2025 Rice Owls football team

Last updated

2025 Rice Owls football
Rice Owls logo.svg
Conference American Conference
Record3–4 (1–3 American)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorVince Munch (1st season)
Offensive scheme Spread option
Defensive coordinatorJon Kay (1st season)
Home stadium Rice Stadium
Seasons
  2024
2026 
2025 American Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
Navy  4 0   6 0  
No. 22 Memphis  2 0   6 0  
No. 19 South Florida  2 0   5 1  
Tulane  2 0   5 1  
Florida Atlantic  2 1   3 3  
Army  2 2   3 3  
North Texas  1 1   5 1  
East Carolina  1 1   3 3  
Temple  1 1   3 3  
UTSA  1 1   3 3  
Rice  1 3   3 4  
Tulsa  0 3   2 4  
UAB  0 3   2 4  
Charlotte  0 3   1 5  
Championship: December 5, 2025
As of October 14, 2025
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2025 Rice Owls football team represent the Rice University as a member of the American Conference during the 2025 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by first-year Scott Abell, the Owls play home games at the Rice Stadium in Houston.

Contents

Schedule

The American Athletic Conference announced the 2025 football conference opponents for the Owls on August 15, 2024. [1] [2]

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
August 307:00 p.m.at Louisiana * ESPN+ W 14–1222,148
September 66:00 p.m. Houston *
ESPN+L 9–3530,116
September 136:00 p.m. Prairie View A&M *
ESPN+W 38–1722,260
September 186:30 p.m.at Charlotte ESPN W 28–1713,397
September 272:30 p.m.at Navy CBSSN L 13–2128,873
October 46:00 p.m. Florida Atlantic
  • Rice Stadium
  • Houston, TX
ESPN+L 21–2722,999
October 116:30 p.m.at UTSA ESPNU L 13–6122,058
October 252:00 p.m. UConn *
  • Rice Stadium
  • Houston, TX
ESPN+
October 316:00 p.m. Memphis
  • Rice Stadium
  • Houston, TX
ESPN2
November 8 UAB Dagger-14-plain.png
  • Rice Stadium
  • Houston, TX
November 22 North Texas
  • Rice Stadium
  • Houston, TX
November 29at South Florida
  • *Non-conference game
  • Dagger-14-plain.pngHomecoming
  • All times are in Central time

[3]

Game summaries

at Louisiana

Rice Owls (0–0) at Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Owls0140014
Ragin' Cajuns336012

at Cajun FieldLafayette, Louisiana

  • Date: August 30
  • Game time: 7:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 81 °F (27 °C) • Wind: NE at 5 miles per hour (8.0 km/h)
  • Game attendance: 22,148
  • Referee: Steven Robinson
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Dan McDonald (play-by-play) and Eric Mouton (analyst)
Game information
First quarter
  • (6:04) UL – Tony Sterner 47-yard field goal (Drive: 10 plays, 26 yards, 4:21; Louisiana 3–0)
Second quarter
  • (14:34) RICE – Quinton Jackson 1-yard run, Enock Gota kick (Drive: 13 plays, 72 yards, 6:24; Rice 7–3)
  • (3:38) RICE – Aaron Turner 17-yard run, Enock Gota kick (Drive: 8 plays, 66 yards, 3:59; Rice 14–3)
  • (0:26) UL – Tony Sterner 51-yard field goal (Drive: 10 plays, 41 yards, 3:12; Rice 14–6)
Third quarter
  • (1:45) UL – Walker Howard 25-yard run, pass failed (Drive: 11 plays, 98 yards, 5:09; Rice 14–12)
Fourth quarter
  • No scoring plays
StatisticsRICEUL
First downs1816
Plays–yards64–25159–239
Rushes–yards55–20631–151
Passing yards4588
Passing: comp–att–int7–9–010–28–1
Turnovers02
Time of possession36:2423:36
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
RicePassing Chase Jenkins 7/9, 45 yards
RushingQuinton Jackson22 carries, 119 yards, TD
ReceivingDrayden Dickmann3 receptions, 44 yards
LouisianaPassing Walker Howard 10/22, 88 yards, INT
RushingBill Davis11 carries, 58 yards
ReceivingShelton Sampson Jr.4 receptions, 59 yards

Houston (rivalry)

