Sam Houston State is next up on the 2024 Rice football schedule so we’re going behind enemy lines with Bearkats insider Ben Sorrells from the Kat Fund.

Bearkats insider Ben Sorrells from Sports of SHSU and the Kat Fund was kind enough to stop by and answer a few questions about the upcoming matchup between Rice Football and Sam Houston State. The answers below should shed some light on the Owls’ upcoming opponent.

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Rice football kicks off its season at home game against Sam Houston this week. How to watch, key stats, x-factor picks and more.

A pair of nearby Texas teams meet in Week 1 for the first time as FBS peers. Sam Houston made the leap from the FCS ranks to Conference USA last season, going 3-9 in their debut campaign. Rice football will be the favorite in this one, but head coach Mike Bloomgren would be the first to tell anyone he’s not looking past anyone on the schedule, particularly a school from right down the road. Here’s everything you need to know about the matchup between Rice and Sam Houston.

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

Audio / Visual Preview

We’ll preview Rice football vs Sam Houston on this week’s episode of the Blue and Gray Preview Show, kicking off live on Tuesday night at 7:00 pm 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.

Sizing up the contenders

Rice football has high expectations for its 2024 season and those start with a win in Week 1 against a team that was playing at the FCS level until a season ago. The Bearkats are a better team than they were a year ago, but the transition to the FBS level is still likely to take a few seasons before they get rolling again. That makes this a game Rice should expect to win.

For Sam Houston, it’s a new season with new aspirations. With the adjustment period to upper-level football out of the way, theirs hope around Huntsville that this team can take a step forward. Those hopes really begin with a strong performance in Conference USA, but early signs of life here, especially on offense, would go a long way to building the confidence of this team as it moves forward.

Series History

All Time | Rice leads, 16-1
Last Five | Rice leads, 4-1
Last Meeting | Home 1993, Rice won 14-13

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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Captains announced

Rice football announced their 2024 captains on Sunday evening. They are: LB Chike Anigbogu, RB Dean Connors, DT Izeya Floyd, FB Geron Hargon and DE Josh Pearcy.

Rice Football Stat Notables

Passing | Warner (Temple) – 256/445 (57.5 percent), 3076 yards, 23 TD, 12 INT
Rushing | Connors – 121 carries, 771 yards (6.4 yards per carry), 7 TD / Alexander – 18 carries, 35 yards (1.9  yards per carry), 5 TD
Receiving | Connors – 43 receptions, 403 yards (9.4 yds/rec), 3 TDs / Groen – 39 receptions, 383 yards (9.8 yds/rec), 3 TD / MacNeill – 26 receptions, 379 yards (14.6 yds/rec), 2 TD
Tackles | Morrison, Wyatt – 80 / Taylor – 61 / Conti – 53
Pass Breakups | Taylor – 9 / Fresch – 7 / Wyatt – 6
Interceptions | Taylor – 2 / Conti – 1

SHSU Stat Notables

Passing | Bauer (CMU) – 163/287 (56.8 percent), 1881 yards, 12 TD, 8 INT
Rushing | Gentry – 119 carries, 392 yards (3.3 yards per carry), 3 TD / Ducker (Memphis) – 8 carries, 41 yards (5.1 yards per carry), 0 TD
Receiving | Smith – 79 receptions, 782 yards (9.9 yds/rec), 6 TD / Adeyi – 7 receptions, 74 yards (10.1 yds/rec), 0 TD
Tackles | Gaither – 72 / Weaver – 49 / Jackson – 29
Pass Breakups | Weaver – 4 / Fisher – 3/ Gaither – 1
Interceptions | Weaver – 2 / Gaither – 1

SHSU X-Factor | Is this (offense) on?

Sam Houston ranked 118th nationally in scoring offense a season ago, scoring more than 28 points on just two occasions, both against Conference USA defenses that also finished in the bottom half of the country in scoring. The miserable showing on that side of the ball marred what was a largely successful year for the defense. Expecting a herculean improvement in the span of one season might be too much to ask, but gaining some ground on that side of the ball is going to be an important measuring stick for this program in 2024.

The Bearkats don’t have to be spectacular on offense just competent. That starts with quarterback play — SHSU hasn’t yet announced a starter, but it’s expected to be either Jase Bauer or Hunter Watson. Whoever wins the job has some playmakers to throw to. Receiver Noah Smith is a potential all-conference guy on the outside and those near the program have been encouraged by Ife Adeyi, among others. 

If Sam Houston is going to keep this one close, they’re going to have to score. We’re talking multiple touchdowns. Otherwise, it’s going to be a long night at Rice Stadium for the visitors from just outside of town.

