2identity shift
Rice shifts fanbase identity, redefining program.
Scott Abell begins his tenure at Rice with a 5-8 losing record and a fanbase uneasy about reversing the program's decline.
Rice5-8Latest
Cautious optimism is building around Rice.
belief warmed ↑ 4.6vs prior week
Fanbase belief
Leaning up
56/100 · 76 mentions
~ our readGrounding
running on emotion
0% cite a stat · 7% typical ✓ counted
~ our readVolatility
Chaotic
σ 28 pts
~ our readThe model
#132
CFB Zeitgeist · -8.3
✓ measured2Hope-Doping·Offseason
Rice is the brain of college football — the most selective school in the sport, where 1,000 students still major in being an Owl, and where a win over a team that recruits ten times your enrollment is the whole reward.
Title DroughtSince 2013 · 12 yrs
Rice fans carry less of a grudge than a knowing smile: they will tell you their Owls graduate, beat schools ten times their size on a good Saturday, and answer to a standard nobody else in the sport e…
offseason · quiet
Roster Reload - Rice
2026 snapshot - 2026-08-06Returning Production75%High continuity
Talent Composite#106 nationally247 composite 530.1
Portal Additions20Primary repair: EDGE
Portal Losses22Primary pressure: WR
Draft Loss0No NFL Draft departures recorded
Recruiting Reload#104Depth class
WRin 4 - Max Moseyout 5 - Drayden DickmannEven
current room: 181 lbs avg (2025 roster)
CBin 3 - Jamir Benjaminout 3 - Ephraim DotsonEven
current room: 183 lbs avg (2025 roster)
Sin 3 - Caden VerMaasout 3 - Marcus WilliamsEven
current room: 198 lbs avg (2025 roster)
IOLin 2 - Scott Beckerout 2 - John LongEven
current room: 307 lbs avg (2025 roster)
QBin 2 - Jacurri Brownout 2 - Chase JenkinsEven
current room: 198 lbs avg (2025 roster)
LBin 2 - Austin Harnetiauxout 2 - Ty MorrisEven
current room: 216 lbs avg (2025 roster)
Belief EKG
WinLoss · hover for scorePrior seasons
Approaching
30 days
until kickoff · vs Houston Christian · Sat Sep 5 · 23:00 UTC
The experience
Rice is the Houston private university whose 1953 Cotton Bowl championship + 2008 Texas Bowl + Rice Stadium 70,000 capacity define what historic-academic-private-football looks like.
Offense: PoorRun/Pass: Run-heavy, ground-controlDefense: Poor
Rice's 2026 Season Projected to Reach 9-4 with Bowl Game Appearance
Rice enters the 2026 season with a balanced portal churn and high continuity, positioning the team for a competitive campaign. The program's recruiting rank of #104 and returning talent percentage of 75% suggest a realistic path to a bowl game.
- Roster reloadRice has a balanced portal churn with 20 transfers in and 22 out, indicating a stable roster rebuild. The team's returning talent percentage is 75%, which supports continuity.
Data as of 2026-08-03
·
Validated against program evidence
Sammy the Owl is patient.
Rice · the story right now
8 storylines developing
What Rice's coaching hire is really about
the open questioncan a new staff change the trajectory?
coachingthis cycle~readnew
Scott Abell begins his first season at Rice replacing Mike Bloomgren after a 5-8 record, inheriting 75% returning production but no QB continuity in a program defined by historic-academic-football pride.
what happenedScott Abell took over as Rice's head coach, replacing Mike Bloomgren. ✓ fact
the contextreplaces 5-year head coach Mike Bloomgren (21-32)
narrative tension · our read
identitythis cycle~readnew
Scott Abell begins his tenure at Rice with a 5-8 losing record and a fanbase uneasy about reversing the program's decline.
what happenedRice: the fanbase's identity shifting. ✓ fact
narrative tension · our read
coordinatorsthis cycle~readnew
Scott Abell begins his tenure at Rice with a 5-8 losing record and a program that hasn't reached its historic tier since the 1950s, raising questions about whether the coordinator-driven.
what happenedRice: coordinator change reshaping a unit. ✓ fact
narrative tension · our read
deep threatthis cycle~attributednew
Aaron Turner is used almost exclusively underneath -- a low share of his targets are downfield shots.
narrative tension · our read
garbage timethis cycle~attributednew
Aaron Turner: a garbage time merchant signal screened this season.
narrative tension · our read
garbage timethis cycle~attributednew
Drayden Dickmann: a garbage time merchant signal screened this season.
narrative tension · our read
garbage timethis cycle~attributednew
Quinton Jackson does NOT see a usage spike in garbage time -- his workload holds steady regardless of score.
narrative tension · our read
program_outlookthis cycle~readnew
Rice enters 2026 — the 5-8 record and 120th SP+ ranking highlight the challenge of rebuilding a program that hasn't been ranked this high since its 1953 Cotton Bowl era.
what happenedRice enters 2026 rated No. 120 in 2025 SP+ (-14.8), down 11 spots from 2024. ✓ fact
narrative tension · our read
How past storylines here turned out
AnsweredRice's head-coaching hire held for another season.
The story
The Offseason Ledger · Rice
2 verified updates · portal · recruiting · staff · news- Recruiting
4-star DL Brayden Parks commits to Notre Dame
A 4-star DL heading to South Bend instead of Houston tells you where Rice's class-rank ceiling still sits — #103 nationally means Abell's winning the room battles, not the top-of-board ones yet.
- Recruiting
Connor Rooney commits to Rice
Abell's class sits 100th nationally and the WR room needed bodies — Rooney is a depth-layer add in a rebuild that's still stacking its foundation brick by brick.
Transfer portal snapshot
+0.6 net portal points
(raw ledger: -8.0 — unweighted, no position adjustment)EDGE+6.7
need not filled
RB-3.5
low confidence
DL-3.5
low confidence
OT-3.5
low confidence
TE-3.3
low confidence
P-2.5
IOL+1.1
LS+1.0
low confidence
WR-1.0
QB+0.8
CB-0.3
LB-0.1
S+0.0
Top 3 commits
2026 class
★★★☆☆
Marcus Page Jr.
#1336 national
★★★☆☆
Ayden Wilhelm
#1438 national
Profiles like a typical incoming quarterback — 14 of his 25 closest recruiting profiles since 2018 shared the Pocket Passer archetype.~our read · projection from recruiting profile — no college snaps yet
★★★☆☆
Christopher Knauls
#1523 national
Profiles like a typical incoming interior lineman — 15 of his 25 closest recruiting profiles since 2018 shared the Two-Gap Base archetype.~our read · projection from recruiting profile — no college snaps yet
↑
Among the stronger offseasons on record for this program
64th percentile among FBS programs
Fan vs. market↑
64th
Fan percentile
(FBS mood rank)
(FBS mood rank)
3.5
Vegas O/U wins
(1st among FBS)
(1st among FBS)
Fans 63pp more bullish than market implies
Win total consensus · 3 books
Market outlook
Season expectations
Win total3 booksO/U 3.5
CFP championship#117 in field+100000
AAC title#12 in market+4000
Sportsbook consensus · best odds across multiple books · 2026-08-06
Rice · Next-Season Outcome Band
Rice · Next-Season Outcome BandFloor / Base / Ceiling
Floor 4-8
Base 7-6
Ceiling 9-4
floor4-8No postseason.
base7-6Bowl game.
ceiling9-4Bowl game.
Final-season-aware projection: floor / base / ceiling include conference title and CFP games where the model supports them, so a ceiling can exceed a 12-game regular season.
How the room reacted
Developing · Rice · Coaching Confidence
The Scott Abell era at Rice: where it actually stands.
Scott Abell took over as Rice's head coach, replacing Mike Bloomgren. It is replaces 5-year head coach Mike Bloomgren (21-32). The coverage has largely bought in. The field test is what separates the presser from the program. The coverage has largely bought in, though the field test is still ahead.
The saga so far2 weeks old
last weekRice head football coach Scott Abell speaks on upcoming fall game at ECU — Yahoo Sports
last weekRice head football coach Scott Abell speaks on upcoming game at ECU — WNCT
2 weeks agoRice Football Eyes Continued Ascent under Scott Abell in Year 2 — attheroost.com
The cast who's driving the story · latest headline on each, attributed
Scott Abell Head coach
“Rice head football coach Scott Abell speaks on upcoming fall game at ECU” — Yahoo Sports · 2026-07-27
Mike Bloomgren Out
If Not
“'If Not Now, Then When?': Scott Abell's Vision for Rice Football” — Dave Campbell's Texas High School Football · 2026-07-22
CFB Zeitgeist Read · our take
Scott Abell begins his first season at Rice replacing Mike Bloomgren after a 5-8 record, inheriting 75% returning production but no QB continuity in a program defined by historic-academic-football pride.
Next · what to watch
The obvious story is the marquee name; the non-obvious one is roster churn — a coaching change keeps a portal and decommit window open long after the introductory presser. Watch decommitments and portal moves in the next window — that's where this is actually won or lost, not at the podium. The boards are already there — one thread raises exactly this.
Source of record: Scott Abell took over as Rice's head coach, replacing Mike Bloomgren — replaces 5-year head coach Mike Bloomgren (21-32).
How each room reacted — tap to expand
📣Believers1 bullish/hire items -- the case it's working.›
The 'this hire changes everything' takes -- new-era believers making the case early.
“Rice Defeats Louisiana to Give Abell First Win”
Rice University Athletics · 2025-08-30 · read ↗
“Rice head football coach Scott Abell speaks on upcoming fall game at ECU”
Yahoo Sports · 2026-07-27 · read ↗
“Rice head football coach Scott Abell speaks on upcoming game at ECU”
WNCT · 2026-07-27 · read ↗
🧐SkepticsNo prominent dissent — the coverage runs one way.›
The 'show me the body of work' counter -- resume gaps, scheme fits, and 'not that guy' reads.