Houston Cougars (1–0) at Rice Owls (1–0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Cougars0772135
Owls03069

at Rice StadiumHouston, Texas

  • Date: September 6
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 90 °F (32 °C) • Wind: E at 10 miles per hour (16 km/h)
  • Game attendance: 30,116
  • Referee: Kevin Randall
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Kyle Youmans (play-by-play), Dave Steckel (analyst) and Maria Trivelpice (sideline)
Game information
First quarter
  • No scoring plays
Second quarter
  • (9:20) RICE – Enock Gota 42-yard field goal (Drive: 14 plays, 47 yards, 6:27; Rice 3–0)
  • (0:40) HOU – Dean Connors 54-yard run, Ethan Sanchez kick (Drive: 5 plays, 74 yards, 0:35; Houston 7–3)
Third quarter
  • (6:24) HOU – Conner Weigman 9-yard run, Ethan Sanchez kick (Drive: 15 plays, 76 yards, 6:50; Houston 14–3)
Fourth quarter
  • (14:53) HOU – Will James 37-yard interception return, Ethan Sanchez kick (Houston 21–3)
  • (9:02) RICE – Chase Jenkins 3-yard run, pass failed (Drive: 12 plays, 75 yards, 5:51; Houston 21–9)
  • (8:19) HOU – Stephon Johnson 74-yard pass from Conner Weigman, Ethan Sanchez kick (Drive: 2 plays, 75 yards, 0:43; Houston 28–9)
  • (3:40) HOU – Dean Connors 42-yard run, Ethan Sanchez kick (Drive: 3 plays, 49 yards, 0:57; Houston 35–9)
StatisticsHOURICE
First downs1416
Plays–yards60–39266–228
Rushes–yards38–20453–177
Passing yards18851
Passing: comp–att–int15–22–011–13–1
Turnovers02
Time of possession27:1432:46
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
HoustonPassing Conner Weigman 15/22, 188 yards, TD
RushingDean Connors13 carries, 132 yards, 2 TD
ReceivingStephon Johnson1 reception, 74 yards, TD
RicePassingChase Jenkins10/12, 50 yards, INT
RushingDaelen Alexander10 carries, 55 yards
ReceivingAaron Turner3 receptions, 24 yards

Prairie View A&M (FCS)

Prairie View A&M Panthers (FCS) (1–1) at Rice Owls (1–1) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Panthers (FCS)703717
Owls7177738

at Rice Stadium • Houston, Texas

  • Date: September 13
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 90 °F (32 °C) • Wind: SW at 5 miles per hour (8.0 km/h)
  • Game attendance: 22,260
  • Referee: Matt Overton
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Pete Sousa (play-by-play) and LaDarrin McLane (analyst)
Game information
First quarter
  • (8:34) PV – Travon Jones 12-yard pass from Tevin Carter, Aiden Webb kick (Drive: 6 plays, 63 yards, 1:55; Prairie View A&M 7–0)
  • (2:28) RICE – Chase Jenkins 3-yard run, Enock Gota kick (Drive: 12 plays, 68 yards, 6:00; Tied 7–7)
Second quarter
  • (11:47) RICE – Aaron Turner 52-yard run, Enock Gota kick (Drive: 7 plays, 68 yards, 3:38; Rice 14–7)
  • (4:56) RICE – Quinton Jackson 1-yard run, Enock Gota kick (Drive: 9 plays, 49 yards, 4:41; Rice 21–7)
  • (0:50) RICE – Enock Gota 49-yard field goal (Drive: 11 plays, 48 yards, 2:32; Rice 24–7)
Third quarter
  • (12:19) RICE – Landon Ransom-Goelz 34-yard pass from Chase Jenkins, Enock Gota kick (Drive: 5 plays, 65 yards, 2:41; Rice 31–7)
  • (2:41) PV – Aiden Webb 28-yard field goal (Drive: 7 plays, 52 yards, 2:46; Rice 31–10)
Fourth quarter
  • (5:40) RICE – Tyson Thompson 22-yard pass from Drew Devillier, Chase Allen kick (Drive: 8 plays, 61 yards, 3:17; Rice 38–10)
  • (1:41) PV – Tevin Carter 6-yard run, Aiden Webb kick (Drive: 13 plays, 75 yards, 3:59; Rice 38–17)
StatisticsPVRICE
First downs1828
Plays–yards60–25179–461
Rushes–yards32–10060–347
Passing yards151114
Passing: comp–att–int13–28–012–19–0
Turnovers00
Time of possession23:3836:22
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Prairie View A&MPassingTevin Carter12/27, 131 yards, TD
RushingTevin Carter15 carries, 65 yards, TD
ReceivingJyzaiah Rockwell6 receptions, 92 yards
RicePassingChase Jenkins10/16, 87 yards, TD
RushingChase Jenkins21 carries, 124 yards, TD
ReceivingLandon Ransom-Goelz3 receptions, 46 yards, TD