Rice X-Factor | Execute

Rice football will have a clear talent advantage at almost every position in this game. When that’s true, winning can typically be secured by playing sound, fundamental football. That has to be the most important refrain in the walls of South Main this week. If the Owls avoid penalties, take care of the football, and perform at the level they’ve played all camp long, they should cruise to a comfortable victory on Saturday.

It shouldn’t taken a perfect performance, but too many self-inflicted wounds have sunken the Owls in similar situations beforehand. Underdogs tend to be remarkably opportunistic. If Rice puts the ball on the ground and repeatedly makes things harder on themselves the Bearkats are a well-coached squad that played for a FCS national championship in the recent past. Talent advantage or not, this isn’t the group you want to have an off day against.

Week 1 jitters will inevitably occur. For Rice, it will come down to how they respond to those hiccups as they happen and whether or not they possess the mental fortitude to work through those challenges as they come and not let things spiral out of control. If they can do that, this should be the first win of many for the Owls this season.

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One Final Thing

We’ve made it. Rice football season is here.

First off, thank goodness. To some extent we do this to ourselves, analyzing and hypothesizing every possible scheme and scenario for the season ahead. It’s part of the content machine, but it’s also driven by a real love for this sport and for this community, for a love of the program Rice Football has established. No season is quite like another. For Mike Bloomgren, none have been set up in quite this way. Reaching Year Seven takes a combination of good fortune and good execution. Going further from here is a different task entirely. 

 Before kickoff on Saturday, read through The Roost’s season preview content which includes:

• Breakdowns of every position group, including projected starters and key reserves
• Previews of all eight conference opponents
• Preseason predictions and superlatives
• Fall camp updates including scrimmage notes and a final depth chart prediction

For $10, you can get access to all of that as well as practice notes every week, special features — like this one on breakout freshman running back Taji Atkins — access to our premium discord channel and more. The Roost is entirely funded by the support of our readers. Please consider subscribing for the season and joining us for a ride that will undoubtedly be filled with twists, turns and (hopefully) many wins along the way. Try it out for a month. If you like it, stick around. Hopefully, we (and the Owls) make it worth your while.

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Thanks for reading and Go Owls.

Recent Posts

• Rice Baseball 2025: MLB Owls Update – September 9
• Rice Football 2025: PVAMU presser quotes and depth chart
• Rice Football 2025: NFL Owls Week 1 Roundup
• The Roost Podcast | Ep 211 – 2025 Rice Football falls to Houston

Rice football takes on Texas State in the SERVPRO First Responders Bowl. How to watch, key stats, x-factor picks and more.

A pair of Texas teams will square off in Frisco this December when Rice football hits the field to face Texas State. The Bobcats clinched bowl eligibility in Week 10, topping Georgia Southern at home and celebrating by jumping in the river, a San Marcos tradition. The Owls had to wait until the final week of the regular season, beating FAU to secure win number six and a postseason trip. Here’s everything you need to know about the matchup between Rice and Texas State.

Kickoff time | 4.30 PM CT
Venue | Gerald J. Ford Stadium – Dallas, TX
TV | ESPN+ (Viewing Guide)
Radio | Varsity Radio App (Online)
Bowl Announcement | Notes

Audio / Visual Preview

We’ll preview Rice football vs Texas State on this week’s episode of the Blue and Gray Preview Show, streaming live on Tuesday 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.

Sizing up the contenders

This is the first bowl appearance in Texas State history. The Bobcats have already tied their program FBS record for wins, set in 2014 with seven. Clinching a victory in the First Responders Bowl would secure a pair of program bests.

Rice football is making its 14th postseason appearance, its second under head coach Mike Bloomgren, and looking for its first bowl win since 2014. Winning a bowl game was one of the Owls’ primary goals this season after falling short a year ago. A victory over an in-state opponent would make it just a little sweeter.

Series History

All Time | Tied, 2-2
Last Five | Tied, 2-2
Last Meeting | Home 1987, Rice won 38-28

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 – 61/96 (63.5 percent), 636 yards, 7 TD, 3 INT
Rushing | Connors – 106 carries, 707 yards (6.7 yards per carry), 5 TD / Otoviano – 85 carries, 312 yards (3.7 yards per carry), 4 TD
Receiving | McCaffrey – 68 receptions, 963 yards (14.2 yds/rec), 12 TDs / Connors – 42 receptions, 395 yards (9.4 yds/rec), 3 TD
Tackles | Wyatt – 76 / Morrison – 71 / Taylor – 58
Pass Breakups | Devones – 10 / Taylor – 8 / Fresch – 7 
Interceptions | Taylor, Devones – 2 / Conti – 1

