Saturday, November 25
Houston, Texas
Noon
Rice University
vs
Florida Atlantic
Photo by: Maria Lysaker | Rice Athletics
Bowl Berth on The Line on Senior Day
11/24/2023 6:38:00 PM | Football
Kickoff set for noon
Game #12
Who: Rice (5-6, 3-4) vs. Florida Atlantic (4-7, 3-4)
When: Saturday 12:00 p.m. CT
Where: Houston, Texas
Stadium: Rice Stadium
Television: ESPN+: Richard Cross (PXP); Leger Douzable (Analyst); Smacker Miles (Sidelines)
Where to Find the Game: ESPN+
Rice Radio: JP Heath (play-by-play), Nate Griffin (analyst)
Audio Streaming: RiceOwls.com, Rice Game Day App, Varsity Network
Live Stats: Sidearm.com
Digital Game Program: Game 12 Rice vs. Florida Atlantic
Series Information: fifth meeting
Full Game Notes
Series Notes
• Florida Atlantic head coach Tom Herman made his debut as an FBS offensive coordinator at Rice in 2007 & 2008, producing Rice Athletics Hall of Famers Chase Clement, Jarett Dillard, and James Casey, but this will be his first game at Rice Stadium on the opposing sideline.
• Herman's first return to Rice Stadium came last season when he was part of CBS SN's broadcast team for the UTEP game last season.
• Rice rallied to win each of the first two meetings with their nicknamesakes, while Florida Atlantic comes into Saturday's game having won the last two.
• Rice rallied from 12 points down with 13:50 remaining, roaring back after 1 hour, 30-minute weather delay to win 27-26 in Boca Raton, 27-26 in 2015.
• The win was Rice's first when trailing by double-digits in the fourth quarter since 2009.
• Rice trailed 14-6 at Rice Stadium in 2013 but scored twice in the final 6:07 to rally for an 18-14 win.
Senior Day
Prior to Saturday's finale with Florida Atlantic, Rice will salute players who are completing their eligibility at the end of this season either as undergraduates or graduate students as well as some who will complete their senior academic years but retain eligibility. The following players have indicated they will participate in pregame ceremonies: Chike Anigbogu, Jack Bradley, Chris Conti, JT Daniels, Christian Francisco, Nate Kamper, Mike Leone, Luke McCaffrey, Braedon Nutter, Juma Otoviano, Cedric Patterson, Josh Pearcy, Trey Phillipi, Clay Servin, Gabriel Taylor, Geron Hargon and Van Heitman..
17 Years Later
Rice will be looking to gain bowl eligibility with a sixth win on the 17th anniversary of its 31-27 win over SMU which clinched the school's first bowl berth in 45 years. Rice had opened the 2006 season at 1-5, but ran off six consecutive victories, three in the final seconds, to earn a berth in the New Orleans Bowl. Prior to 2006, Rice's last bowl appearance had been in its own stadium in the 1961 Bluebonnet Bowl.
Through Eleven Games
• Rice has thrown for 2,916 yards this season and the Owls' average of 265.9 per game is their highest since they averaged 327.2 in 13 games in 2008. The Owls have averaged better than 230 yards just twice since 2008 prior to this year (232.9 last year; 231.3 in 2014).
• The Owls have scored 45 touchdowns, the most since they scored 48 in 2014 (13 games).
JT Daniels (21) and AJ Padgett (4) have combined for 25 touchdown passes, the most for the Owls since Driphus Jackson (24) and Luke Turner (1) combined for 25. The last time Rice threw more than 25 in a season was in 2008 when the Owls set the school record with 48.
• Rice is ranked 10th nationally in fourth down conversions (16/22; 72.8%), the Owls' highest ranking since they finished ninth in both 2012 (12/17; 70.6%) and 2010 (13/18; 72.2%). The 16 conversions match last year's total (in 27 attempts) and are the most since they converted 16 of 29 in 2021. Rice converted 18 of 30 attempts in Mike Bloomgren's first year with the Owls in 2018.