at Charlotte

Rice Owls (2–1) at Charlotte 49ers (1–2) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Owls777728
49ers360817

at Jerry Richardson StadiumCharlotte, North Carolina

  • Date: September 18
  • Game time: 6:30 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 86 °F (30 °C) • Wind: W at 3 miles per hour (4.8 km/h)
  • Game attendance: 13,397
  • Referee: Reid Jackson
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Matt Barrie (play-by-play), Tom Luginbill (analyst) and Harry Lyles Jr. (sideline)
Game information
First quarter
  • (8:51) CLT – Liam Boyd 29-yard field goal (Drive: 12 plays, 63 yards, 6:09; Charlotte 3–0)
  • (4:25) RICE – Drayden Dickmann 9-yard pass from Chase Jenkins, Enock Gota kick (Drive: 9 plays, 75 yards, 4:26; Rice 7–3)
Second quarter
  • (7:55) CLT – Liam Boyd 25-yard field goal (Drive: 12 plays, 64 yards, 4:58; Rice 7–6)
  • (2:23) CLT – Liam Boyd 40-yard field goal (Drive: 8 plays, 45 yards, 3:34; Charlotte 9–7)
  • (1:18) RICE – Chase Jenkins 34-yard run, Enock Gota kick (Drive: 6 plays, 75 yards, 1:05; Rice 14–9)
Third quarter
  • (11:33) RICE – Daelen Alexander 13-yard run, Enock Gota kick (Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards, 3:27; Rice 21–9)
Fourth quarter
  • (10:31) RICE – Daelen Alexander 1-yard run, Enock Gota kick (Drive: 9 plays, 57 yards, 4:29; Rice 28–9)
  • (7:27) CLT – Javen Nicholas 31-yard pass from Grayson Loftis, Javen Nicholas pass (Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 3:04; Rice 28–17)
StatisticsRICECLT
First downs1722
Plays–yards58–35376–334
Rushes–yards46–25532–75
Passing yards98259
Passing: Comp–Att–Int9–12–023–44–0
Time of possession30:1229:48
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Rice PassingChase Jenkins8/11, 87 yards, TD
RushingQuinton Jackson12 carries, 80 yards
ReceivingDrayden Dickmann4 receptions, 39 yards, TD
CharlottePassingGrayson Loftis15/31, 186 yards, TD
RushingRod Gainey Jr.8 carries, 51 yards
ReceivingJaven Nicholas5 receptions, 93 yards, TD

at Navy

Rice Owls (3–1) at Navy Midshipmen (3–0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Owls0031013
Midshipmen770721

at Navy–Marine Corps Memorial StadiumAnnapolis, Maryland

  • Date: September 27
  • Game time: 2:30 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 75 °F (24 °C) • Wind: N at 5 miles per hour (8.0 km/h)
  • Game attendance: 28,873
  • Referee: Charles Lamertina
  • TV announcers (CBSSN): Chris Lewis (play-by-play), Randy Cross (analyst), and Brandon Baylor (sideline reporter)
Game information
First quarter
  • (7:04) NAVY – Luke Hutchison 2-yard run, Nathan Kirkwood kick (Drive: 14 plays, 75 yards, 7:56; Navy 7–0)
Second quarter
  • (14:56) NAVY – Blake Horvath 8-yard run, Nathan Kirkwood kick (Drive: 3 plays, 80 yards, 1:28; Navy 14–0)
Third quarter
  • (0:22) RICE – Enock Gota 35-yard field goal (Drive: 18 plays, 48 yards, 8:15; Navy 14–3)
Fourth quarter
  • (10:33) NAVY – Blake Horvath 2-yard run, Nathan Kirkwood kick (Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 4:49; Navy 21–3)
  • (7:05) RICE – Drayden Dickmann 3-yard pass from Chase Jenkins, Enock Gota kick (Drive: 7 plays, 61 yards, 3:19; Navy 21–10)
  • (0:24) RICE – Enock Gota 44-yard field goal (Drive: 10 plays, 54 yards, 2:43; Navy 21–13)
StatisticsRICENAVY
First downs1319
Plays–yards60–23461–455
Rushes–yards39–12048–283
Passing yards114172
Passing: comp–att–int12–21–08–13–1
Turnovers01
Time of possession26:3133:29
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
RicePassingChase Jenkins12/21, 114 yards, TD
RushingQuinton Jackson15 carries, 60 yards
ReceivingDrayden Dickmann3 receptions, 45 yards, TD
NavyPassing Blake Horvath 8/13, 172 yards, INT
RushingBlake Horvath21 carries, 110 yards, 2 TD
ReceivingAlex Tecza3 receptions, 53 yards

