Rice Owls News

No. 3 Notre Dame faces familiar triple-option offense when it returns home to face Rice

Notre Dame linebacker Jaiden Ausberry recognizes Rice’s triple-option offense

17 HOURS AGO • Associated Press

Quinton Jackson - Sustains significant injury Jackson (undisclosed) is dealing with a "significant" injury according to head coach Scott Abell, per Steve Helwick of SB Nation.

Impact Jackson had a very strong opener for the Owls, notching 10 carries for 61 yards and two touchdowns. However, the tailback also sustained what appears to be a serious injury, and there's no telling at this point how severe it is or when he might return. In Jackson's stead, expect more touches for D'Andre Hardeman and Tyvonn Byars.

3 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

D'Andre Hardeman Jr. - Scores in win vs. Houston Christian Hardeman compiled 11 rushes for 77 yards and one touchdown during Saturday's 31-3 win versus Houston Christian.

Impact Hardeman was one of three running backs to score Saturday, punching in a two-yard touchdown for the first score of the Owls' season. Last season with Rice, he backed up Quinton Jackson and had a productive campaign, rushing for 325 yards and two touchdowns on 82 attempts. The running back room appears to be a three-headed attack with Jackson, Hardeman, and Tyvonn Byars looking to lead the offense this season, though the team's matchup against Notre Dame next Saturday raises questions about whether they will continue to split the workload.

4 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Tyvonn Byars - Leads backfield in win Byars recorded 16 carries for 104 yards during Saturday's 31-3 victory versus Houston Christian.

Impact Byars reached the century mark in the Owls' season opener along with a team-high 16 rushing attempts. The triple-threat option worked in Rice's favor as the team rushed for 464 total yards against Houston Christian. Byars emerged as the top rusher, but Quinton Jackson still figures to be a focal point of the backfield moving forward. Even so, he should still see a steady share of carries against Notre Dame next Saturday.

4 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Quinton Jackson - Two rushing touchdowns in win Jackson recorded 10 rushes for 61 yards and two touchdowns and caught their only target for six yards during Saturday's 31-3 victory over Houston Christian.

Impact Jackson is coming off a breakout season where he had 180 rushing attempts for 889 yards and six touchdowns with Rice. The running back decided to return to the program and scored twice in his season debut. The Owls took the lead early and never looked back, producing 464 total rushing yards to allow Jackson a light workload as he logged only 11 carries. The experienced back is poised for a heavy workload against a Notre Dame defense next Saturday.

4 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Gael Ochoa - Scores touchdown in blowout Ochoa completed 2 of 5 passes for 17 yards during Saturday's 31-3 victory versus Houston Christian. He also had four rushes for 34 yards with one touchdown.

Impact Ochoa played snaps under center early in the second quarter and late in the fourth, entering to give starter Jacurri Brown a break after carrying a heavy workload on the ground and due to the nature of the blowout. He recorded his first career touchdown on a 29-yard rush and seemingly has claimed the backup role for Rice after entering the season expected to be deep in the quarterback room.

4 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Jacurri Brown - Tallies 98 rushing yards in opener Brown completed 2 of 5 passes for 11 yards during Saturday's 31-3 victory over Houston Christian. He also had 13 rushes for 98 yards.

Impact Brown was named Rice's starting quarterback early in the spring, and in his debut, he worked well within the triple-option offense. He rushed for 98 yards and recorded the second-most attempts on the team with 14. His fantasy appeal will come on the ground, as the Owls' offense rarely utilizes the passing game, and he will aim to lead the team against Notre Dame in Week 2.

4 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Braylen Walker - Sees action in Week 1 Walker (undisclosed) logged 44 snaps during Saturday's 31-3 win against Houston Christian.

Impact Walker played the majority of the Owls' offensive snaps Saturday and was only targeted once, since the triple-threat offense worked in their favor once again. The wideout will presumably have limited targets in the passing game this season and most of his work in the offense will be in the run-blocking department.

5 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Rice rolls up 465 yards on ground in 31-3 win over Houston Christian

Led by Tyvonn Byars with 104 yards, Rice rode a 465-yard rushing effort to a 31-3 victory over FCS opponent Houston Christian in the first meeting between the two teams from Housto...

5 DAYS AGO • Associated Press

How to watch Sacred Heart vs Monmouth: Live stream College Football, NCAA, TV channel Sacred Heart is looking for its first win of the season on Saturday against Monmouth, who will begin its college football season trying to g...

6 DAYS AGO • THEBIGLEAD.COM

How to watch Lawrence Tech vs Valparaiso: Live stream College Football, NCAA, TV channel Lawrence Tech makes the short trip to Indiana on Saturday afternoon to face Valparaiso in a Week 0 matchup that opens the 2026 season for bo...

AUGUST 29 • THEBIGLEAD.COM

How to watch Louisiana Christian vs Northwestern State: Live stream College Football, NCAA, TV channel Louisiana Christian opens its 2026 season with a challenging road test against Northwestern State on Thursday night in Natchitoches, Louisia...

AUGUST 27 • THEBIGLEAD.COM

London follows Dublin as college football host city. Are more European locations in game plan?

Brian Dubiski is bringing major college football to London for the first time next month

AUGUST 25 • Associated Press

Jacurri Brown - Gets named starting quarterback Brown has been named Rice's starting quarterback for the 2026 season, Pete Thamel of ESPN.com reports.

Impact Brown transferred into Rice from UCF this offseason, and he'll end up with his first starting quarterback gig at the college level. The incoming redshirt senior's best season came in 2024 when he totaled 799 yards and five touchdowns with the Knights. He beat out Lucas Scheerhorn for the QB1 gig for the Owls.

