2023 Rice Owls football team
2023 Rice Owls football | |
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First Responder Bowl, L 21–45 vs. Texas State | |
Conference | American Athletic Conference |
Record | 6–7 (4–4 AAC) |
Head coach |
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Offensive coordinator | Marques Tuiasosopo (3rd season) |
Offensive scheme | Pro-style |
Defensive coordinator | Brian Smith (6th season) |
Base defense | Multiple 3–4 |
Home stadium | Rice Stadium |
Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 22 SMU y$ | 8 | – | 0 | 11 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tulane y | 8 | – | 0 | 11 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
UTSA | 7 | – | 1 | 9 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Memphis | 6 | – | 2 | 10 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
South Florida | 4 | – | 4 | 7 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rice | 4 | – | 4 | 6 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Navy | 4 | – | 4 | 5 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
North Texas | 3 | – | 5 | 5 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
UAB | 3 | – | 5 | 4 | – | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Florida Atlantic | 3 | – | 5 | 4 | – | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Charlotte | 2 | – | 6 | 3 | – | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tulsa | 2 | – | 6 | 4 | – | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Temple | 1 | – | 7 | 3 | – | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
East Carolina | 1 | – | 7 | 2 | – | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Championship: SMU 26, Tulane 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 2023 Rice Owls football team represented Rice University and competed in their first season as members of the American Athletic Conference (AAC) during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They were led by head coach Mike Bloomgren, who was coaching his sixth season with the team. The Owls played their home games at the Rice Stadium in Houston, Texas.
Preseason
Media poll
The American Athletic Conference preseason poll was released on July 25. The Owls were predicted to finish twelfth in the conference.[1]
Media poll | ||
Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
---|---|---|
1 | Tulane | 457 (20) |
2 | UTSA | 440 (9) |
3 | SMU | 397 (3) |
4 | Memphis | 362 (1) |
5 | Florida Atlantic | 312 |
6 | East Carolina | 303 |
7 | North Texas | 261 |
8 | UAB | 209 (1) |
9 | Navy | 199 |
10 | Temple | 182 |
11 | Tulsa | 160 |
12 | Rice | 138 |
13 | South Florida | 86 |
14 | Charlotte | 64 |
Schedule
Rice and the American Athletic Conference (AAC) announced the 2023 football schedule on February 21, 2023.[2]
Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
September 2 | 2:30 p.m. | at No. 11 Texas* | Fox | L 10–37 | 98,017 | |
September 9 | 6:00 p.m. | Houston* | NFLN | W 43–41 2OT | 23,425 | |
September 16 | 6:00 p.m. | Texas Southern* |
| ESPN+ | W 59–7 | 18,103 |
September 23 | 3:00 p.m. | at South Florida | ESPNU | L 29–42 | 29,141 | |
September 30 | 6:00 p.m. | East Carolina |
| ESPN+ | W 24–17 | 19,598 |
October 7 | 4:00 p.m. | UConn* |
| ESPN+ | L 31–38 | 21,207 |
October 19 | 6:00 p.m. | at Tulsa | ESPN2 | W 42–10 | 18,527 | |
October 28 | 3:00 p.m. | No. 22 Tulane |
| ESPN2 | L 28–30 | 20,436 |
November 4 | 6:30 p.m. | SMU |
| ESPNU | L 31–36 | 21,632 |
November 11 | 6:30 p.m. | at UTSA | ESPNU | L 14–34 | 28,245 | |
November 18 | 1:00 p.m. | at Charlotte | ESPN+ | W 28–7 | 9,385 | |
November 25 | 12:00 p.m. | Florida Atlantic |
| ESPN+ | W 24–21 | 19,393 |
December 26 | 4:30 p.m. | vs. Texas State* | ESPN | L 21–45 | 26,542 | |
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Game summaries
At No. 11 Texas
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Owls | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
No. 11 Longhorns | 7 | 9 | 21 | 0 | 37 |
at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin, Texas
- Date: September 2
- Game time: 2:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Sunny, 99 °F (37 °C)
- Game attendance: 98,017
- Referee: Tutashinda Salaam
- TV announcers (Fox): Jason Benetti, Brock Huard, and Allison Williams
- Box score, Recap
Game information |