Florida Atlantic

Florida Atlantic Owls (1–3) at Rice Owls (3–2) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Florida Atlantic Owls1437327
Rice Owls707721

at Rice Stadium • Houston, Texas

  • Date: October 4
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 86 °F (30 °C) • Wind: N at 10 miles per hour (16 km/h)
  • Game attendance: 22,999
  • Referee: Edwin Lee
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): James Westling (play-by-play), LaDarrin McLane (analyst) and Smacker Miles (sideline)
Game information
First quarter
  • (13:34) RICE – Quinton Jackson 68-yard run, Enock Gota kick (Drive: 3 plays, 75 yards, 1:26; Rice 7–0)
  • (11:23) FAU – Michael Kirch 30-yard pass from Caden Veltkamp, Garrison Smith kick (Drive: 6 plays, 75 yards, 2:11; Tied 7–7)
  • (6:57) FAU – Asaad Waseem 38-yard pass from Caden Veltkamp, Garrison Smith kick (Drive: 6 plays, 54 yards, 1:55; Florida Atlantic 14–7)
Second quarter
  • (4:36) FAU – Garrison Smith 36-yard field goal (Drive: 6 plays, 54 yards, 3:08; Florida Atlantic 17–7)
Third quarter
  • (4:44) RICE – Drayden Dickmann 46-yard pass from Chase Jenkins, Enock Gota kick (Drive: 11 plays, 90 yards, 5:39; Florida Atlantic 17–14)
  • (1:50) FAU – Michael Kirch 2-yard pass from Caden Veltkamp, Garrison Smith kick (Drive: 8 plays, 76 yards, 2:54; Florida Atlantic 24–14)
Fourth quarter
  • (6:03) FAU – Garrison Smith 26-yard field goal (Drive: 13 plays, 76 yards, 6:33; Florida Atlantic 27–14)
  • (3:19) RICE – Chase Jenkins 2-yard run, Enock Gota kick (Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 2:44; Florida Atlantic 27–21)
StatisticsFAURICE
First downs2018
Plays–yards66–39365–350
Rushes–yards33–10348–213
Passing yards290137
Passing: comp–att–int23–33–112–17–0
Turnovers20
Time of possession28:4631:14
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Florida AtlanticPassing Caden Veltkamp 23/33, 290 yards, 3 TD, INT
RushingXavier Terrell20 carries, 69 yards
ReceivingEaston Messer11 receptions, 110 yards
RicePassingChase Jenkins12/17, 137 yards, TD
RushingQuinton Jackson19 carries, 128 yards, TD
ReceivingDrayden Dickmann4 receptions, 61 yards, TD

at UTSA

Rice Owls (3–3) at UTSA Roadrunners (2–3) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Owls370313
Roadrunners211723061