Nothing in our corpus yet — this door stays open for when there is.
🔗The dominoes11 downstream moves — the hire's knock-on effects.›
The second-order trail: commits, decommits, portal and staff knock-on from the hire.
“How this Brother Rice DE became one of nation's top recruits”
Detroit Free Press · 2026-08-04 · read ↗
“Brother Rice DL Brayden Parks is third top-10 player from Illinois headed to Irish in 2027 recruiting cycle - Chicago Sun-Times”
news · 2026-07-26 · read ↗
Following now · Rice · Developing Confidence
Rice: the fanbase's identity shifting.
Rice: the fanbase's identity shifting.
near-unanimous belief
where the takes land · dot = how loud
DOUBTBELIEF
Believers8 bull takes
🎪 drama: simmering💬 fans: 41% volume · mostly neutral
CFB Zeitgeist Read · our take
Scott Abell begins his tenure at Rice with a 5-8 losing record and a fanbase uneasy about reversing the program's decline.
Source of record: Rice: the fanbase's identity shifting.
How each room is reacting — tap to expand
🎪The circus“Rice athletic director Tommy McClellan to take job at Purdue, re” — the saga that won't quit.›
The off-field storyline driving the noise right now. Not analysis — the soap opera, and that's the point.
“Rice athletic director Tommy McClellan to take job at Purdue, report says”
cw39.com · 2026-08-04 · read ↗
📣Believers8 bullish items -- the case it's working.›
The optimistic read: momentum, and the 'this is real' takes.
“Statement from President DesRoches on the departure of Tommy McClelland”
Rice University Athletics · 2026-08-05 · read ↗
“Rice University Director of Athletics Tommy McClelland leaving for Purdue”
The Business Journals · 2026-08-05 · read ↗
“Brother Rice football ‘on pace,’ ready to contend in Catholic League’s loaded Central Division”
The Oakland Press · 2026-08-05 · read ↗
🧐SkepticsNo prominent dissent — the coverage runs one way.›
The analytical counter: rankings, results, and 'the hype is ahead of the tape' takes.
Nothing in our corpus yet — this door stays open for when there is.
💬The boards41% of recent board volume — the fanbase is locked in. Board mood this week: mostly neutral.›
This event was in 67 of 162 board posts (41%) over the last 60 days — a fanbase consumed by it. Fan text shown verbatim, attributed to the community not the individual poster.
"What is like the difficulty of chem classes like CHEM 121/122 and CHEM 211/313 compared to like AP, USNCO nationals and IChO chem (both for gen/orgo)?"
r/riceuniversity ~ fan take
"Reading other posts on Reddit, I got the consensus that the Rice ECE department is lacking in many areas and the ECE education is worse than at top public schools. I am thinking ab"
r/riceuniversity ~ fan take
Board health this week (79 posts): 19% positive · 73% neutral · 8% negative. Team-level weekly mood — not specific to this event. The boards ≠ the fanbase: a self-selected vocal slice.
Recent Form · last 10 games
Cold
One of five. The film room is busy this week.
Streak L3Last 5 · 1-4Last 10 · 3-7
The forecast
Opens Sep 5
vs Houston Christian · at home
Season line3.5 winsover -115
PoorRun-heavy, ground-controlPoor
✓ fact on line · ~ our read on style
Rival pulse
Houston
Bullish+39
Bayou Bucket
SMU
Hopeful+12
Mayor's Cup (TX)
Fan mood index · most recent r/cfb data
Recruiting Footprint · 2026
Recruiting Footprint · 2026
25
TX · 13GA · 2OK · 2AL · 1AR · 1FL · 1MO · 1NC · 1+3 more
TX leads the 2026 class with 13 commits. National footprint reaching 11 states.
Where they recruit · 2023-2026
87 signees across 17 states, 2023-2026. TX leads the pull.
r/cfb this year
[Postgame Thread] Memphis Defeats Rice 38-14
[Postgame Thread] USF Defeats Rice 52-3
[Postgame Thread] Navy Defeats Rice 21-13
Top community posts · last 12 months · r/cfb
National spotlight
6 games with TV coverage: 3 ESPN, 1 cable, 2 streaming
Kickoff windows: 1 noon, 1 afternoon, 4 primetime
Fumble luck
50% recovery rate on their own fumbles — right around the ~51% league baseline.
5 of 10 own fumbles recovered themselves, 2025 only.
Takeaway conversion
9% of tipped/broken-up passes have turned into picks — below the ~19% league average, and due for more.
3 interceptions of 33 disrupted passes (30 deflected, 3 intercepted), 2025 only.
Penalty battle
62 penalties committed, 74 drawn on opponents — a near-even trade all season.
644 penalty yards committed vs. 642 drawn on opponents, 2025 season total.
The Pulse on Rice
56
Δ +4.6 vs last wk
76
mentions this week · conversation velocity
What moved it — fall camp · last 14 days
Camp
Fall camp open — install + scrimmage cycle
ongoing
Kickoff
Season opener in 16 days
kickoff
"Hoot, Hoot, Hoot"
— Rice fanbase · recurring line
Fanbase Signals
Cohort Divergence0 pctSpread between sub-fanbase cohorts in the Pulse window.
The Fever Year
Position = mood · width = volume · color = the kind of feeling
Cr/CFB
GGoogle News
UUnderdog Dynasty
CCampus paper
BBluesky
YYouTube
What little we hear
Only 5 cohort(s) cleared the signal floor this week, so we won’t stage a split we can’t back. Here’s the honest read:
Die-hards+0.15
Millennials+0.14
Analytics crowd+0.14
Gen Z+0.14
National take+0.14
How Rice fans actually talk real · top-upvoted
Rr/CFBthe room
I chose Rice over Cornell because the students at Rice seemed happier and I thought the campus looked nicer
▲ 68 ▼open ↗
The crowd’s loudest take by upvotes — read for mood, not as a side. The cohort read is the measured part.
What this fanbase keeps coming back to our read · topic model
Topics are model-labeled from Reddit — a rough signal of what this fanbase is circling right now.
165 mentions · 6 sources · week 2026-01. Counts, sources and the divergence rank are measured (fact). Cohort labels and sentiment are a source-weighted model read (our read) — never a quote attributed to a person.
Belief checklight on evidence
~ our readRice fans are cautiously optimistic, with almost nothing concrete behind it yet.
backed by facts
the mood
✓ counted We read 79 posts from Rice fans this week.
Five Lenses
What people are saying right now
Radio, beat writers & editorial13 posts
News & campus coverage9 posts
Fanbase Health Index · Rice · high confidence
Fanbase Health Index · Rice · high confidenceGrowing (57)
DecliningStableGrowingSurging
On-Field — 5-8 (38% win rate)52
Volume — 425 effective signal-N83
Cohort Engagement — Divergence 0.00 — quiet35
Key stats — 2025 — FBS rank
Points/game#120 / 138 · 14th pct19.1
Pts allowed/game#122 / 138 · 12th pct32.9
Total yards/gm#119 / 136 · 13th pct302.4
Rush yards/gm#18 / 136 · 88th pct204.8
Pass yards/gm#134 / 136 · 2nd pct97.6
Yards allowed/gm#116 / 136 · 15th pct404.1
Rush yds allowed/gm#95 / 136 · 31st pct163.9
Sacks#69 / 136 · 50th pct25
Interceptions#131 / 136 · 4th pct3
3rd-down conv#116 / 136 · 15th pct34.0%
All 98 stats
Offense / Defense
Total yards
Team3931302.4/gm4.51/play#119 / 136 · 13th pct#64 / 70 · 10th pct#13 / 14 · 14th pct#10 / 12 · 25th pct
Opp5253404.1/gm6.31/play#116 / 136 · 15th pct#66 / 70 · 7th pct#11 / 14 · 29th pct#9 / 12 · 33rd pct
Rush yards
Team2662204.8/gm3.06/play#18 / 136 · 88th pct#6 / 70 · 93rd pct#5 / 14 · 71st pct#1 / 12 · 100th pct
Opp2131163.9/gm2.56/play#95 / 136 · 31st pct#56 / 70 · 21st pct#8 / 14 · 50th pct#7 / 12 · 50th pct
Rush carries
Team64749.8/gm#4 / 136 · 98th pct#2 / 70 · 99th pct#2 / 14 · 93rd pct#1 / 12 · 100th pct
Opp45735.2/gm#72 / 136 · 48th pct#44 / 70 · 39th pct#5 / 14 · 71st pct#7 / 12 · 50th pct
Rush TDs
Team201.5/gm#68 / 136 · 51st pct#39 / 70 · 46th pct#9 / 14 · 43rd pct#5 / 12 · 67th pct
Opp262.0/gm#116 / 136 · 15th pct#64 / 70 · 10th pct#9 / 14 · 43rd pct#8 / 12 · 42nd pct
Net pass yards
Team126997.6/gm1.46/play#134 / 136 · 2nd pct#70 / 70 · 1st pct#13 / 14 · 14th pct#11 / 12 · 17th pct
Opp3122240.2/gm3.75/play#112 / 136 · 18th pct#60 / 70 · 16th pct#11 / 14 · 29th pct#9 / 12 · 33rd pct
Pass attempts
