Week 5 · FinalL
vs. UTSA14–16-2 margin
Pregame 23–34
Game detailsSaturday Index
Loading team intelligenceBringing the latest verified football information into focus.
Saturday Index
Loading team intelligenceBringing the latest verified football information into focus.
American Athletic · 2026 · Week 8
Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0 · Cropped for display
Up next · Week 10
Away
On the road at
Saturday, November 7 · Time TBA
The season, taking shape
Final scores show Rice first. Oldest to newest.
vs. UTSAPregame 23–34
Game details
at East CarolinaPregame comparison unavailable
Game details
vs. TulsaPregame 25–27
Game detailsOriginal full-season forecast
This forecast retains the original probabilities for the full schedule. It does not update with completed results or this week’s forecast.
2026 results
Current record, team efficiency, player production, and verified results from completed games.
Current record
1-71 win · 7 lossesThrough 8 completed gamesLoading player usage…
Original season forecast
The original American Athletic forecast, retained alongside current results.
American Athletic projected standing
#14
1-7 projected · 1.7 expected conference wins · #14 of 14.
Preseason baseline
2025 percentiles retained as preseason context; current results and player production lead this page.
2025 FBS percentile scale · 50 is average
Incoming class
National and conference recruiting ranks, confirmed commitments, and the highest-ranked recruits in this class.
Top committed recruits
Rice2026 transfer movement
Incoming and outgoing transfer activity, with rated FBS-to-FBS moves below.
Incoming Transfers
RiceOutgoing Transfers
RiceSeason schedule
Completed games show final results. Upcoming games use this week’s forecast where available; later games retain their published season outlook.
Detailed football intelligence
The full team identity, offense, defense, and supporting evidence.
Team identity
Last season, Rice tried to lean on the running game; it rarely provided an easy foundation.
Why it matters
The run game was Rice's less difficult offensive option, but it did not reliably keep the offense on schedule; the offense must prove it can create movement before opponents have to commit extra help.
at Florida AtlanticPregame 23–33
Pregame comparisons use preserved published forecasts. Results include wins and losses.
At a glance
Current form leads the outlook.
2026 rates aggregate verified completed-game box scores. EPA is expected points added per play.
| Player | C/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacurri Brown | 39/82 | 471 | 2 | 2 |
| Gael Ochoa | 8/16 | 160 | 1 | 0 |
| Patrick Crayton Jr. | 2/2 | 29 | 0 | 0 |
| Player | CAR | YDS | AVG | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacurri Brown | 118 | 668 | 5.7 | 6 |
| Tyvonn Byars | 97 | 465 | 4.8 | 2 |
| Gael Ochoa | 25 | 278 | 11.1 | 5 |
| Player | REC | YDS | AVG | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jordan Clark | 20 | 257 | 12.8 | 0 |
| Braylen Walker | 6 | 111 | 18.5 | 1 |
| Barry Jackson Jr. | 7 | 102 | 14.6 | 1 |
| Player | TOT | SOLO | TFL | SACK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AJ Brown | 60 | 35 | 5 | 0 |
| Austin Harnetiaux | 53 | 25 | 2 | 1 |
| Stone Combs | 52 | 19 | 4 | 0 |
Saturday, October 24 · FAU Stadium
Saturday, October 17 · Rice Stadium
Saturday, October 10 · Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium
Profile high point
Down-to-down defense held the profile's highest percentile position.Profile low point
Big-play prevention held the lowest percentile position among the profile's strength measures.
Rice did not have one unit that could carry the whole game plan, even at its best available point.
What matters
Even Rice's best unit ranked in the lower national range last season, leaving no proven strength to build around.
The passing game is Rice's biggest concern, and opponents can test it immediately.
Why it matters
Opponents can crowd early downs and make the pass game carry obvious throwing situations; defensive control has to keep that stress from setting the game plan.
Rice is at its best when it can use the running game to control early downs and finish drives; fewer possessions make every empty drive more expensive.
What matters
Rice's run-heavy structure played at a deliberate pace. The run game finished bottom-tier, while the pass game finished bottom-tier.
Inside the team
Open a section for the football detail and supporting numbers.
The down-to-down question that determines whether the offense can keep both the run and pass available.
Before defenses have to commit extra help, Rice must prove the run can create manageable second downs.
What matters
Last season's rushing results did not establish dependable movement or a steady play-action foundation.
The pace, play selection, and methods this offense uses to stay on schedule.
Rice played at a deliberate pace in 2025.
What matters
Rice worked with fewer possessions than most teams last season.
Rice's prior passing record was bottom-tier.
Why it matters
Rice's offense needs protection, field position, or explosive variance when ordinary dropbacks do not create enough value.
Why it matters
When Rice's run game cannot stay on schedule, protection and passing-down execution carry more of the offense.
Explosive plays were a two-way concern in Rice's record last season.
Why it matters
That combination increases dependence on sustained drives while leaving little margin for a missed fit or coverage error.
How consistently the offense creates manageable situations and the defense prevents them.
Rice's defense was more consistent down to down than its offense.
Why it matters
Rice's success rate shows whether it can sustain drives and get stops without relying on sacks, turnovers, or isolated big plays.
Rice's opponent-adjusted passing and rushing value were closely matched.
Why it matters
When the split is narrow, early-down execution matters more than steering the offense toward one obvious weakness.
Where the defense can create pressure, control the run, and end drives.
Rice's prior defense was weak overall and strongest in pass defense.
Why it matters
Opponents can trust normal protection and make coverage hold through the route; Rice needs its pass defense to tighten throwing windows before that plan settles in.
Rice's available disruption measures ranked in the lower national range last season; a charted pressure rate is not available.
Why it matters
Without consistent disruption, Rice's defense must win more snaps through coverage, leverage, and early-down prevention.
Rice's sack production outpaced its broader disruption record.
Why it matters
Rice's disruption can hurry an offense; sacks do more by erasing field position and ending passing downs.
Rice's prior run-defense results were below-average.
Why it matters
If Rice's front cannot control early downs, opponents can keep every offensive option open and protect their passing game.