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First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
|
Statistics | RICE | TEX |
---|---|---|
First downs | 8 | 24 |
Total yards | 176 | 458 |
Rushing yards | 27 | 158 |
Passing yards | 149 | 300 |
Turnovers | 3 | 0 |
Time of possession | 28:24 | 31:36 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
Rice | Passing | JT Daniels | 14/26, 149 yards, TD, 2 INT |
Rushing | Dean Connors | 8 rushes, 23 yards | |
Receiving | Braylen Walker | 2 receptions, 47 yards | |
Texas | Passing | Quinn Ewers | 19/30, 260 yards, 3 TD |
Rushing | Jaydon Blue | 10 rushes, 55 yards | |
Receiving | Xavier Worthy | 7 receptions, 90 yards |
Houston
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | 2OT | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cougars | 0 | 7 | 0 | 21 | 7 | 6 | 41 |
Owls | 21 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 43 |
at Rice Stadium, Houston, Texas
- Date: September 9
- Game time: 6:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Sunny, 96 °F (36 °C)
- Game attendance: 23,425
- Referee: Derek Anderson
- TV announcers (NFLN): Doug Sherman and Tyoka Jackson
- Box score, Recap
Game information |
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First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Overtime
Second overtime
|
Statistics | HOU | RICE |
---|---|---|
First downs | 27 | 24 |
Total yards | 443 | 470 |
Rushing yards | 183 | 69 |
Passing yards | 260 | 401 |
Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
Time of possession | 28:10 | 31:50 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
Houston | Passing | Donovan Smith | 24/42, 260 yards, 2 TD, INT |
Rushing | Tony Mathis Jr. | 8 rushes, 60 yards | |
Receiving | Samuel Brown | 9 receptions, 138 yards | |
Rice | Passing | JT Daniels | 28/42, 401 yards, 3 TD, INT |
Rushing | Dean Connors | 8 rushes, 48 yards | |
Receiving | Luke McCaffrey | 7 receptions, 99 yards, 2 TD |
Texas Southern
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tigers | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
Owls | 28 | 14 | 10 | 7 | 59 |
at Rice Stadium, Houston, Texas
Game information |
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First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
|
Statistics | TXSO | RICE |
---|---|---|
First downs | 10 | 23 |
Total yards | 185 | 485 |
Rushing yards | 81 | 231 |
Passing yards | 104 | 254 |
Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
Time of possession | 24:26 | 35:34 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
Texas Southern | Passing | Jace Wilson | 9/19, 104 yards, TD |
Rushing | Ladarius Owens | 11 rushes, 48 yards | |
Receiving | Jace Johnson | 4 receptions, 49 yards, TD | |
Rice | Passing | JT Daniels | 11/17, 255 yards, 4 TD |
Rushing | Dean Connors | 8 rushes, 66 yards, TD | |
Receiving | Kobie Campbell | 1 reception, 70 yards, TD |
At South Florida
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Owls | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 29 |
Bulls | 3 | 10 | 14 | 15 | 42 |
at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida
- Date: September 23
- Game time: 3:00 p.m. CDT/4:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: Sunny, 88 °F (31 °C)
- Game attendance: 29,141
- Referee: Edwin Lee
- TV announcers (ESPNU): Jay Alter and Rene Ingoglia
- Box score, Recap
Game information |
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First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
|
Statistics | RICE | USF |
---|---|---|
First downs | 19 | 25 |
Total yards | 492 | 597 |
Rushing yards | 1 | 162 |
Passing yards | 491 | 435 |
Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
Time of possession | 32:27 | 27:33 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
Rice | Passing | JT Daniels | 27/40, 432 yards, 3 TD |
Rushing | Juma Otoviano | 4 rushes, 12 yards | |
Receiving | Luke McCaffrey | 9 receptions, 199 yards | |
South Florida | Passing | Byrum Brown | 22/29, 435 yards, 2 TD |
Rushing | Byrum Brown | 14 rushes, 82 yards, TD | |
Receiving | Naiem Simmons | 8 receptions, 272 yards, TD |
East Carolina
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pirates | 3 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 17 |
Owls | 3 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 24 |