Texas State Stat Notables

Passing | Finley – 264/385 (68.6 percent), 3287 yards, 24 TD, 8 INT
Rushing | Mahid – 199 carries, 1209 yards (6.1 yards per carry), 10 TD / Davenport – 90 carries, 458 yards (5.1 ypc), 2 TD
Receiving | Hobert – 71 receptions, 847 yards (11.9 yards per reception), 8 TD / Wilson – 61 receptions, 697 yards (11.4 yds/rec), 8 TD / Hawkins – 52 receptions, 819 yards (15.8 yds/rec), 3 TD
Tackles | Holloway – 98 / Holton – 83 / Culp – 72
Pass Breakups | Ford-Dement, Eaton – 7 / Culp, Mills – 4
Interceptions | Ford-Dement, Holloway – 2 / Holton, Spears – 1

Texas State X-Factor | Compile negative plays

The Texas State offense was must-see tv this season, averaging 36 points per game, a top 20 mark in the nation. The defense was a completely different story. Of the entire field of 84 teams playing in the postseason, only two allowed more points per game on defense than Texas State: USC and South Florida. 

Clearly, Texas State won’t be winning a 10-7 game. That’s not in the cards. What the Bobcats must do instead is dial up the pressure and live on the margins. Texas State was top 10 in the nation in sacks per game but middle of the road in turnovers forced. They’re going to need to hit on both of those things against a Rice offense that has proven it can score, too.

Rice X-Factor | Quarterback Play

The announcement that JT Daniels would be medically retiring from football made national news. For one, the lengthy career of one of college football’s most talented quarterbacks was worth noting. On the other hand, it officially confirmed a second-straight postseason start for redshirt freshman quarterback AJ Padgett.

Padgett was impressive at the Lending Tree Bowl last year, throwing for 295 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions against Southern Miss. His 2023 season has been rather choppy. He wasn’t great against UTSA, but improved his play in his next outing against Charlotte and was even better in the Owls’ regular season finale against FAU.

Which version of AJ Padgett is Rice getting? Rice cannot afford to have a compromised offensive attack with Texas State poised to score in bunches on the other side of the field. Padgett doesn’t have to be perfect, but getting closer to the Lending Tree Bowl version of himself would certainly help the Owls’ chances to leave Dallas with a win. 

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One Final Thing

It’s hard to win at Rice. As a program, the Owls have posted 36 winning seasons in 110 years. Less than one-third of the time throughout the course of college football history, Rice has finished with a winning record. If you want to look at more recent history, Rice has made seven postseason appearances since moving from the WAC to Conference USA in 2005, a span of 19 seasons. 

That’s why this game matters so much to the Rice football coaches, players and fans. The Owls don’t get this far very often. That only serves to amplify the importance of this otherwise “exhibition” contest. Rice has to make this opportunity count.

Even without JT Daniels, this is very winnable game for Rice football. Vegas odds listed them as underdogs initially, but some predictors, like ESPN’s FPI, suggest the Owls should be the favorite. Regardless of the margin on either side, it should be a competitive game featuring a pair of teams that really care about the outcome. I know how I’ll be spending the day after Christmas. 

Recent Posts

• Rice Baseball 2025: MLB Owls Update – September 9
• Rice Football 2025: PVAMU presser quotes and depth chart
• Rice Football 2025: NFL Owls Week 1 Roundup
• The Roost Podcast | Ep 211 – 2025 Rice Football falls to Houston

Rice Football takes on Texas State in the First Responders Bowl so we’re going behind enemy lines with the guys from the Squarin’ Around Podcast.

Andrew and Jakob of the Sqaurin’ Around Podcast, part of the Dave Campbell’s Republic of Football Podcast Network, were kind enough to stop by and answer a few questions about the upcoming matchup between Rice Football and Texas State. Their answers below should shed some light on the Owls’ upcoming opponent.

Subscriber content.<br /> Please login to see the full post or visit our Patreon page.

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.

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?

Recent Posts

• Rice Baseball 2025: MLB Owls Update – September 9
• Rice Football 2025: PVAMU presser quotes and depth chart
• Rice Football 2025: NFL Owls Week 1 Roundup
• The Roost Podcast | Ep 211 – 2025 Rice Football falls to Houston

FAU is next up on the 2023 Rice football schedule so we’re going behind enemy lines with Owls’ insider from FAU alum Kevin Fiedler, now of Rivals.

FAU alum Kevin Fielder now of Rivals was kind enough to stop by and answer a few questions about the upcoming matchup between Rice Football and FAU. The answers below should shed some light on the Owls’ upcoming opponent.

Subscriber content.<br /> Please login to see the full post or visit our Patreon page.

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.

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?

Recent Posts

• Rice Baseball 2025: MLB Owls Update – September 9
• Rice Football 2025: PVAMU presser quotes and depth chart
• Rice Football 2025: NFL Owls Week 1 Roundup
• The Roost Podcast | Ep 211 – 2025 Rice Football falls to Houston