radio | Sports Map 94.1 (FM) / Stretch Internet (Online)

Audio Preview

We’ll preview Rice football vs Louisiana Tech on Episode 60 of The Roost Podcast which will be released on Thursday. 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.)

Visual Preview

Make sure you check out Inside the Hedges, a weekly show with myself and former Rice football quarterback Taylor McHargue. Watch it live on Wednesday nights at 7:00 p.m. here or watch it at your leisure on the Rice Athletics Youtube page.

Join the Conversation

What are your keys to victory this week? What pitfalls must the Owls avoid? Did you like that third down call? Share your thoughts on the matchup on the forum and make sure you tune in Saturday for our live game blog keeping track of every score and key moment.

Sizing up the contenders

Rice football is off to an encouraging start, but their delayed season and recent postponement leave the Owls with just two games under their belt entering the Nov. 14 road trip to Ruston, LA. Rice hasn’t won in Ruston since 2013, the year they won their most recent conference championship. A win would put them near the top of the standings, necessary with potential games against divisional leaders UAB and Marshall still on deck.

Louisiana Tech also has conference championship aspirations, but they have less wiggle room to work with than the Owls. The Bulldogs already have two conference losses and narrowly escaped Houston with a win last year.

Series History

All Time | Louisiana Tech leads 9-4
Last Five | Louisiana Tech leads 5-0
Last Meeting | Home 2019, Louisiana Tech won 20-14

Rice Stat Notables

Passing | Collins – 30/52 (57.7 percent), 475 yards passing, 8 TD, 1 INT
Rushing | Otoviano – 45 carries, 195 yards (4.3 yards per carry)
Receiving | Trammell – 10 receptions, 219 yards (21.9 yards per reception), 5 TD | Myers – 6 receptions, 65 yards (10.8 yards per reception)
Tackles | Alldredge – 21, Montero – 17, Garcia – 13
Pass Breakups/Interceptions | Devones – 1 PBU / McCord – 1 INT

Louisiana Tech Stat Notables

Passing | Anthony – 110/176 (62.5), 1208 yards passing, 13 TD, 4 INT | Allen – 52/75 (69.3), 482 yards passing, 4 TD, 3 INT
Rushing | Tucker – 82 carries, 336 yards (4.1 yards per carry), 2 TD
Receiving | Hardy – 33 receptions, 440 yards (13.3 yards per reception), 4 TD | Harris – 23 receptions, 223 yards (9.7 yards per reception), 3 TD
Tackles | Grubbs – 72, Baldwin – 64, Williamson – 45
Pass Breakups/Interceptions | Woods – 5 PBU, Williamson – 3 INT

Louisiana Tech X-Factor | How many quarterbacks?

Luke Anthony started the season for Louisiana Tech. Aaron Allen is the most recent of the Bulldogs’ quarterbacks to complete a pass. And it’s not quite as simple as Anthony being benched in favor or Allen, both have been in and out of the lineup over the course of the year. Shuffling passers isn’t an ideal long-term solution, certainly not against a secondary that quieted Jack Abraham last time out.

The challenge for Louisiana Tech head coach is the lack of separation. Both guys have shown flashes and both have had rough outings. The tandem have left the Bulldogs with a middle-of-the-road offense, averaging 26.4 points in conference play.

With the rushing attack ranked dead last in C-USA and the Rice run defense being particularly stout, Louisiana Tech absolutely has to find a quarterback that can attack Rice downfield. Otherwise, it’ll be tough sledding, even at home.

Rice X-Factor | Bring the pressure

Rice only registered one sack against Southern Miss, but the Eagles’ quarterback Jack Abraham felt the pressure before being knocked out of the game before halftime. Sacks have been hard to come by for this Rice front seven in recent years, but the early showings in 2020 have been positive.

Neither Louisiana Tech quarterback possess the mobility of someone like Middle Tennessee’s Asher O’Hara. If the Owls can pin their ears back and go after the passer they’ll have a better chance of producing a repeat performance of their last time out. Over the past three seasons, O’Hara remains the only current starting C-USA quarterback to throw for multiple touchdowns on the Rice defense.

Injury Report (Subscribers only)

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?

Need More?

The Roost’s 2020 Rice Football Season Preview has four pages dedicated to every opponent the Owls face. There are depth charts, important new arrivals and depth chart breakdowns for every team in Conference USA. Better yet, it’s not just speculation, each profile was created with insight from local experts who cover those teams day in and day out. Pick up your copy today and get four pages and more than 1,000 words on every foe.

Pick ‘Em Contest

If you haven’t yet, make sure you submit your entry for The Roost’s weekly pick’em challenge. Choose an answer to each of the six questions below and submit them on the forum thread to enter.