APRIL 15 • ROTOWIRE

Barry Jackson Jr. - Transfers to Rice Jackson will transfer to Rice, the program announced.

Impact Jackson spent three seasons at Cincinnati, but got less involved the more time he spent with the program. His best year came in 2023, when he reeled in four catches for 100 yards and a score. In 2025, he failed to reel in his lone target. He'll now take his talents -- and two years of eligibility -- to Rice.

JANUARY 26 • ROTOWIRE

Jacurri Brown - Lands with Rice Brown will transfer to Rice, per Matt Zenitz of CBSSports.com.

Impact Brown was limited to three games this season for UCF, completing 3-of-5 passes for 97 yards, one touchdown and one interception. The former blue-chip recruit's best season came in 2024 with the Knights when he totaled 799 yards and five touchdowns. With one more year of eligibility, he'll look to help elevate the Rice offense.

JANUARY 6 • ROTOWIRE

Aaron Turner - Huge volume, limited output Turner recorded 10 receptions for 24 yards and a touchdown during Friday's 41-10 loss versus Texas State. He added six carries for 29 yards.

Impact Turner hit the 10-reception threshold for the first time this season, but he failed to reach 25 receiving yards. He had more success as a rusher, but 53 total yards on 16 touches isn't exactly great efficiency. The senior set career bests in receptions (63), receiving touchdowns (4), rushing yards (259) and rushing touchdowns (3) this season. He logged 398 receiving yards.

JANUARY 3 • ROTOWIRE

Quinton Jackson - Bounces back in bowl game Jackson accrued 16 carries for 78 yards during Friday's 41-10 defeat to Texas State.

Impact Jackson ended the regular season with a dud, rushing twice for a total of three yards. He handled more of a typical workload Friday, but he failed to find the end zone. He'll end the 2025 season having accumulated 180 rushing attempts for 889 yards and four rushing touchdowns.

JANUARY 3 • ROTOWIRE

Patrick Crayton Jr. - Scores during bowl Crayton was 4-for-9 passing for 70 yards, one touchdown and one interception during Friday's 41-10 defeat to Texas State.

Impact Crayton's 2025 season will include a touchdown, albeit on a disappointing line logged during Rice's bowl game. The quarterback may have edged out fellow quarterback Lucas Scheerhorn in terms of bowl performance, but it still leaves a lot to be desired and his 2026 role in limbo. Crayton's 2025 season features five times as many turnovers (three fumbles lost, two interceptions) as touchdowns (one).

JANUARY 3 • ROTOWIRE

Lucas Scheerhorn - Start with split reps Scheerhorn completed 6 of 9 passes for 16 yards during Friday's 41-10 defeat to Texas State. He also had six rushes for negative nine yards.

Impact Despite starting under center against Texas State, Scheerhorn split reps with Patrick Crayton, and the former's resulting log was even more unimpressive without maximized opportunities to excel. Going into 2026, Scheerhorn does not have a secure role with Rice, especially after a 2025 season during which he logged more fumbles (two) than touchdowns (zero).

JANUARY 3 • ROTOWIRE

Tyson Thompson - Suited up in bowl game Thompson (undisclosed) suited up in Rice's bowl game with Texas State.

Impact Thompson logged a carry and 23 kick-return yards, and though they are not receiving stats, they indicate that he finished off his 2025 season healthy. During it, the wide receiver logged eight receptions for 105 yards and two touchdowns, all career-highs.

JANUARY 3 • ROTOWIRE

Rice safety Daveon Hook carted off field in scary scene at Armed Forces Bowl The Owls safety was carted off the field with a serious injury during the Armed Forces Bowl against Texas State on Friday at Amon G. Carter...

JANUARY 3 • NYPOST.COM

Lucas Scheerhorn - Making first career start Scheerhorn will make his first career start in the Armed Forces Bowl against Texas State on Friday, the bowl game announced.

Impact Scheerhorn has thrown for 24 yards this season and ran for 23 across limited action in two games. The redshirt freshman will now get a chance to show what he can do in a full start with both Chase Jenkins and Drew Devillier in the transfer portal. It'll be a tough matchup against a heavily favored Bobcats team, but Scheerhorn will look to put his name into the mix for the Owls' starting QB gig next fall.

JANUARY 2 • ROTOWIRE

How to Watch Texas State vs. Rice: Armed Forces Bowl Time, TV Channel, Live Stream – January 2, 2026

Learn which TV channel or how to live stream the Texas State Bobcats vs. Rice Owls Armed Forces Bowl game, Friday, Jan. 2.

JANUARY 2 • Data Skrive

How to Watch Texas State vs. Rice: Armed Forces Bowl Time, TV Channel, Live Stream – January 2, 2026

Chase Jenkins - Plans to enter portal Jenkins will enter the transfer portal, Hayes Fawcett of On3.com reports.

Impact Jenkins, who started the entire regular season for the Owls, is set to enter the transfer portal with two years of eligibility remaining. He completed 69.2 percent of his 172 passes for 1,025 yards and nine touchdowns, adding 531 yards and five touchdowns on the ground. There has not yet been an indication of whether he will play in Friday's game versus Texas State in the First Responders Bowl.

JANUARY 1 • ROTOWIRE

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No. 3 Notre Dame faces familiar triple-option offense when it returns home to face Rice

Rice rolls up 465 yards on ground in 31-3 win over Houston Christian

London follows Dublin as college football host city. Are more European locations in game plan?

How to Watch Texas State vs. Rice: Armed Forces Bowl Time, TV Channel, Live Stream – January 2, 2026