Team22417.2/gm#133 / 136 · 3rd pct#70 / 70 · 1st pct#12 / 14 · 21st pct#11 / 12 · 17th pct
Opp37528.8/gm#54 / 136 · 61st pct#24 / 70 · 67th pct#7 / 14 · 57th pct#8 / 12 · 42nd pct
Completions
Team14811.4/gm#132 / 136 · 4th pct#70 / 70 · 1st pct#12 / 14 · 21st pct#10 / 12 · 25th pct
Opp23117.8/gm#54 / 136 · 61st pct#26 / 70 · 64th pct#6 / 14 · 64th pct#9 / 12 · 33rd pct
Pass TDs
Team110.8/gm#122 / 136 · 11th pct#65 / 70 · 9th pct#13 / 14 · 14th pct#10 / 12 · 25th pct
Opp251.9/gm#120 / 136 · 12th pct#64 / 70 · 10th pct#12 / 14 · 21st pct#7 / 12 · 50th pct
Passer rating
Team127.2127.2#87 / 136 · 37th pct#52 / 70 · 27th pct#11 / 14 · 29th pct#7 / 12 · 50th pct
Opp151.4151.4#127 / 136 · 7th pct#67 / 70 · 6th pct#13 / 14 · 14th pct#9 / 12 · 33rd pct
Interceptions thrown
Team40.3/gm#133 / 136 · 3rd pct#68 / 70 · 4th pct#13 / 14 · 14th pct#10 / 12 · 25th pct
Opp30.2/gm#2 / 136 · 99th pct#2 / 70 · 99th pct#1 / 14 · 100th pct#2 / 12 · 92nd pct
Sacks (def)
Team251.9/gm#69 / 136 · 50th pct#41 / 70 · 43rd pct#5 / 14 · 71st pct#4 / 10 · 70th pct
Opp191.5/gm#27 / 136 · 81st pct#16 / 70 · 79th pct#5 / 14 · 71st pct#3 / 10 · 80th pct
Tackles for loss
Team655.0/gm#78 / 136 · 43rd pct#42 / 70 · 41st pct#7 / 14 · 57th pct#5 / 10 · 60th pct
Opp1048.0/gm#135 / 136 · 1st pct#70 / 70 · 1st pct#14 / 14 · 7th pct#10 / 10 · 10th pct
First downs
Team22217.1/gm#111 / 136 · 19th pct#59 / 70 · 17th pct#12 / 14 · 21st pct#7 / 12 · 50th pct
Opp26420.3/gm#98 / 136 · 29th pct#57 / 70 · 20th pct#9 / 14 · 43rd pct#11 / 12 · 17th pct
3rd-down conv
Team675.2/gm#77 / 136 · 44th pct#40 / 70 · 44th pct#12 / 14 · 21st pct#4 / 12 · 75th pct
Opp745.7/gm#101 / 136 · 26th pct#57 / 70 · 20th pct#8 / 14 · 50th pct#10 / 12 · 25th pct
3rd-down att
Team19715.2/gm#11 / 136 · 93rd pct#6 / 70 · 93rd pct#2 / 14 · 93rd pct#2 / 12 · 92nd pct
Opp17013.1/gm#49 / 136 · 65th pct#25 / 70 · 66th pct#6 / 14 · 64th pct#9 / 12 · 33rd pct
4th-down conv
Team211.6/gm#10 / 136 · 93rd pct#4 / 70 · 96th pct#5 / 14 · 71st pct#1 / 12 · 100th pct
Opp141.1/gm#68 / 136 · 51st pct#33 / 70 · 54th pct#2 / 14 · 93rd pct#12 / 12 · 8th pct
4th-down att
Team382.9/gm#8 / 136 · 95th pct#4 / 70 · 96th pct#4 / 14 · 79th pct#1 / 12 · 100th pct
Opp241.8/gm#57 / 136 · 59th pct#27 / 70 · 63rd pct#3 / 14 · 86th pct#11 / 12 · 17th pct
Time of possession
Team425:2432:43/gm#17 / 136 · 88th pct#10 / 70 · 87th pct#3 / 14 · 86th pct#3 / 12 · 83rd pct
Opp354:3627:17/gm#14 / 136 · 90th pct#7 / 70 · 91st pct#3 / 14 · 86th pct#8 / 12 · 42nd pct
Kicking & Punting
Field goals#61 / 135 · 56th pct11/14 (78.6%)
Extra points29/29
Punting#34 / 136 · 76th pct44.9 avg · 66 punts
Turnovers & special teams
Turnovers
Team110.8/gm#121 / 136 · 12th pct#59 / 70 · 17th pct#12 / 14 · 21st pct#11 / 12 · 17th pct
Opp70.5/gm#4 / 136 · 98th pct#3 / 70 · 97th pct#1 / 14 · 100th pct#2 / 12 · 92nd pct
Fumbles lost
Team70.5/gm#51 / 136 · 63rd pct#22 / 70 · 70th pct#9 / 14 · 43rd pct#8 / 12 · 42nd pct
Opp40.3/gm#19 / 136 · 87th pct#11 / 70 · 86th pct#1 / 14 · 100th pct#3 / 12 · 83rd pct
INT return TDs
Team00.0/gm#76 / 135 · 44th pct#39 / 70 · 46th pct#9 / 13 · 38th pct#7 / 11 · 45th pct
Opp20.2/gm#105 / 136 · 24th pct#57 / 70 · 20th pct#11 / 14 · 29th pct#7 / 12 · 50th pct
INT return yards
Team70.5/gm#134 / 136 · 2nd pct#69 / 70 · 3rd pct#14 / 14 · 7th pct#11 / 12 · 17th pct
Opp1219.3/gm#76 / 136 · 45th pct#40 / 70 · 44th pct#7 / 14 · 57th pct#5 / 12 · 67th pct
Punt ret yds
Team393.0/gm#127 / 136 · 7th pct#67 / 70 · 6th pct#14 / 14 · 7th pct#11 / 12 · 17th pct
Opp22117.0/gm#117 / 136 · 15th pct#60 / 70 · 16th pct#13 / 14 · 14th pct#8 / 12 · 42nd pct
Punt ret TDs
Team00.0/gm#43 / 135 · 69th pct#23 / 70 · 69th pct#3 / 13 · 85th pct#2 / 10 · 90th pct
Opp00.0/gm#1 / 135 · 100th pct#1 / 70 · 100th pct#1 / 13 · 100th pct#1 / 12 · 100th pct
Kick ret yds
Team44334.1/gm#69 / 136 · 50th pct#28 / 70 · 61st pct#8 / 14 · 50th pct#10 / 12 · 25th pct
Opp17113.2/gm#10 / 136 · 93rd pct#7 / 70 · 91st pct#3 / 14 · 86th pct#1 / 12 · 100th pct
Kick ret TDs
Team00.0/gm#40 / 136 · 71st pct#17 / 70 · 77th pct#4 / 14 · 79th pct#2 / 10 · 90th pct
Opp00.0/gm#1 / 135 · 100th pct#1 / 70 · 100th pct#1 / 13 · 100th pct#1 / 9 · 100th pct
Penalty yards
Team64449.5/gm#82 / 136 · 40th pct#38 / 70 · 47th pct#7 / 14 · 57th pct#6 / 12 · 58th pct
Opp64249.4/gm#57 / 136 · 59th pct#35 / 70 · 51st pct#7 / 14 · 57th pct#6 / 12 · 58th pct
Other
Passes intercepted opponent#3 / 136 · 99th pct#2 / 70 · 99th pct#2 / 14 · 93rd pct#2 / 12 · 92nd pct40.3/gm
Kick ret (opp)#16 / 136 · 89th pct#10 / 70 · 87th pct#3 / 14 · 86th pct#3 / 12 · 83rd pct110.8/gm
Fourth down go rate#31 / 138 · 78th pct#13 / 70 · 83rd pct#9 / 13 · 38th pct#3 / 12 · 83rd pct0.50.0/gm
Kick returns#44 / 136 · 68th pct#14 / 70 · 81st pct#6 / 14 · 64th pct#11 / 12 · 17th pct241.8/gm
Penalties (opp)#60 / 136 · 57th pct#35 / 70 · 51st pct#7 / 14 · 57th pct#7 / 12 · 50th pct745.7/gm
H2 epa per play opponent#65 / 143 · 55th pct#38 / 70 · 47th pct#6 / 13 · 62nd pct0.20.0/gm
Fumbles rec (def)#71 / 136 · 49th pct#44 / 70 · 39th pct#6 / 14 · 64th pct#3 / 12 · 83rd pct70.5/gm
Recruiting rating#100 / 138 · 28th pct#69 / 70 · 3rd pct#6 / 14 · 64th pct#3 / 12 · 83rd pct146.611.3/gm
Fumbles recovered#109 / 136 · 21st pct#57 / 70 · 20th pct#13 / 14 · 14th pct#9 / 12 · 33rd pct40.3/gm
Penalties#110 / 136 · 20th pct#51 / 70 · 29th pct#11 / 14 · 29th pct#8 / 12 · 42nd pct624.8/gm
Punt ret (opp)#119 / 136 · 13th pct#62 / 70 · 13th pct#14 / 14 · 7th pct#8 / 12 · 42nd pct231.8/gm
H1 epa per play#124 / 162 · 24th pct#66 / 70 · 7th pct#13 / 13 · 8th pct0.10.0/gm
Punt returns#124 / 136 · 10th pct#65 / 70 · 9th pct#13 / 14 · 14th pct#10 / 12 · 25th pct80.6/gm
Interceptions (def)#131 / 136 · 4th pct#67 / 70 · 6th pct#13 / 14 · 14th pct#10 / 12 · 25th pct30.2/gm
H1 epa per play opponent#133 / 167 · 21st pct#63 / 70 · 11th pct#11 / 13 · 23rd pct0.30.0/gm
H2 epa per play#138 / 142 · 4th pct#70 / 70 · 1st pct#13 / 13 · 8th pct-0.0-0.0
Red zone pass rate#150 / 154 · 3rd pct#70 / 70 · 1st pct#12 / 13 · 15th pct#12 / 12 · 8th pct0.20.0/gm
First down pass rate#208 / 215 · 4th pct#70 / 70 · 1st pct#12 / 13 · 15th pct#12 / 12 · 8th pct0.20.0/gm
Situational
3rd-down conversion
Off34.0%#116 / 136 · 15th pct#64 / 70 · 10th pct#14 / 14 · 7th pct#11 / 12 · 17th pct
Def43.5%#115 / 136 · 16th pct#63 / 70 · 11th pct#10 / 14 · 36th pct#10 / 12 · 25th pct
4th-down conversion
Off55.3%#65 / 136 · 53rd pct#42 / 70 · 41st pct#9 / 14 · 43rd pct#4 / 12 · 75th pct
Def58.3%#92 / 136 · 33rd pct#46 / 70 · 36th pct#9 / 14 · 43rd pct#8 / 12 · 42nd pct
Turnover margin#98 / 136 · 29th pct#52 / 70 · 27th pct#10 / 14 · 36th pct#5 / 12 · 67th pct-0.31/gm
Sack rate (def)#65 / 136 · 53rd pct#41 / 70 · 43rd pct#4 / 14 · 79th pct#4 / 10 · 70th pct6.7%
Red Zone & Drive Efficiency (2014– , play-by-play derived)
Red zone trips
Team282.2/gm#125 / 167 · 26th pct#67 / 70 · 6th pct#13 / 13 · 8th pct#10 / 12 · 25th pct
Opp372.8/gm#68 / 166 · 60th pct#25 / 70 · 66th pct#2 / 13 · 92nd pct#4 / 12 · 75th pct
Red zone score %
Team82.1%82.1%#60 / 167 · 65th pct#32 / 70 · 56th pct#6 / 13 · 62nd pct#5 / 12 · 67th pct
Opp89.2%89.2%#143 / 166 · 14th pct#64 / 70 · 10th pct#12 / 13 · 15th pct#11 / 12 · 17th pct
Points / drive
Team1.40.1/gm#126 / 167 · 25th pct#67 / 70 · 6th pct#13 / 13 · 8th pct#12 / 12 · 8th pct
Opp2.20.2/gm#111 / 166 · 34th pct#61 / 70 · 14th pct#8 / 13 · 46th pct#6 / 12 · 58th pct
Yards / drive
Team35.42.7/gm#128 / 167 · 24th pct#65 / 70 · 9th pct#13 / 13 · 8th pct#7 / 12 · 50th pct
Opp41.33.2/gm#93 / 166 · 45th pct#47 / 70 · 34th pct#6 / 13 · 62nd pct#8 / 12 · 42nd pct
Plays / drive
Team6.70.5/gm#56 / 167 · 67th pct#30 / 70 · 59th pct#7 / 13 · 54th pct#4 / 12 · 75th pct
Opp6.60.5/gm#87 / 166 · 48th pct#37 / 70 · 49th pct#3 / 13 · 85th pct#11 / 12 · 17th pct
Three-and-out rate
Team22.7%22.7%#146 / 167 · 13th pct#69 / 70 · 3rd pct#13 / 13 · 8th pct#1 / 12 · 100th pct