  1. Will Rice commit more than four accepted penalties?
    Yes / No
  2. How many third downs will Louisiana Tech convert?
    Over 8.5 / Under 8.5
  3. Which team registers the longest play from scrimmage?
    Rice / Louisiana Tech (or tie)
  4. How many players throw a pass in this game
    Over 2.5 / Under 2.5
  5. How many Rice wide receivers catch at least three passes?
    One / Two / Three / Four or more
  6. Who wins?
    Rice / Louisiana Tech

One Final Thing

Louisiana Tech is going to pose a tougher challenge to Rice than UTSA. The Bulldogs have been up and down this year, but their road win over UAB speaks volumes. This is a team that can hit the high notes when they’re playing well, and one that has historically been able to capitalize on Rice mistakes.

Rice has the opportunity to seize some real momentum with games against North Texas and UTEP on deck. They best not look too far ahead, though, because in this strange, shortened season, every opportunity is magnified. At no fault of your own, you might not play the next game.

There have been a lot of firsts for Mike Bloomgren and his staff this year. Back-to-back 30 point games was a nice starting. The first win over a (presumptively) bowl-bound team would be a nice feather to add to the cap. It’s the next hill to climb, but one that doesn’t feel insurmountable.

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

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The Roost Podcast | Ep 59 – Rice Football vs USM Recap, UTSA Preview

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Carter and Matthew breakdown the first Rice football win of the 2020 season over Southern Miss and preview the Owls upcoming game against UTSA.

Rice football picked up its first win of the 2020 season, smashing Southern Miss in a much-needed rebound following a heartbreaking loss to Middle Tennessee. Comparing and contrasting the two-game sample size led to an interesting discussion about the long-term potential of this team.

But, before we get too far ahead of ourselves, we addressed the game at hand. Tune in to hear our recap of the Southern Miss win and our preview of the upcoming matchup with UTSA.

Quick note: the addition of the UAB and Marshall games were announced after we hit the stop button this week. The UTEP cancelation came after we recorded as well — begin the question, if the game didn’t happen, was UTEP ever favored? We’ll cover all of that on next week’s show.

You can always find previous episodes on the podcast page. For now, give a listen to Episode 59.

Episode 59 Notes

  • Housekeeping — Don’t miss this opportunity to subscribe on Patreon. You’ll get practice reports, film room sessions, recruiting news and the latest analysis and updates on all things relating to Rice Athletics.
    Become a Patron!
  • Conference USA news and notes
    • UTEP favored to beat an FBS team (note: the game was canceled after recording)
    • Conference standings and where Rice football fits in the mix
  • Rice Football vs Southern Miss game recap
    • Mike Collins is playing on another level
    • Austin Trammell is the best version of himself
    • Defense impressive, especially with so many key pieces missing
    • Aggressiveness pays off on multiple occasions
  • Rice Football vs UTSA game preview
    • Limiting Sincere McCormick is a must
    • What’s the best game Frank Harris can put together? Will it be enough to outscore the Owls?
    • Impact of this game on C-USA West

Where can you find us?

Download and subscribe to The Roost Podcast on any of your favorite podcast providers. The show is available on iTunes, GooglePlay, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn and PodBean. Please consider leaving a review wherever you listen.

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

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Rice Football 2020 Game Preview: UTSA Roadrunners

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Fresh off their first win, Rice football returns to Houston in Week 10 to face UTSA. How to watch, key stats, x-factor picks and more.

Rice football bounced back (bad pun intended) from a rough loss to Middle Tennessee with an emphatic win over Southern Miss on the road. The victory marked the first over Southern Miss in Hattiesburg since 2014 and put the Owls back into the think of the C-USA West standings.

UTSA had a less-than-stellar week, falling to FAU on the road and failing to get into the endzone. After winning their first three, the Roadrunners have dropped four of their last five contests.

Broadcast Info

Kickoff time | 2:30 PM CT
Venu | Rice Stadium – Houston, Tx
TV | ESPN3 (Streaming)
Radio | Sports Map 94.1 (FM) / Stretch Internet (Online)

Audio Preview

We’ll preview Rice football vs UTSA on Episode 59 of The Roost Podcast which will be released on Thursday. 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.)

Visual Preview

Make sure you check out Inside the Hedges, a weekly show with myself and former Rice football quarterback Taylor McHargue. Watch it live on Wednesday nights at 7:00 p.m. here or watch it at your leisure on the Rice Athletics Youtube page.