at Rice Stadium, Houston, Texas
- Date: September 30
- Game time: 6:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 91 °F (33 °C) • Wind: SE at 12 miles per hour (19 km/h)
- Game attendance: 19,598
- Referee: Nate Black
- TV announcers (ESPN+): Richard Cross (play-by-play), Taylor McHargue (analyst), Smacker Miles (sideline reporter)
- Box score, Recap
Game information |
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First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
|
Statistics | ECU | RICE |
---|---|---|
First downs | 25 | 14 |
Total yards | 391 | 277 |
Rushing yards | 145 | 37 |
Passing yards | 246 | 240 |
Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
Time of possession | 34:58 | 25:02 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
East Carolina | Passing | Alex Flinn | 21/44, 246 yards, INT |
Rushing | Javious Bond | 7 rushes, 72 yards | |
Receiving | Chase Sowell | 7 receptions, 88 yards | |
Rice | Passing | JT Daniels | 18/32, 232 yards, 2 TD, INT |
Rushing | Chase Jenkins | 4 rushes, 27 yards, TD | |
Receiving | Landon Ransom-Goelz | 2 receptions, 54 yards, TD |
UConn
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Huskies | 0 | 20 | 8 | 10 | 38 |
Owls | 14 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 31 |
at Rice Stadium, Houston, Texas
Game information |
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First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
|
Statistics | CONN | RICE |
---|---|---|
First downs | 12 | 26 |
Total yards | 319 | 474 |
Rushing yards | 104 | 112 |
Passing yards | 215 | 362 |
Turnovers | 0 | 4 |
Time of possession | 29:03 | 30:57 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
UConn | Passing | Ta'Quan Roberson | 15/19, 215 yards, 2 TD |
Rushing | Victor Rosa | 18 rushes, 89 yards | |
Receiving | Justin Joly | 7 receptions, 96 yards, TD | |
Rice | Passing | JT Daniels | 33/49, 362 yards, 2 TD, INT |
Rushing | Juma Otoviano | 6 rushes, 51 yards, 2 TD | |
Receiving | Luke McCaffrey | 7 receptions, 100 yards, 2 TD |
At Tulsa
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Owls | 14 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 42 |
Golden Hurricane | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
Game information |
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First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
|
Statistics | RICE | TLSA |
---|---|---|
First downs | 24 | 14 |
Total yards | 512 | 294 |
Rushing yards | 170 | 156 |
Passing yards | 342 | 138 |
Turnovers | 0 | 3 |
Time of possession | 33:48 | 26:12 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
Rice | Passing | JT Daniels | 24/37, 342 yards, 2 TD |
Rushing | Dean Connors | 9 rushes, 120 yards, 3 TD | |
Receiving | Luke McCaffrey | 6 receptions, 99 yards, TD | |
Tulsa | Passing | Cardell Williams | 7/14, 101 yards, TD |
Rushing | Braylon Braxton | 12 rushes, 89 yards | |
Receiving | Kamdyn Benjamin | 3 receptions, 48 yards, TD |
No. 22 Tulane
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. 22 Green Wave | 10 | 17 | 0 | 3 | 30 |
Owls | 7 | 0 | 14 | 7 | 28 |
at Rice Stadium, Houston, Texas
- Date: October 28
- Game time: 3:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 86 °F (30 °C) • Wind: SE 14 mph
- Game attendance: 20,436
- Referee: Edwin Lee
- TV announcers (ESPN2): Drew Carter (play-by-play), Brock Osweiler (analyst), Kayla Burton (sideline)
- Box score, Recap
Game information |
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First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
|
Statistics | TULN | RICE |
---|---|---|
First downs | 24 | 15 |
Total yards | 457 | 271 |
Rushing yards | 194 | 82 |
Passing yards | 263 | 189 |
Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
Time of possession | 36:05 | 23:55 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
Tulane | Passing | Michael Pratt | 22/30, 263 yards, 2 TD, INT |
Rushing | Makhi Hughes | 23 rushes, 153 yards | |
Receiving | Chris Brazzell II | 5 receptions, 75 yards | |
Rice | Passing | JT Daniels | 18/29, 189 yards, 2 TD, INT |
Rushing | Juma Otoviano | 9 rushes, 38 yards, 2 TD | |
Receiving | Luke McCaffrey | 5 receptions, 79 yards, TD |
SMU
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mustangs | 14 | 10 | 9 | 3 | 36 |
Owls | 7 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 31 |