Opp13.1%13.1%#91 / 166 · 46th pct#47 / 70 · 34th pct#7 / 13 · 54th pct#3 / 12 · 83rd pct
Scheme Identity (2014– , play-by-play derived)
Rush rate over expected#4 / 145 · 98th pct#1 / 70 · 100th pct#3 / 13 · 85th pct+21.7%+21.7%
Havoc rate
Team13.2%13.2%#118 / 140 · 16th pct#64 / 70 · 10th pct#9 / 14 · 43rd pct
Opp16.5%16.5%#94 / 140 · 34th pct#47 / 70 · 34th pct#10 / 14 · 36th pct
Standard-downs success
Team43.9%43.9%#119 / 154 · 23rd pct#61 / 70 · 14th pct#13 / 13 · 8th pct
Opp43.6%43.6%#24 / 172 · 87th pct#16 / 70 · 79th pct#1 / 13 · 100th pct
Passing-downs success
Team19.9%19.9%#149 / 153 · 3rd pct#70 / 70 · 1st pct#13 / 13 · 8th pct
Opp31.7%31.7%#94 / 149 · 38th pct#46 / 70 · 36th pct#8 / 13 · 46th pct
Line yards / carry
Team2.62.6#131 / 143 · 9th pct#69 / 70 · 3rd pct#13 / 13 · 8th pct
Opp3.03.0#88 / 155 · 44th pct#50 / 70 · 30th pct#7 / 13 · 54th pct
Stuff rate
Team21.7%21.7%#117 / 143 · 19th pct#60 / 70 · 16th pct#12 / 13 · 15th pct
Opp17.9%17.9%#85 / 155 · 46th pct#45 / 70 · 37th pct#7 / 13 · 54th pct
Power success rate
Team69.4%69.4%#73 / 137 · 47th pct#38 / 70 · 47th pct#10 / 13 · 31st pct
Opp66.7%66.7%#49 / 141 · 66th pct#23 / 70 · 69th pct#5 / 13 · 69th pct
Efficiency
Completion %
Off66.1%#28 / 136 · 80th pct#20 / 70 · 73rd pct#6 / 14 · 64th pct#1 / 12 · 100th pct
Def61.6%#65 / 136 · 53rd pct#31 / 70 · 57th pct#6 / 14 · 64th pct#7 / 12 · 50th pct
Yards / attempt
Off5.7#133 / 136 · 3rd pct#70 / 70 · 1st pct#14 / 14 · 7th pct#12 / 12 · 8th pct
Def8.3#124 / 136 · 10th pct#65 / 70 · 9th pct#13 / 14 · 14th pct#6 / 12 · 58th pct
Yards / completion
Off8.6#136 / 136 · 1st pct#70 / 70 · 1st pct#14 / 14 · 7th pct#12 / 12 · 8th pct
Def13.5#130 / 136 · 5th pct#67 / 70 · 6th pct#13 / 14 · 14th pct#8 / 12 · 42nd pct
Yards / carry#88 / 136 · 36th pct#47 / 70 · 34th pct#11 / 14 · 29th pct#4 / 12 · 75th pct4.1
Yards / play#133 / 136 · 3rd pct#69 / 70 · 3rd pct#14 / 14 · 7th pct#12 / 12 · 8th pct4.51
Scoring margin#127 / 136 · 7th pct#67 / 70 · 6th pct#13 / 14 · 14th pct#8 / 11 · 36th pct-13.8/gm
FBS rankings · 2025 season · all stats vs 136 FBS programs
Player stats — 2025 season
Quarterbacks
| Player | # | G | Cmp/Att | Pct | Yds | Y/A | TD | INT | Rate | QBR | Adj ANY/A | Sack% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scrambler · +0.05 EPA/play | 4 | 12 | 119 / 172 | 69.2 | 1025 | 6.0 | 9 | 2 | 134.2 | 37.5 | 5.5 | 7.0 | |
Yards by week → ScramblerMakes plays with feet when the pocket collapses. Efficiency still on the rise. Impact starter — above-average production for the conference. 45 of 183 QBs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Rush usage46.7% 99th percentile · FBS QBs, min. 80 attempts Yards / attempt6.0 bottom 12th percentile · FBS QBs, min. 80 attempts Trait fingerprint Plays like View Chase Jenkins's full player page | |||||||||||||
| -0.21 EPA/play | 5 | 6 | 10 / 21 | 47.6 | 123 | 5.9 | 1 | 0 | 112.5 | 40.2 | — | — | |
Yards by week → | |||||||||||||
| -0.50 EPA/play | 15 | 3 | 7 / 15 | 46.7 | 73 | 4.9 | 1 | 2 | 82.9 | 1.9 | — | — | |
Yards by week → | |||||||||||||
| -0.34 EPA/play | 8 | 3 | 9 / 13 | 69.2 | 40 | 3.1 | 0 | 0 | 95.1 | 8.6 | — | — | |
Yards by week → | |||||||||||||
Running Backs
| Player | # | G | Car | Yds | Avg | TD | Long | 3rd Dn Use | Pass Dn Use | Stuff% | 10+% | Tgt Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balanced Back · -0.01 EPA/play | 10 | 13 | 180 | 889 #62 FBS | 4.9 | 6 | 73 | 13.3 | 12.3 | 16 | 11.4 | — | |
Yards by week → Balanced Back· Boom-or-bustPlays within the scheme — consistent production without a dominant dimension. his yards come in chunks — feast or famine Starter — over 60% of the snaps, holding the job. 186 of 349 RBs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Yards / carry5.1 bottom 39th percentile · FBS RBs, min. 40 carries Receiving share2.2% bottom 7th percentile · FBS RBs, min. 40 carries Plays like View Quinton Jackson's full player page | |||||||||||||
| Balanced Back · +0.18 EPA/play | 20 | 9 | 74 | 392 | 5.3 | 3 | 57 | 10.3 | 6.1 | 10.8 | 9.5 | — | |
Yards by week → Balanced BackPlays within the scheme — consistent production without a dominant dimension. Part-time starter — splitting the role or filling in on injury. The most common profile in its group this season — 186 of 349 classified this way. Played in 9 of 21 games this season · sophomore · 3-star, 2023 class View Daelen Alexander's full player page | |||||||||||||
| Balanced Back · +0.36 EPA/play | 27 | 11 | 76 | 302 | 4.0 | 2 | 36 | 7.1 | 5 | — | — | — | |
Yards by week → Balanced BackPlays within the scheme — consistent production without a dominant dimension. Part-time starter — splitting the role or filling in on injury. 186 of 349 RBs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Yards / carry4.2 bottom 16th percentile · FBS RBs, min. 40 carries Receiving share1.3% bottom 6th percentile · FBS RBs, min. 40 carries Plays like View DAndre Hardeman Jr.'s full player page | |||||||||||||
| +0.31 EPA/play | 26 | 8 | 34 | 193 | 5.7 | 1 | 32 | 6.1 | 2.8 | — | — | — | |
Yards by week → | |||||||||||||
Receivers
| Player | # | G | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | Long | 3rd Dn Use | Pass Dn Use | Tgt Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slot Technician · +0.21 EPA/play | 1 | 13 | 63 | 398 | 6.3 | 4 | 55 | 11.6 | 17.8 | 35.1% (65/185) | |
Yards by week → Slot Technician· Boom-or-bustRuns precise routes in tight quarters. Volume player who keeps chains moving. his yards come in chunks — feast or famine Part-time starter — splitting the role or filling in on injury. 97 of 558 WRs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Reception volume63 94th percentile · FBS WRs, min. 12 receptions Yards / reception6.8 bottom 4th percentile · FBS WRs, min. 12 receptions Trait fingerprint Plays like View Aaron Turner's full player page | |||||||||||
| Possession Receiver · -0.10 EPA/play | 6 | 12 | 37 | 323 | 8.7 | 3 | 46 | 9 | 10.3 | 29.2% (54/185) | |
Yards by week → Possession Receiver· Boom-or-bustReliable target who converts on critical downs. Not flashy; consistently productive. his yards come in chunks — feast or famine Part-time starter — splitting the role or filling in on injury. 332 of 558 WRs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Yards / reception8.9 bottom 12th percentile · FBS WRs, min. 12 receptions EPA / play (adj)-0.1 bottom 2th percentile · FBS WRs, min. 12 receptions Trait fingerprint Plays like our readAscending: his CFB Index score climbed from the 0th percentile to the 45th among FBS WRs | |||||||||||
| +0.28 EPA/play | 11 | 10 | 8 | 105 | 13.1 | 2 | 37 | 4.5 | 3.8 | — | |
Yards by week → | |||||||||||
| +0.25 EPA/play | 17 | 6 | 6 | 63 | 10.5 | 1 | 34 | 8.3 | 9.2 | — | |
Yards by week → | |||||||||||
| +0.56 EPA/play | 81 | 2 | 6 | 49 | 8.2 | 0 | 14 | 15.4 | 18.2 | — | |
Yards by week → | |||||||||||
| +0.61 EPA/play | 29 | 7 | 6 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 5.3 | 8.2 | — | |
Yards by week → | |||||||||||
Defensive Line
| Player | # | G | Tot | Solo | TFL | Sack | Hur |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Two-Gap Base | 26 | 13 | 63 | 29 | 8 | 6.5 #55 FBS | 3 |
Two-Gap BaseStout at the point of attack — steady tackle-for-loss production without a standout pass-rush number. Impact starter — above-average production for the conference. The most common profile in its group this season — 388 of 809 classified this way. Played in 13 of 21 games this season · senior View Tony Anyanwu's full player page | |||||||
| Nose Anchor | 75 | 12 | 39 | 16 | 5 | 1.5 | 0 |
Nose AnchorThe heaviest frame on the interior. Sack production is intentionally not the point of this profile. Starter — over 60% of the snaps, holding the job. 152 of 809 IDLs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Weight341 lb 98th percentile · FBS interior linemen, min. 10 tackles Plays like our readBreakout: his CFB Index score went from the 33rd percentile among FBS IDLs to the 90th | |||||||