Join the Conversation

What are your keys to victory this week? What pitfalls must the Owls avoid? Did you like that third down call? Share your thoughts on the matchup on the forum and make sure you tune in Saturday for our live game blog keeping track of every score and key moment.

Sizing up the contenders

A Rice win would push the Owls’ record to 2-1 and tie them for UAB for the top spot in the West, keeping them at least one game in front of Louisiana Tech in the loss column. After a long wait to start the season and a heartbreaking opening loss, Rice could control their own destiny once again.

UTSA is on the verge of losing all the momentum they had from their fast start, making a win over a surging Rice squad imperative for the Roadrunners. A win would be the first C-USA road victory for new head coach Jeff Traylor.

Series History

All Time | UTSA leads 5-3
Last Five | UTSA leads 5-0
Last Meeting | Away 2019, UTSA won 31-27

Rice Stat Notables

Passing | Collins – 30/52 (57.7 percent), 475 yards passing, 8 TD, 1 INT
Rushing | Otoviano – 45 carries, 195 yards (4.3 yards per carry)
Receiving | Trammell – 10 receptions, 219 yards (21.9 yards per reception), 5 TD | Bailey – 5 receptions, 67 yards (13.4 yards per reception), 1 TD
Tackles | Alldredge – 21, Montero – 17, Garcia – 13
Pass Breakups/Interceptions | Devones – 1 PBU / McCord – 1 INT

UTSA Stat Notables

Passing | Harris – 93/160 (58.1), 895 yards passing, 4 TD, 4 INT
Rushing | McCormick – 171 carries, 921 yards (5.4 yards per carry), 7 TD
Receiving | Cephus – 40 receptions, 386 yards (9.6 yards per reception), 3 TD | Franklin – 32 receptions, 390 yards (12.2 yards per reception), 4 TD
Tackles | Wisdom – 63, Ligan – 52, Harmanson – 49
Pass Breakups/Interceptions | Mayfield – 6 PBU / Wisdom – 2 INT

UTSA X-Factor | Keep Rice honest

Rice knows UTSA is going to attempt to pound the rock with Sincere McCormick, and winning on the ground would be huge for the Roadrunners’ chances, but connecting on explosive plays through the air could be the determining factor.

Frank Harris might not be an elite downfield passer, but Rice has allowed chunk plays through the air in each of their first two games. His ability to find pockets in the secondary will keep Rice from loading the box to stop McCormick. No passing threat, no reason to leave themselves vulnerable to the most explosive player on the UTSA offense.

UTSA is going to need to hit some deep shots. If they don’t, it’s going to be hard to keep the offense on the field and score with any level of consistency.

Rice X-Factor | Stop Sincere

UTSA is 3-1 when running back Sincere McCormick scores a touchdown this season. They’re 2-0 when he rushes for more than 150 yards, a feat he’s achieved twice. When he touches the football at least 23 times, UTSA is a perfect 3-0.

It really is that simple. If Rice can limit McCormick, they shut down the UTSA offense. Rice has been stingy on the ground through its first two games.

Middle Tennessee running back Chaton Mobley averaged 2.4 yards per carry and dual-threat quarterback Asher Ohara averaged 3.1, reaching 71 rushing yards including overtime. Southern Miss’ lead back Frank Gore Jr. had 71 yards on 11 carries, but was kept in check by the lopsided score and held in check for most of the game.

Injury Report (Subscribers only)

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?

Need More?

The Roost’s 2020 Rice Football Season Preview has four pages dedicated to every opponent the Owls face. There are depth charts, important new arrivals and depth chart breakdowns for every team in Conference USA. Better yet, it’s not just speculation, each profile was created with insight from local experts who cover those teams day in and day out. Pick up your copy today and get four pages and more than 1,000 words on every foe.

Pick ‘Em Contest

If you haven’t yet, make sure you submit your entry for The Roost’s weekly pick’em challenge. Choose an answer to each of the six questions below and submit them on the forum thread to enter.

  1. Which team has more rushing yards?
    Rice / UTSA (or tie)
  2. What will be the combined point total?
    Over 49.5 / Under 49.5
  3. Will Rice commit more than four accepted penalties?
    Yes / No
  4. Will either team score on defense or special teams?
    Yes / No
  5. Who leads at halftime?
    Rice / UTSA
  6. Who wins?
    Rice / UTSA

One Final Thing

The narrative of a single season doesn’t often hang on a single game, but the Owls’ shortened 2020 campaign feels like it’s hit the highs and the lows of the emotional roller coaster through two weeks. Is the team as good as they looked against Southern Miss or are the issues showcased in the loss to Middle Tennessee too much to overcome with consistency? Another game will give us some answers.