at Rice Stadium, Houston, Texas
- Date: November 4
- Game time: 6:30 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Sunny, 75 °F (24 °C)
- Game attendance: 21,632
- Referee: Scott Hardin
- TV announcers (ESPNU): John Schriffen, Charles Arbuckle, and Dawn Davenport
- Box score, Recap
Game information |
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First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
|
Statistics | SMU | RICE |
---|---|---|
First downs | 28 | 13 |
Total yards | 477 | 290 |
Rushing yards | 223 | 124 |
Passing yards | 254 | 166 |
Turnovers | 1 | 3 |
Time of possession | 31:31 | 28:29 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
SMU | Passing | Preston Stone | 15/28, 217 yards, 2 TD |
Rushing | Preston Stone | 8 rushes, 81 yards, TD | |
Receiving | Jake Bailey | 4 receptions, 73 yards | |
Rice | Passing | Chase Jenkins | 10/16, 85 yards, INT |
Rushing | Dean Connors | 7 rushes, 77 yards, TD | |
Receiving | Rawson MacNeill | 2 receptions, 68 yards |
At UTSA
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Owls | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
Roadrunners | 3 | 7 | 21 | 3 | 34 |
at Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas
- Date: November 11
- Game time: 6:30 p.m. CST
- Game weather: None (played indoors)
- Game attendance: 28,245
- Referee: Tim Rich
- TV announcers (ESPNU): Drew Carter and Dustin Fox
- Box score, Recap
Game information |
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First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
|
Statistics | RICE | UTSA |
---|---|---|
First downs | 17 | 23 |
Total yards | 229 | 381 |
Rushing yards | 47 | 199 |
Passing yards | 182 | 182 |
Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
Time of possession | 29:49 | 30:11 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
Rice | Passing | A. J. Padgett | 17/28, 182 yards, 2 TD |
Rushing | Dean Connors | 8 rushes, 34 yards | |
Receiving | Luke McCaffrey | 6 receptions, 68 yards, TD | |
UTSA | Passing | Frank Harris | 15/24, 175 yards, TD |
Rushing | Rocko Griffin | 12 rushes, 81 yards, TD | |
Receiving | Joshua Cephus | 5 receptions, 53 yards, TD |
At Charlotte
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Owls | 10 | 3 | 8 | 7 | 28 |
49ers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
Game information |
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First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
|
Statistics | RICE | CLT |
---|---|---|
First downs | 16 | 11 |
Total yards | 380 | 158 |
Rushing yards | 240 | 84 |
Passing yards | 140 | 74 |
Turnovers | 3 | 1 |
Time of possession | 33:41 | 26:19 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
Rice | Passing | A. J. Padgett | 13/21, 140 yards, TD, 2 INT |
Rushing | Dean Connors | 19 rushes, 184 yards | |
Receiving | Luke McCaffrey | 5 receptions, 54 yards, TD | |
Charlotte | Passing | Trexler Ivey | 8/19, 51 yards |
Rushing | Hashaun Watson | 14 rushes, 47 yards | |
Receiving | Randy Fields Jr. | 2 receptions, 18 yards |
Florida Atlantic
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Florida Atlantic | 7 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
Rice | 7 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 24 |
at Rice Stadium, Houston, Texas
Game information |
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First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
|
Statistics | FAU | RICE |
---|---|---|
First downs | 14 | 32 |
Total yards | 279 | 465 |
Rushing yards | 151 | 211 |
Passing yards | 128 | 254 |
Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
Time of possession | 20:18 | 39:42 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
Florida Atlantic | Passing | Daniel Richardson | 8/9, 93 yards, TD |
Rushing | Kobe Lewis | 7 rushes, 82 yards, TD | |
Receiving | Tony Johnson | 2 receptions, 49 yards, TD | |
Rice | Passing | A. J. Padgett | 24/37, 255 yards, 3 TD, INT |
Rushing | Dean Connors | 14 rushes, 75 yards | |
Receiving | Luke McCaffrey | 12 receptions, 141 yards, TD |
References
- ^ "Tulane is the Favorite in 2023 American Preseason Media Poll". American Athletic Conference. July 25, 2023. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
- ^ "2023 Rice Football Schedule". FBSchedules. Retrieved March 2, 2023.