| Two-Gap Base | 16 | 10 | 25 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
Two-Gap BaseStout at the point of attack — steady tackle-for-loss production without a standout pass-rush number. 388 of 809 IDLs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt TFL rate12.0% bottom 39th percentile · FBS interior linemen, min. 10 tackles Plays like View Chibby Nwajuaku's full player page | |||||||
| Two-Gap Base | 57 | 10 | 17 | 6 | 3.5 | 0.5 | 2 |
Two-Gap BaseStout at the point of attack — steady tackle-for-loss production without a standout pass-rush number. 388 of 809 IDLs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt TFL rate20.6% 73th percentile · FBS interior linemen, min. 10 tackles Plays like View Aquantis Clemmons's full player page | |||||||
| Two-Gap Base | 96 | 9 | 16 | 4 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1 |
Two-Gap BaseStout at the point of attack — steady tackle-for-loss production without a standout pass-rush number. 388 of 809 IDLs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt TFL rate3.1% bottom 11th percentile · FBS interior linemen, min. 10 tackles Plays like View Dillan Botts's full player page | |||||||
| Speed Rusher | 1 | 4 | 15 | 8 | 5 | 4.5 | 2 |
Speed RusherBends the edge and wins with first-step quickness. Lighter frame, relentless motor. 12 of 200 EDGEs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Sack rate30.0% 99th percentile · FBS EDGE, min. 10 tackles Plays like View Michael Daley's full player page | |||||||
| 3-Tech Penetrator | 99 | 9 | 13 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
3-Tech PenetratorDisruptive interior rusher who lives in the backfield. 269 of 809 IDLs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt TFL rate0.0% bottom 6th percentile · FBS interior linemen, min. 10 tackles Plays like View Christopher Clark-Jolivet's full player page | |||||||
| 3-Tech Penetrator | 8 | 7 | 12 | 6 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1 |
3-Tech PenetratorDisruptive interior rusher who lives in the backfield. 269 of 809 IDLs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt TFL rate12.5% bottom 41th percentile · FBS interior linemen, min. 10 tackles Plays like View Joseph Mutombo's full player page | |||||||
| 2 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | |
| 15 | 5 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 94 | 3 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 11 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 45 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 | |
Linebackers
| Player | # | G | Tot | Solo | Ast | TFL | Sack | PD | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balanced Linebacker | — | 12 | 93 | 46 | 47 | 8.5 | 3.5 | 2 | 0 |
Balanced LinebackerSolid in every phase without a signature dimension. Starter — over 60% of the snaps, holding the job. 362 of 660 LBs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Tackle volume93 93th percentile · FBS linebackers, min. 15 tackles PD rate2.2% bottom 44th percentile · FBS linebackers, min. 15 tackles Trait fingerprint Plays like our readUnranked recruit — top-quartile production against his own recruiting profile our readSustained Ascent: his CFB Index score shows two real climbs in a row — 13th to 37th to 88th percentile among FBS LBs | |||||||||
| Balanced Linebacker | 3 | 12 | 79 | 35 | 44 | 9 | 2.5 | 3 | 0 |
Balanced LinebackerSolid in every phase without a signature dimension. Starter — over 60% of the snaps, holding the job. The most common profile in its group this season — 362 of 660 classified this way. Played in 12 of 21 games this season · junior · 3-star, 2023 class View Ty Anthony Morris's full player page | |||||||||
| 25 | 6 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 44 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 1.5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 47 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 54 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Defensive Backs
| Player | # | G | Tot | PD | INT | TFL | Sack |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rover | 4 | 11 | 61 | 5 | 0 | 3.5 | 0 |
RoverHits like a linebacker and still takes the ball away. Starter — over 60% of the snaps, holding the job. 83 of 801 Ss we've classified this way this season. Season receipt PD rate8.2% 51th percentile · FBS safeties, min. 15 tackles Plays like View Marcus Williams's full player page | |||||||
| Box Safety | 9 | 12 | 57 | 1 | 1 | 2.5 | 0 |
Box SafetyLives near the line of scrimmage as a de facto extra linebacker. Starter — over 60% of the snaps, holding the job. 166 of 801 Ss we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Tackle volume57 76th percentile · FBS safeties, min. 15 tackles Plays like our readAscending: his CFB Index score now sits at the 56th percentile among FBS Ss, up from the 10th | |||||||
| Hybrid Nickel | 6 | 9 | 40 | 1 | 0 | 1.5 | 0 |
Hybrid NickelMoves between deep coverage and the slot — the modern positionless DB. Part-time starter — splitting the role or filling in on injury. The most common profile in its group this season — 419 of 801 classified this way. Played in 9 of 21 games this season · sophomore View Jo Chavez's full player page | |||||||
| Hybrid Nickel | 27 | 9 | 38 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Hybrid NickelMoves between deep coverage and the slot — the modern positionless DB. Part-time starter — splitting the role or filling in on injury. The most common profile in its group this season — 419 of 801 classified this way. Played in 9 of 21 games this season · senior View Jack Kane's full player page | |||||||
| Ball Hawk | 7 | 12 | 31 | 8 #45 FBS | 0 | 0.5 | 0 |
Ball HawkReads the quarterback's eyes and takes the ball away. 44 of 270 CBs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt PD rate25.8% 90th percentile · FBS corners, min. 10 tackles Plays like View Omari Porter's full player page | |||||||
| Cover Corner | 5 | 8 | 23 | 2 | 0 | 0.5 | 0 |
Cover CornerSteady in coverage; doesn't get beat deep and rarely gives up the big play. The most common profile in its group this season — 141 of 270 classified this way. Played in 8 of 21 games this season · junior View Jerrick Harper's full player page | |||||||
| Box Safety | 29 | 4 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 2.5 | 1 |
Box SafetyLives near the line of scrimmage as a de facto extra linebacker. 166 of 801 Ss we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Tackle volume16 bottom 11th percentile · FBS safeties, min. 15 tackles Plays like View Daveon Hook's full player page | |||||||
| Ball Hawk | 12 | 6 | 14 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Ball HawkReads the quarterback's eyes and takes the ball away. 44 of 270 CBs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt PD rate42.9% 100th percentile · FBS corners, min. 10 tackles Plays like View Khary Crump's full player page | |||||||
| 41 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| 20 | 5 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 28 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 14 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Kicking
| Player | # | G | FG M/A | FG% | XP M/A | Pts | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steady | 28 | 13 | 10/13 | 76.9 | 27/27 | 57 | 49 |
| 82 | 4 | 1/1 | 100 | 2/2 | 5 | 45 |
Punting
| Player | # | G | No | Yds | Avg | Long | In20 | TB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steady | 91 | 12 | 60 | 2679 | 44.7 | 64 | 11 | 4 |
Net average is unavailable — CFBD's punting feed carries gross yards only, with no return-yardage or touchback deduction.