It’s going to be hard not to react to either extreme. A win would put Rice (at least mathematically) tied atop the C-USA West standings with one fewer loss than Louisiana Tech, should the Bulldogs win. A loss would put Rice closer to the bottom half of the division in a home game where they’ll most likely be favorites to win.

Either way, the repercussions from this game in what is currently a six-game season, will carry weight. The Owls control their own destiny. All they have to do now is execute.

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

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The Roost Podcast | Ep 58 – Rice Football vs MTSU Recap, USM Preview

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Carter and Matthew breakdown the Rice football loss to Middle Tennessee and preview the Owls upcoming game against Southern Miss.

The first game didn’t go how Rice football fans would have hoped, but there’s a lot more to unpack in the Middle Tennessee loss than just the final score. Carter and Matthew work through the refreshingly potent offense and what to take from the defensive struggles.

From there, they discuss how what we learned from that game will impact the Owls’ upcoming road trip to Hattiesburg to face a Southern Miss team on their third head coach of the season.

You can always find previous episodes on the podcast page. For now, give a listen to Episode 58.

Episode 58 Notes

  • Housekeeping — Don’t miss this opportunity to subscribe on Patreon. You’ll get practice reports, and new this week, film room sessions from Carter. He breaks down the biggest plays from the Owls’ games. You’ll also get recruiting news and the latest analysis and updates on all things relating to Rice Athletics.
    Become a Patron!
  • Conference USA news and notes
    • Conference USA had no games canceled in Week 8, but already two canceled in Week 9.
    • Marshall is the last remaining unbeaten C-USA squad, ranked No. 19 in the AP Poll
  • Rice Football vs Middle Tennessee game preview
    • Quadruple doink could be a once in a millennium event
    • Mike Collins started slow, but played well in debut game
    • Defense had missteps, but injuries and rust played a big part
    • Despite mistakes, still had a chance to win
  • Rice Football vs Southern Miss game recap
    • Interim coach Scottie Walden is headed to Austin Peay. Southern Miss will turn to its third head coach of the season
    • Jack Abraham is the probable start, but nothing set in stone yet with COVID protocols. Backup Tate Whatley could miss the game.
    • The Southern Miss defense is really bad.

Where can you find us?

Download and subscribe to The Roost Podcast on any of your favorite podcast providers. The show is available on iTunes, GooglePlay, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn and PodBean. Please consider leaving a review wherever you listen.

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

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Rice Football 2020 Game Preview: Southern Miss

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Rice Football hopes to bounce back from a tough opener with a road win against Southern Miss. How to watch, key stats, x-factor picks and more.

The return to the gridiron was a painful one for Rice football last Saturday. They almost completed a late rally to beat Middle Tennessee, but a bad bounce and too many self-inflicted wounds pushed victory just outside of their reach. They’ll hope to rebound this week against another C-USA squad suffering a painful loss.

After having their last two games postponed, Southern Miss returned to the field without quarterback Jack Abraham, who did not make the trip with the team to face Liberty. The Flames dropped 56 points on the Golden Eagles, who fell to 1-4 entering Week 9.

Broadcast Info

Kickoff time | 2:00 PM CT
Venu | M.M. Roberts Stadium – Hattiesburg, MS
TV | ESPN3 (Streaming)
Radio | Sports Map 94.1 (FM) / Stretch Internet (Online)

Audio Preview

We’ll preview Rice football vs Southern Miss on Episode 58 of The Roost Podcast which will be released on Thursday. 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.)

Visual Preview

Last week we launched the debut episode of Inside the Hedges, a weekly live show with myself and former Rice football quarterback Taylor McHargue. Check it out Wednesday nights at 7:00 p.m. here or watch it at your leisure on the Rice Athletics Youtube page.

Join the Conversation

What are your keys to victory this week? What pitfalls must the Owls avoid? Did you like that third down call? Share your thoughts on the matchup on the forum and make sure you tune in Saturday for our live game blog keeping track of every score and key moment.

Sizing up the contenders

Rice is still reeling from their loss to Middle Tennessee, but they’re going to have to get-right quickly. Falling to 0-2 to start a season that began with so much promise would be doubly painful, especially with only six games on the docket to date. Rice needs a bounce back in the worst way.

Southern Miss played last week without their starting quarterback or their head coach. The recipe for disaster was there, and still the Golden Eagles made a game of it in the second half before Liberty pulled away. Battling COVID-19 issues and the challenges of a coaching change make this squad hard to size up, but the talent is certainly there on offense.

