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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

Armed Forces Bowl Preview: Rice Football vs Texas State

Posted: December 26, 2025

Rice football draws another postseason bout with Texas State, this time in the Armed Forces Bowl. How to watch, key stats, x-factor picks and more. Both Rice football and Texas State entered the final week of the regular season one win shy of securing bowl eligibility. Texas State got that all-important sixth win, defeating South […]

Rice Football

Know Your Foe: Rice Football vs South Florida

Posted: November 27, 2025

USF is next up on the 2025 Rice football schedule, so we’re going behind enemy lines with Bulls’ insider Seth Varnadore of 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 South Florida. The answers below should […]

Rice Football Game Preview

Rice Football 2025 Game Preview: South Florida

Posted: November 23, 2025

Rice football concludes regular season play on the road against South Florida. How to watch, key stats, x-factor picks and more. The final week of the regular season is upon us. Rice football enters its finale following a home loss on Senior Day to North Texas, while South Florida returns home from a more successful […]

Rice Football

Know Your Foe: Rice Football vs North Texas

Posted: November 20, 2025

North Texas is next up on the 2025 Rice football schedule, so we’re going behind enemy lines with Mean Green insider JD Davis of the North Texas Eagle. Mean Green insider JD Davis was kind enough to stop by and answer a few questions about the upcoming matchup between Rice Football and North Texas. The […]

Rice Football Game Preview

Rice Football 2025 Game Preview: North Texas

Posted: November 16, 2025

Rice football caps off its home slate with a Senior Day showdown against North Texas. How to watch, key stats, x-factor picks and more. Both Rice football and North Texas enter this week’s matchup off victories. The Owls took down UAB at home before a much-needed bye week. Then they watched at home as the […]

Rice Football

Know Your Foe: Rice Football vs Memphis

Posted: October 30, 2025

Memphis is next up on the 2025 Rice football schedule so we’re going behind enemy lines with Tigers’ insider Bryan Moss of Tiger Sports Report of On3. Tigers’ insider Bryan Moss was kind enough to stop by and answer a few questions about the upcoming matchup between Rice Football and Memphis. The answers below should […]

Rice Football Game Preview

Rice Football 2025 Game Preview: Memphis

Posted: October 26, 2025

Rice football hosts Memphis on Halloween in a nationally televised matchup. How to watch, key stats, x-factor picks and more. Both Rice football and Memphis posted thrilling come-from-behind wins in their most recent games. The Owls rallied to defeat UConn in double overtime, while the Tigers scored 17 unanswered fourth quarter points to beat South […]

Rice Football Game Preview

Rice Football 2025 Game Preview: UConn

Posted: October 19, 2025

Rice football is off the bye, readying to host UConn this week in the Owls’ final non-conference game. How to watch, key stats, x-factor picks and more. Rice football returns to the gridiron this Saturday for an extended stretch of home games following a much-needed bye week on bye after a one-sided rout at the […]

Rice Football

Know Your Foe: Rice Football vs UTSA

Posted: October 10, 2025

UTSA is next up on the 2025 Rice football schedule so we’re going behind enemy lines with Roadrunners’ insider Jared Kalmus from The Alamo Audible. Roadrunners’ insider Jared Kalmus was kind enough to stop by and answer a few questions about the upcoming matchup between Rice Football and UTSA. The answers below should shed some […]

Rice Football Game Preview

Rice Football 2025 Game Preview: UTSA

Posted: October 5, 2025

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 […]

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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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BREAKING: Mike Collins named Rice Football starting quarterback

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Mike Collins has won the starting quarterback job for Rice football in 2020. The TCU transfer will be the man under center when the Owls open the season.

Rice football will have a new starting quarterback when they open the 2020 season. Graduate transfer Mike Collins will be the Owls’ starting quarterback this fall. He beat out redshirt freshman JoVoni Johnson who had been competing with Collins for the starting job through the spring and into fall camp.

Throughout camp, head coach Mike Bloomgren was clear Collins had the leg up. “I think Mike Collins is just a little bit ahead still.” Bloomgren said, “Pretty much every day he’s just a little bit ahead.”

His arm strength and ability to command the offense has been noticeable thus far. For a bigger guy, he’s pretty fleet of foot too. Rice won’t lose too much in terms of mobility from the position by opting for the 6-foot-5, 225-pound TCU transfer.

Bloomgren noted earlier this year the Owls were guaranteed to have the starting quarterback on campus this spring. Rice did not bring in any new passers over the summer, a decision that proved fortuitous given the rapidly changing environment. Collins was present for spring practice, an added benefit the staff believes will pay dividends in the coming weeks.

Collins will become the latest new face to start a season opening game for Rice football. Prior to his forthcoming debut, Rice has started a different quarterback in their opening game every year dating back to 2015, when Dryphus Jackson returned as the Owls’ QB1.

From 2015 on, Rice turned to Tyler Stehling (2016), Sam Glaesmann (2017), Shawn Stankavage (2018) and Wiley Green (2019) in their openers. Only one, Stehling maintained the starting job for the entirety of the year.

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Rice Football Recruiting: Owls add to early list of 2022 offers

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Rice football has extended four offers to prospective members of the 2022 class, including three more this week.

The second, third and fourth offers of the 2022 Rice Football recruiting class have been extended. One of the Owls earliest commitments in the 2021 class (linebacker DJ Arkansas) was an October offer, and Rice beat out an Arkansas offer for his services. The Owls hope getting in early with some of their top targets will pay dividends down the road.

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