Kick Returns
| Player | # | G | No | Yds | Avg | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balanced Back · -0.01 EPA/play | 10 | 13 | 13 | 262 | 20.2 | 0 | 34 |
Punt Returns
| Player | # | G | No | Yds | Avg | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| +0.28 EPA/play | 11 | 10 | 7 | 36 | 5.1 | 0 | 12 |
2025 stat leaders
final
2025 stat leaders
1.
Andrew Awe
LB
93.0 tot (def)
2.
Ty Anthony Morris
LB
79.0 tot (def)
3.
Tony Anyanwu
DL
63.0 tot (def)
4.
Quinton Jackson
RB
889 yds (rush)
5.
Peyton Stevenson
S
57.0 tot (def)
Roster
2025
19
players carry a qualified CFB Index Score this season.
Tony Anyanwu
EDGE
#49 of 420
Blake Boenisch
IDL
#45 of 330
Andrew Awe
LB
#83 of 583
Ty Anthony Morris
LB
#118 of 583
Aaron Turner
WR
#173 of 485
Marcus Williams
S
#204 of 544
+13 more
Rice · 2025 schedule & results5-8Brutal slateAverage opponent win rate 57% · 5 AP top-25 opponents on the schedule.
| Wk | Date | Us | Opp | Line | Opponent | Result | Record | Conf |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aug 31 | #92 | #52 | +9.5 | @Louisiana | W 14–12 123 | 1-0 | 0-0 |
| 2 | Sep 6 | #77 | #48 | +13.5 | Houston | L 9–35 125 | 1-1 | 0-0 |
| 3 | Sep 13 | #88 | #182 | -29.5 | Prairie View A&M | W 38–17 139 | 2-1 | 0-0 |
| 4 | Sep 18 | #95 | #234 | -2 | @Charlotte | W 28–17 58 | 3-1 | 1-0 |
| 5 | Sep 27 | #97 | #30 | +14.5 | @Navy | L 13–21 121 | 3-2 | 1-1 |
| 6 | Oct 4 | #95 | #147 | -4.5 | Florida Atlantic | L 21–27 131 | 3-3 | 1-2 |
| 7 | Oct 11 | #110 | #44 | +9.5 | @UTSA | L 13–61 128 | 3-4 | 1-3 |
| 9 | Oct 25 | #143 | #62 | +10 | UConn | W 37–34 152 | 4-4 | 1-3 |
| 10 | Oct 31 | #122 | #47 | +14 | Memphis | L 14–38 119 | 4-5 | 1-4 |
| 11 | Nov 8 | #148 | #149 | -1.5 | UAB | W 24–17 135 | 5-5 | 2-4 |
| 13 | Nov 23 | #154 | #42 | +18.5 | North Texas | L 24–56 129 | 5-6 | 2-5 |
| 14 | Nov 30 | #172 | #14 | +28.5 | @South Florida | L 3–52 135 | 5-7 | 2-6 |
| Bowl Season | ||||||||
| 18 | Jan 2 | #192 | #50 | +19.5 | Texas State (N) | L 10–41 | 5-8 | 2-6 |
Advanced box score (EPA, success rate, explosiveness)▼
| Date | Opp | Result | Yds | TO | TOP | EPA/play | Success% | Explosive% | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2 | Texas State | L 10–41 | — | — | — | -0.198 | 19.4% | 188.6% | Most explosive |
| Nov 30 | @South Florida | L 3–52 | 257 | 1 | 31:22 | -0.104 | 25.0% | 182.3% | Blowout loss |
| Nov 23 | North Texas | L 24–56 | 397 | 0 | 37:45 | +0.204 | 43.4% | 112.8% | Defense's roughest night |
| Nov 8 | UAB | W 24–17 | 232 | 1 | 34:51 | -0.128 | 28.3% | 118.3% | Best defensive stand |
| Oct 31 | Memphis | L 14–38 | 212 | 2 | 32:22 | +0.072 | 27.7% | 131.9% | |
| Oct 25 | UConn | W 37–34 | 491 | 0 | 32:28 | +0.217 | 40.0% | 136.7% | One-score win |
| Oct 11 | @UTSA | L 13–61 | 269 | 2 | 32:35 | -0.310 | 23.2% | 180.2% | Season-low EPA/play |
| Oct 4 | Florida Atlantic | L 21–27 | 350 | 0 | 31:14 | +0.175 | 47.8% | 100.6% | One-score loss |
| Sep 27 | @Navy | L 13–21 | 234 | 0 | 26:31 | +0.056 | 30.0% | 147.8% | One-score loss |
| Sep 18 | @Charlotte | W 28–17 | 353 | 0 | 30:12 | +0.234 | 44.9% | 116.1% | |
| Sep 13 | Prairie View A&M | W 38–17 | 461 | 0 | 36:22 | +0.309 | 54.4% | 109.7% | Season-high EPA/play |
| Sep 6 | Houston | L 9–35 | 228 | 2 | 32:46 | -0.069 | 35.0% | 59.6% | |
| Aug 31 | @Louisiana | W 14–12 | 251 | 0 | 36:24 | -0.001 | 41.9% | 85.5% | One-score win |
| Season average (13 games) | 311 | 0.7 | +0.035 | 35.5% | 128.5% | ||||
How They Play · 2025
How They Play · 2025Rice fields a struggling run-heavy offense behind a porous, gives up the big play defense.
Opponent-adjusted percentiles vs all FBS. Bar = where this team ranks — right is better.
Team identity · competitive snaps only
How Rice actually scores
6th percentile quality, 94th percentile boom-dependency. Garbage time excluded from both axes — the same correction that changes the Q4 story below.
View all FBS teams as a table
| Team | Quality percentile | Boom-share percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Air Force | 86th | 11th |
| Akron | 12th | 89th |
| Alabama | 58th | 17th |
| App State | 35th | 47th |
| Arizona | 64th | 37th |
| Arizona State | 41st | 62nd |
| Arkansas | 90th | 12th |
| Arkansas State | 17th | 66th |
| Army | 57th | 43rd |
| Auburn | 47th | 53rd |
| BYU | 78th | 19th |
| Baylor | 69th | 25th |
| Boise State | 66th | 20th |
| Boston College | 37th | 54th |
| Bowling Green | 2nd | 98th |
| Buffalo | 11th | 88th |
| California | 28th | 48th |
| Central Michigan | 52nd | 64th |
| Cincinnati | 89th | 16th |
| Clemson | 51st | 48th |
| Coastal Carolina | 17th | 83rd |
| Colorado | 18th | 84th |
| Colorado State | 16th | 83rd |
| Delaware | 38th | 58th |
| Duke | 80th | 14th |
| East Carolina | 63rd | 36th |
| Eastern Michigan | 49th | 42nd |
| Florida | 30th | 67th |
| Florida Atlantic | 62nd | 59th |
| Florida International | 42nd | 50th |
| Florida State | 83rd | 32nd |
| Fresno State | 26th | 73rd |
| Georgia | 81st | 3rd |
| Georgia Southern | 73rd | 21st |
| Georgia State | 36th | 70th |
| Georgia Tech | 84th | 5th |
| Hawai'i | 64th | 41st |
| Houston | 27th | 65th |
| Illinois | 75th | 26th |
| Indiana | 95th | 1st |
| Iowa | 44th | 40th |
| Iowa State | 68th | 22nd |
| Jacksonville State | 54th | 38th |
| James Madison | 65th | 44th |
| Kansas | 85th | 28th |
| Kansas State | 71st | 49th |
| Kennesaw State | 56th | 30th |
| Kent State | 21st | 86th |
| Kentucky | 15th | 85th |
| LSU | 14th | 81st |
| Liberty | 43rd | 56th |
| Louisiana | 19th | 73rd |
| Louisiana Tech | 39th | 61st |
| Louisville | 48th | 64th |
| Marshall | 55th | 39th |
| Maryland | 30th | 74th |
| Memphis | 80th | 24th |
| Miami | 76th | 5th |
| Miami (OH) | 34th | 67th |
| Michigan | 67th | 33rd |
| Michigan State | 27th | 75th |
| Middle Tennessee | 39th | 52nd |
| Minnesota | 29th | 77th |
| Mississippi State | 22nd | 77th |
| Missouri | 61st | 30th |
| Missouri State | 55th | 46th |
| NC State | 86th | 23rd |
| Navy | 94th | 17th |
| Nebraska | 48th | 57th |
| Nevada | 3rd | 97th |
| New Mexico | 58th | 60th |
| New Mexico State | 9th | 87th |
| North Carolina | 13th | 89th |
| North Texas | 98th | 7th |
| Northern Illinois | 8th | 92nd |
| Northwestern | 52nd | 36th |
| Notre Dame | 99th | 20th |
| Ohio | 67th | 18th |
| Ohio State | 93rd | 4th |
| Oklahoma | 20th | 80th |
| Oklahoma State | 5th | 95th |
| Old Dominion | 83rd | 45th |
| Ole Miss | 89th | 2nd |
| Oregon | 91st | 10th |
| Oregon State | 2nd | 98th |
| Penn State | 73rd | 33rd |
| Pittsburgh | 60th | 39th |
| Purdue | 25th | 78th |
| Rice | 6th | 94th |
| Rutgers | 70th | 27th |
| SMU | 74th | 42nd |
| Sam Houston | 4th | 96th |
| San Diego State | 24th | 76th |
| San José State | 45th | 69th |
| South Alabama | 36th | 58th |
| South Carolina | 23rd | 86th |
| South Florida | 87th | 23rd |
| Southern Miss | 40th | 55th |
| Stanford | 10th | 90th |
| Syracuse | 5th | 95th |
| TCU | 72nd | 35th |
| Temple | 70th | 34th |
| Tennessee | 96th | 11th |
| Texas | 45th | 55th |
| Texas A&M | 82nd | 14th |
| Texas State | 92nd | 8th |
| Texas Tech | 77th | 31st |
| Toledo | 50th | 61st |
| Troy | 14th | 80th |
| Tulane | 79th | 15th |
| Tulsa | 20th | 70th |
| UAB | 61st | 45th |
| UCF | 33rd | 82nd |
| UCLA | 23rd | 79th |
| UConn | 95th | 13th |
| UL Monroe | 11th | 92nd |
| UNLV | 88th | 9th |
| USC | 98th | 2nd |
| UTEP | 1st | 99th |
| UTSA | 77th | 51st |
| Utah | 97th | 6th |
| Utah State | 46th | 63rd |
| Vanderbilt | 100th | 0th |
| Virginia | 59th | 27th |
| Virginia Tech | 32nd | 71st |
| Wake Forest | 42nd | 72nd |
| Washington | 92nd | 8th |
| Washington State | 33rd | 52nd |
| West Virginia | 7th | 93rd |
| Western Kentucky | 53rd | 29th |
| Western Michigan | 31st | 68th |
| Wisconsin | 0th | 100th |
| Wyoming | 8th | 91st |
Fourth-quarter reliability, corrected
Rice's 4th-quarter offense, before and after garbage time
Raw Q4 EPA/play ranks 11th percentile in FBS. Strip out snaps taken with a blowout margin and it drops to the 1st — the correction is the finding, not a footnote.