Series History

All Time | Southern Miss leads 6-4
Last Five | Southern Miss leads 5-0
Last Meeting | Home 2019, Southern Miss won 20-6

Rice Stat Notables

Passing | Collins – 18/35 (51.4 percent), 242 yards passing, 4 TD, 1 INT
Rushing | Otoviano – 20 carries, 84 yards (4.2 yards per carry)
Receiving | Trammell – 3 receptions, 76 yards (25.3 yards per reception), 2 TD | Myers – 6 receptions, 65 yards (10.8 yards per reception)
Tackles | Alldredge – 13, Lockhart – 12, Chamberlain – 9
Pass Breakups/Interceptions | Devones – 1 PBU

Southern Miss Stat Notables

Passing | Abraham – 85/132 (64.4), 1112 yards passing, 7 TD, 3 INT
Rushing | Gore – 46 carries, 208 yards (4.5 yards per carry), 1 TD
Receiving | Brownless – 17 receptions, 301 yards (17.7 yards per reception), 3 TD | T. Jones – 14 receptions, 299 yards (9.6 yards per reception), 2 TD
Tackles | Maples – 38, Shorts – 37, Hemby – 29
Pass Breakups/Interceptions | Brooks/Scott – 4 PBU, Barnes/Latham/Scott – 1 INT

Southern Miss X-Factor | Big-time quarterback play

Whether it’s Jack Abraham or Tate Whatley, Southern Miss is going all-offense this year under interim coach Scottie Walden. No matter who takes the snaps for Southern Miss, their ability to find holes in the Rice secondary will play a massive role in determining the outcome of this game.

Middle Tennessee’s Asher O’Hara’s success through the air was the difference against a young Rice secondary, but when those balls didn’t fall, Rice was able to get pressure and give themselves an opportunity to win the game late.

Fortunately for Southern Miss, they have a host of playmakers at their disposal on the edges. Freshman running back Frank Gore Jr. has played well to this point too. Southern Miss just needs to get the ball into the hands of their playmakers in space. If they can, they’ll expose mismatches in the Rice secondary.

Rice X-Factor | Eliminate self-inflicted mistakes

Rust was always going to be a factor for the Owls coming off a seven-week delay to start their season. The Owls had chances to beat Middle Tennessee at home last week, but three turnovers proved costly.

The usually sure-handed Austin Trammell muffed a punt. Mike Collins’ erratic start included an interception thrown way beyond his wide receiver streaking down the field. A second half strip-sack that resulted in a walk-in touchdown for the Blue Raiders defense was equally jarring. And still, with all of those mistakes, Rice found a way to take a late lead.

There’s still a lot we don’t know about this team, but we do know that losing the turnover battle by two is going to be hard for any team to overcome. The Rice defense needs to create more opportunities themselves, but even if they don’t, the Rice offense and special teams can’t spot the other team extra possessions.

Injury Report (Subscribers only)

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?

Need More?

The Roost’s 2020 Rice Football Season Preview has four pages dedicated to every opponent the Owls face. There are depth charts, important new arrivals and depth chart breakdowns for every team in Conference USA. Better yet, it’s not just speculation, each profile was created with insight from local experts who cover those teams day in and day out. Pick up your copy today and get four pages and more than 1,000 words on every foe.

Pick ‘Em Contest

If you haven’t yet, make sure you submit your entry for The Roost’s weekly pick’em challenge. Choose an answer to each of the six questions below and submit them on the forum thread to enter.

  1. How many passing yards does the Rice defense allow?
    Over 274.5 / Over 274.5
  2. Which team commits the first turnover?
    Rice / Southern Miss (or neither)
  3. Who has the more total tackles for Rice on defense?
    Alldredge / Montero (or tie) 
  4. What will be the distance of the longest scoring play?
    Over 29.5 yards / Under 29.5 yards
  5. How many first downs will the Rice offense achieve?
    Over 19.5 / Under 19.5
  6. Who wins?
    Rice / Southern Miss

Final Thing

We knew this season was going to be hard to evaluate at its onset. After one game, it looks like Rice has taken a step forward on offense and a step back on defense, primarily because of the young secondary. Both sides of the ball will have things to improve against Southern Miss.

On offense, can Collins get locked in more quickly? Starting 2-of-10 and settling for early field goals allowed Middle Tennessee to hang around.

On defense, Rice has to eliminate the wide open receptions. Asher O’Hara had two uncontested touchdown heaves. You can live with mistakes here and there, but at a bare minimum, receivers shouldn’t be allowed free passage to the endzone.

If Rice can improve in both those areas, they’ll have a chance to win. They had a chance to win on an off night last weekend. We’ve seen enough of what this team can be. It’s time they put that finished product out on the field.

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

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