at AlamodomeSan Antonio, Texas

  • Date: October 11
  • Game time: 6:30 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: None (played indoors)
  • Game attendance: 22,058
  • Referee: Reid Jackson
  • TV announcers (ESPNU): Courtney Lyle (play-by-play) and Rene Ingoglia (analyst)
Game information
First quarter
  • (12:47) UTSA – Robert Henry Jr. 1-yard run, Michael Petro kick (Drive: 5 plays, 75 yards, 2:13; UTSA 7–0)
  • (7:53) RICE – Enock Gota 36-yard field goal (Drive: 9 plays, 57 yards, 4:54; UTSA 7–3)
  • (4:14) UTSA – Devin McCuin 2-yard pass from Owen McCown, Michael Petro kick (Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 3:39; UTSA 14–3)
  • (0:54) UTSA – AJ Wilson 20-yard pass from Owen McCown, Michael Petro kick (Drive: 4 plays, 80 yards, 1:56; UTSA 21–3)
Second quarter
  • (11:39) UTSA – DJ Allen Jr. 43-yard pass from Owen McCown, Michael Petro kick (Drive: 2 plays, 41 yards, 0:50; UTSA 28–3)
  • (4:57) UTSA – Michael Petro 45-yard field goal (Drive: 9 plays, 17 yards, 4:33; UTSA 31–3)
  • (2:14) UTSA – Will Henderson III 43-yard run, Michael Petro kick (Drive: 4 plays, 55 yards, 1:17; UTSA 38–3)
  • (1:15) RICE – Daelen Alexander 3-yard run, Enock Gota kick (Drive: 6 plays, 75 yards, 1:00; UTSA 38–10)
Third quarter
  • (14:16) UTSA – Kendrick Blackshire 17-yard interception return, Michael Petro kick (UTSA 45–10)
  • (11:45) UTSA – Shad Banks Jr. 41-yard fumble recovery, Michael Petro kick (UTSA 52–10)
  • (4:15) UTSA – Team safety (UTSA 54–10)
  • (4:00) UTSA – Will Henderson III 57-yard run, Michael Petro kick (Drive: 1 play, 57 yards, 0:09; UTSA 61–10)
Fourth quarter
  • (9:41) RICE – Chase Allen 45-yard field goal (Drive: 10 plays, 55 yards, 5:51; UTSA 61–13)
StatisticsRICEUTSA
First downs1221
Plays–yards69–26959–437
Rushes–yards50–19034–191
Passing yards79246
Passing: comp–att–int10–19–116–25–0
Turnovers20
Time of possession32:3527:25
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
RicePassingChase Jenkins1/3, 33 yards
RushingDaelen Alexander12 carries, 129 yards, TD
ReceivingDrayden Dickmann2 receptions, 33 yards
UTSAPassing Owen McCown 15/21, 236 yards, 3 TD
RushingWill Henderson III5 carries, 115 yards, 2 TD
ReceivingAJ Wilson2 receptions, 77 yards, TD

UConn

UConn Huskies (0–0) at Rice Owls (3–4) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Huskies----0
Owls----0

at Rice Stadium • Houston, Texas

  • Date: October 25
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
StatisticsCONNRICE
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int––––
Turnovers
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
UConnPassing
Rushing
Receiving
RicePassing
Rushing
Receiving

Memphis

Memphis Tigers (0–0) at Rice Owls (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Tigers----0
Owls----0

at Rice Stadium • Houston, Texas

  • Date: October 31
  • Game time: 6:00 PM CDT
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
StatisticsMEMRICE
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int––––
Turnovers
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
MemphisPassing
Rushing
Receiving
RicePassing
Rushing
Receiving

UAB

UAB Blazers (0–0) at Rice Owls (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Blazers----0
Owls----0

at Rice Stadium • Houston, Texas

  • Date: November 8
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
StatisticsUABRICE
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int––––
Turnovers
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
UABPassing
Rushing
Receiving
RicePassing
Rushing
Receiving

North Texas

North Texas Mean Green (0–0) at Rice Owls (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Mean Green----0
Owls----0

at Rice Stadium • Houston, Texas

  • Date: November 22
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
StatisticsUNTRICE
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int––––
Turnovers
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
North TexasPassing
Rushing
Receiving
RicePassing
Rushing
Receiving

at South Florida

Rice Owls (0–0) at South Florida Bulls (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Owls----0
Bulls----0

at Raymond James StadiumTampa, Florida

  • Date: November 29
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
StatisticsRICEUSF
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int––––
Turnovers
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
RicePassing
Rushing
Receiving
South FloridaPassing
Rushing
Receiving

References

  1. Barral, Kevin (August 15, 2024). "American Athletic Conference Announces New Football Schedule Model For 2025". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
  2. Kelley, Kevin (August 15, 2024). "American football schedule format, opponents set for 2025 season". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
  3. "2025 Rice Owls Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved January 9, 2025.