Standard downs vs. passing downs
Does Rice hold up once the down-and-distance turns against them?
20th percentile success on standard downs, 0th on passing downs — a 20-point gap between the two.
View all FBS teams as a table
| Team | Standard-downs percentile | Passing-downs percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Air Force | 82nd | 69th |
| Akron | 20th | 36th |
| Alabama | 47th | 76th |
| App State | 41st | 80th |
| Arizona | 54th | 54th |
| Arizona State | 40th | 37th |
| Arkansas | 90th | 97th |
| Arkansas State | 51st | 40th |
| Army | 37th | 44th |
| Auburn | 73rd | 24th |
| Austin Peay | 56th | 13th |
| BYU | 91st | 46th |
| Ball State | 5th | 3rd |
| Baylor | 70th | 77th |
| Boise State | 42nd | 63rd |
| Boston College | 56th | 54th |
| Bowling Green | 10th | 17th |
| Bryant | 7th | 2nd |
| Buffalo | 29th | 20th |
| California | 25th | 66th |
| Central Michigan | 57th | 11th |
| Charlotte | 7th | 7th |
| Cincinnati | 89th | 65th |
| Clemson | 49th | 34th |
| Coastal Carolina | 16th | 22nd |
| Colorado | 8th | 48th |
| Colorado State | 29th | 35th |
| Delaware | 66th | 31st |
| Duke | 82nd | 63rd |
| East Carolina | 63rd | 91st |
| Eastern Michigan | 46th | 67th |
| Florida | 52nd | 45th |
| Florida Atlantic | 44th | 61st |
| Florida International | 50th | 26th |
| Florida State | 65th | 90th |
| Fresno State | 22nd | 71st |
| Georgia | 95th | 69th |
| Georgia Southern | 64th | 84th |
| Georgia State | 22nd | 75th |
| Georgia Tech | 92nd | 89th |
| Hawai'i | 33rd | 87th |
| Houston | 61st | 29th |
| Idaho | 30th | 78th |
| Idaho State | 93rd | 14th |
| Illinois | 79th | 95th |
| Indiana | 97th | 98th |
| Iowa | 74th | 19th |
| Iowa State | 80th | 58th |
| Jacksonville State | 59th | 56th |
| James Madison | 77th | 52nd |
| Kansas | 99th | 82nd |
| Kansas State | 37th | 59th |
| Kennesaw State | 44th | 67th |
| Kent State | 15th | 5th |
| Kentucky | 62nd | 29th |
| LSU | 18th | 52nd |
| Lafayette | 0th | 12th |
| Liberty | 65th | 53rd |
| Lindenwood | 4th | 1st |
| Long Island University | 24th | 78th |
| Louisiana | 24th | 23rd |
| Louisiana Tech | 41st | 24th |
| Louisville | 84th | 32nd |
| Maine | 3rd | 18th |
| Marshall | 71st | 62nd |
| Maryland | 11th | 86th |
| Massachusetts | 5th | 9th |
| Memphis | 75th | 68th |
| Merrimack | 1st | 83rd |
| Miami | 80th | 64th |
| Miami (OH) | 33rd | 39th |
| Michigan | 73rd | 74th |
| Michigan State | 48th | 39th |
| Middle Tennessee | 69th | 47th |
| Minnesota | 35th | 33rd |
| Mississippi State | 52nd | 35th |
| Missouri | 76th | 50th |
| Missouri State | 32nd | 50th |
| Murray State | 1st | 6th |
| NC State | 58th | 71st |
| Navy | 95th | 72nd |
| Nebraska | 78th | 51st |
| Nevada | 17th | 16th |
| New Mexico | 38th | 60th |
| New Mexico State | 16th | 33rd |
| North Carolina | 14th | 30th |
| North Texas | 100th | 97th |
| Northern Illinois | 9th | 5th |
| Northwestern | 48th | 88th |
| Notre Dame | 88th | 99th |
| Ohio | 69th | 76th |
| Ohio State | 99th | 99th |
| Oklahoma | 39th | 41st |
| Oklahoma State | 14th | 7th |
| Old Dominion | 72nd | 79th |
| Ole Miss | 83rd | 95th |
| Oregon | 93rd | 55th |
| Oregon State | 54th | 25th |
| Penn State | 76th | 73rd |
| Pittsburgh | 35th | 56th |
| Purdue | 46th | 88th |
| Rice | 20th | 0th |
| Rutgers | 71st | 84th |
| SMU | 50th | 57th |
| Sam Houston | 26th | 4th |
| San Diego State | 84th | 1st |
| San José State | 68th | 70th |
| South Alabama | 53rd | 28th |
| South Carolina | 31st | 8th |
| South Carolina State | 10th | 3rd |
| South Florida | 86th | 46th |
| Southern Miss | 27th | 38th |
| Stanford | 12th | 12th |
| Syracuse | 19th | 10th |
| TCU | 63rd | 82nd |
| Temple | 85th | 22nd |
| Tennessee | 97th | 81st |
| Texas | 27th | 61st |
| Texas A&M | 88th | 59th |
| Texas State | 60th | 93rd |
| Texas Tech | 45th | 65th |
| Toledo | 67th | 42nd |
| Troy | 18th | 27th |
| Tulane | 81st | 86th |
| Tulsa | 43rd | 43rd |
| UAB | 34th | 94th |
| UCF | 39th | 20th |
| UCLA | 28th | 48th |
| UConn | 96th | 37th |
| UL Monroe | 13th | 14th |
| UNLV | 78th | 85th |
| USC | 94th | 90th |
| UT Martin | 2nd | 41st |
| UTEP | 3rd | 10th |
| UTSA | 67th | 92nd |
| Utah | 87th | 96th |
| Utah State | 31st | 49th |
| Vanderbilt | 90th | 100th |
| Virginia | 36th | 73rd |
| Virginia Tech | 59th | 21st |
| Wake Forest | 21st | 31st |
| Washington | 98th | 93rd |
| Washington State | 61st | 44th |
| West Virginia | 12th | 18th |
| Western Kentucky | 55th | 80th |
| Western Michigan | 86th | 16th |
| Wisconsin | 6th | 27th |
| Wyoming | 23rd | 15th |
Halftime identity
Rice by half
1st-half offense ranks 24th percentile in FBS; 2nd-half, 4th — competitive snaps only, garbage time excluded from both halves.
Schedule mirage
How much of Rice's number is the schedule?
Raw EPA/play through week 21 is 0.04; 3rd percentile once opponent strength is stripped out, it's -0.02. The widest gap came in week 4: 0.12 raw vs. 0.03 adjusted.
Rice reads strongest in explosive plays (top 39%) and success rate allowed (top 55%); the crux lives in explosive plays allowed, where Rice sits at the 0th percentile.
offense · strengths lead
defense · higher bar = harder to play against
hidden math · special situations
ELITE · 90+STRONG · 70+AVERAGE · 40-70CONCERN · 10-40BOTTOM · <10
Most Similar Programs · Rice
Most Similar Programs · RiceReads Like
CharlotteTier 3 · Prestige T2 · Similarly-sized rosters up frontColorado StateTier 3 · Prestige T2 · Similarly-sized rosters up frontEast CarolinaTier 3 · Prestige T2 · Similarly-sized rosters up front
Static-attribute similarity across tier, archetype, conference, and voice. Not a prediction — a calibration.
Home-Field Advantage · Rice · 2018-present
Strong
45% home win rate vs 23% on the road. margin runs +10.6 better at home. Rice Stadium seats 47,000, averaging 44% full (20,477 attendance, 25 games reported).
Home21-25Away10-33
Positional competition · RB room
The carries are split. The job isn’t.
Quinton Jackson and Daelen Alexander split the carries (175/249 vs 74/249) -- but the job isn't split the same way. Daelen Alexander produces in bigger chunks.
Quinton JacksonDaelen Alexander
Carries
the baseline -- every row below is tested against this split, not a flat 50/50
Top-5-carry share
concentration and EPA/carry agree -- a real boom/bust split
Screened 1 claims, 1 survived
Positional competition · WR/TE room
The targets are split. The job isn’t.
Aaron Turner (WR) and Micah Barnett (TE) split the targets (65/70 vs 5/70) -- but the job isn't split the same way. Micah Barnett produces in bigger chunks.
Aaron TurnerMicah Barnett
Targets
the baseline -- every row below is tested against this split, not a flat 50/50
3rd-down targets
shared -- dots touch, this room really is a committee here
Garbage-time share
shared -- dots touch, this room really is a committee here
Top-5-catch share
concentration and EPA/target agree -- a real boom/bust split
Screened 3 claims, 1 survived, 2 falsified
What changed
Rice’s play-calling, before and after the change
Offense: Marques Tuiasosopo (2021–2024) → Vince Munch (2025)
The biggest shift: red-zone pass rate moved down 27 points. The rest held closer to steady.
1st-down pass rate
Red-zone pass rate
Defense: Brian Smith (2018–2024) → Jon Kay (2025)
The biggest shift: red-zone pass rate moved down 25 points. The rest held closer to steady.
1st-down pass rate
Red-zone pass rate
Defensive identity · pass zones
What this defense gives up, by zone.
On short passes, Rice’s defense allows a completion rate above the FBS mean (68.5% vs 65.9% league-wide, shrunk toward the mean for its 151-play sample) — mid-pack, 111 of 133 qualifying defenses.
We won’t show a deep-ball leaderboard here: at the defense level, most teams face well under 30 rich-feed deep targets all season — too thin to tell a real tendency from noise, so we won’t guess.
Screened 133 claims, 133 survived · 2025 only, in the 399 games with the detailed play-text feed; n=151 short-zone plays faced, raw rate 70.9%
Venue texture
76°F average kickoff temp; 10% of games had measurable precipitation; 9 mph average wind.
Based on 68 home games with weather data.
The CFP Era
12 seasons inside the CFP era, no bids yet — the era the program is still trying to break into.
TRAJECTORY · quality-score line · AP rank dotted · CFP bids marked · coach regimes ribboned
Program Quality
AP Rank (inverted)
CFP Appearance
Rice's 2014–2025 record is 48-94. The era is still being written; the CFP line is the one the program is arguing for.
All-Time Record
494-668-32
since 1912 · 114 seasons · .413 win rate
HOME
338-299-12
AWAY
149-356-20
NEUTRAL
7-13
1910s
1920s
1930s
1940s
1950s
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
2020s
The program, in full — read the essay
Rice Stadium hosted Super Bowl VIII and a JFK speech, beat Alabama in the 1954 Cotton Bowl, and remains the most academically selective school playing major-college football. Year one under Scott Abell went 5-7. The Owls reached their bowl only because better teams turned it down.
The Cotton Bowl story is the one Rice fans tell strangers at bars: 1954, Dicky Moegle breaks a long run, Alabama's Tommy Lewis leaps off the sideline to tackle him — off the bench, in his street clothes, illegally — and the officials award the touchdown anyway. Rice wins 28-6. That play captured something real: the Owls have always been the team the sport underestimates, and sometimes they make the sport look foolish for it.
Scott Abell arrived in 2025 from Davidson, where he ran a triple-option built to close talent gaps by design. Year one in the American Athletic Conference went 5-7, with the Armed Forces Bowl bid arriving only after bowl-eligible programs declined ahead of them — and Rice lost it 41-10 to Texas State. The Bayou Bucket against crosstown Houston, now Big 12, was their last meeting for the foreseeable future. Abell's rebuild enters year two with the scheme still unproven at this level and a fanbase split on whether triple-option math actually works against bigger rosters.
The 2026 question is whether Abell's system can replicate what he built at Davidson — a team that wins by precision and deception rather than physical superiority. The 2013 Conference USA title under David Bailiff proved the ceiling exists. What 2026 answers is whether a coach who has never operated at this scale can reach it.
How they play
Undersized and scheme-first — Rice under Scott Abell has committed to the triple-option as the program's competitive mechanism, the logical choice for the smallest enrollment in any conference it joins. The Owls control tempo by design: long drives, limited opponent possessions, physical blocking at the point of attack. It demands discipline over athleticism, which suits a roster built in Houston's academic ecosystem. The 2025 installation was rough; the system typically takes two to three years to hit operating speed.
Steady
Rice 2016–2025. Holding the line. The 10-year slope (+0.06 rungs / yr) doesn't tilt either way — the program lives at roughly Tier 1.
CFP Era · Rice
12 seasons on file
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
down middle peak CFP year
Season Standing · 2025 · 5-8
Season Standing · 2025 · 5-8FBS sub-.500
Rice: Below .500 in FBS play. The rebuild bar.
R0R1R2R3R4R5R6R7R8R9
Sub-FBSBuildingBowlRankedContenderPlayoff
American Athletic Standing · 2025
11th in the American Athletic
Rice is 11th of 14 in the American Athletic at 2-6. The path to the title is steep — the focus is on bowl access and rivalry wins.
| # | Program | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Navy | 8-1 |
| 2 | Tulane | 8-1 |
| 3 | North Texas | 7-2 |
| 4 | East Carolina | 6-2 |
| 5 | South Florida | 6-2 |
| 6 | Memphis | 4-4 |
| 7 | UTSA | 4-4 |
| 8 | Army | 4-5 |
| 9 | Florida Atlantic | 3-5 |
| 10 | Temple | 3-5 |
| 11 | Rice | 2-6 |
| 12 | UAB | 2-6 |
| 13 | Tulsa | 1-7 |
| 14 | Charlotte | 0-8 |
Coaching Era · Rice
Coaching Era · RiceScott Abell
Scott Abell in year 2 of the rebuild. The methodology is taking shape.
Era Scott Abell · 2025–presentPrev: Mike Bloomgren (2020–2024)OC: Vince MunchPrev OC: Marques Tuiasosopo (2021–2024)DC: Jon KayPrev DC: Brian Smith (2018–2024)
2
years · era
Rituals
Three gameday rituals — the ones outsiders never quite catch.
Rice Stadium 70,000 Capacity
since 1950
Rice Stadium (built 1950, 47,000 capacity expandable to 70,000) — built for an era when Rice football competed at SWC level + Houston Astrodome wasn't yet built. The stadium hosted Super Bowl VIII in 1974. The 70,000-capacity-but-modern-G5-attendance creates a strikingly empty visual in the modern era — the inverse of typical G5 venues.
1953 Cotton Bowl Championship
since 1953
Jess Neely's 1953 10-2 + Cotton Bowl championship + #6 final AP rank — the program's all-time peak. The SWC-era Rice was a regional powerhouse + competed for national titles. The 1953 run + the multiple SWC championships (1934, 1937, 1946, 1949, 1953, 1957) make Rice's historical era one of the more-distinctive academic-private football arcs.
Academic Private Identity
since 1912
Rice University's institutional identity (small academic private, $4B endowment, top-20 national ranking) + the football program's voluntary participation despite being a structural-disadvantage school create a unique CFB position. Rice football is permanently academic-first-football-second by institutional choice.
Program memory
What this program never forgets
Most weeks vanish. These didn’t.
1954
The Tommy Lewis off-the-bench tackle
Rice's Dicky Moegle is breaking a long touchdown run in the Cotton Bowl when Alabama's Tommy Lewis leaps off the sideline to tackle him; officials award the 95-yard score and Rice wins 28-6 — one of the most famous plays in bowl history
1996
The Southwest Conference dissolves
The league Rice helped charter folds; the Owls begin two decades as the smallest enrollment in every conference they enter
Wound
2013 Conference USA title
Rice beats Marshall 41-24 for the program's only C-USA championship, capping a 10-4 season
Moment of the Year · Rice · 2025
Moment of the Year · Rice · 2025Postseason · Lost 10-41 at Texas State
Week 18 of 2025. A reckoning loss — the data point the next season must answer.
Bowl / Postseason Ledger
Bowl / Postseason LedgerRecent postseason (2014-2025): 1-3
Most recent: 2025 — loss 41-10 (away). Last 5 postseason: 1-3.
2025202320222014
NFL Draft Pipeline
2024–2024
NFL Draft PipelineThin
1 picks last 5 cycles. Roster development still maturing.
1
picks · 0 R1
#100
Luke McCaffrey
Wide Receiver · 2024 · Washington · #29/497 final season
#66 all-time · 7 first-round picksthe talent factory →
Unit lineage
Rice’s offense and defense, by coordinator
FBS-relative efficiency percentile per season (2014–2025), same population as the Coordinator Mirror board. Dashed vertical lines mark a coordinator change.
Offense2014–2025
2014–2016 · co-Billy Lynch / Larry Edmondson2017 · Billy Lynch2018–2020 · Jerry Mack2021–2024 · Marques Tuiasosopo2025 (ongoing) · Vince Munch
Defense2014–2025
2014–2016 · Chris Thurmond2017 · Brian Stewart2018–2024 · Brian Smith2025 (ongoing) · Jon Kay
Elite (≥70th pct)AveragePoor (≤30th pct)
Chronicle Visuals
Among the most continuous rosters into 2025 — 75% back, anchored by the offense, only qb room to settle.
The portal upgraded the QB room but opened a hole at WR.
Rice converts recruit talent into draft picks better than its class rank suggests.
r/cfb moments
610
[Postgame Thread] USC Defeats Rice 66-14
602
[Postgame Thread] Army Defeats Rice 14-7
176
[Postgame Thread] Rice Defeats UAB 30-24
154
[Postgame Thread] Memphis Defeats Rice 38-14
115
[Postgame Thread] Connecticut Defeats Rice 38-31
All-time top community posts · ranked by upvotes
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