• On the defensive side, the Owls are tied for 23rd nationally in fourth down defense (.400, 10/25), but rank fifth against teams who have defended at least 25 fourth down attempts. (TCU .345, 19/29; Ohio State .385, 10/26; Washington .387, 12/31 and Tulane .393, 11/28).
• Rice is seventh in Red Zone Defense (.721, 31/43) with five of the six teams currently ranked in the top 25 (Louisville, Michigan, Notre Dame, Texas, Iowa). Rice and Arizona are tied for the most stops in the Red Zone this season (12).
• Rice is tied for 32nd nationally with 43 pass breakups this season on 320 pass attempts. The Owls have broken up 13.4% of all pass attempts this season, their highest mark since they broke up 14.5% in 2014 (60/414).
Who: Rice (5-6, 3-4) vs. Florida Atlantic (4-7, 3-4)
When: Saturday 12:00 p.m. CT
Where: Houston, Texas
Stadium: Rice Stadium
Television: ESPN+: Richard Cross (PXP); Leger Douzable (Analyst); Smacker Miles (Sidelines)
Where to Find the Game: ESPN+
Rice Radio: JP Heath (play-by-play), Nate Griffin (analyst)
Audio Streaming: RiceOwls.com, Rice Game Day App, Varsity Network
Live Stats: Sidearm.com
Digital Game Program: Game 12 Rice vs. Florida Atlantic
Series Information: fifth meeting
Full Game Notes
Series Notes
• Florida Atlantic head coach Tom Herman made his debut as an FBS offensive coordinator at Rice in 2007 & 2008, producing Rice Athletics Hall of Famers Chase Clement, Jarett Dillard, and James Casey, but this will be his first game at Rice Stadium on the opposing sideline.
• Herman's first return to Rice Stadium came last season when he was part of CBS SN's broadcast team for the UTEP game last season.
• Rice rallied to win each of the first two meetings with their nicknamesakes, while Florida Atlantic comes into Saturday's game having won the last two.
• Rice rallied from 12 points down with 13:50 remaining, roaring back after 1 hour, 30-minute weather delay to win 27-26 in Boca Raton, 27-26 in 2015.
• The win was Rice's first when trailing by double-digits in the fourth quarter since 2009.
• Rice trailed 14-6 at Rice Stadium in 2013 but scored twice in the final 6:07 to rally for an 18-14 win.
Senior Day
Prior to Saturday's finale with Florida Atlantic, Rice will salute players who are completing their eligibility at the end of this season either as undergraduates or graduate students as well as some who will complete their senior academic years but retain eligibility. The following players have indicated they will participate in pregame ceremonies: Chike Anigbogu, Jack Bradley, Chris Conti, JT Daniels, Christian Francisco, Nate Kamper, Mike Leone, Luke McCaffrey, Braedon Nutter, Juma Otoviano, Cedric Patterson, Josh Pearcy, Trey Phillipi, Clay Servin, Gabriel Taylor, Geron Hargon and Van Heitman..
17 Years Later
Rice will be looking to gain bowl eligibility with a sixth win on the 17th anniversary of its 31-27 win over SMU which clinched the school's first bowl berth in 45 years. Rice had opened the 2006 season at 1-5, but ran off six consecutive victories, three in the final seconds, to earn a berth in the New Orleans Bowl. Prior to 2006, Rice's last bowl appearance had been in its own stadium in the 1961 Bluebonnet Bowl.
Through Eleven Games
• Rice has thrown for 2,916 yards this season and the Owls' average of 265.9 per game is their highest since they averaged 327.2 in 13 games in 2008. The Owls have averaged better than 230 yards just twice since 2008 prior to this year (232.9 last year; 231.3 in 2014).
• The Owls have scored 45 touchdowns, the most since they scored 48 in 2014 (13 games).
JT Daniels (21) and AJ Padgett (4) have combined for 25 touchdown passes, the most for the Owls since Driphus Jackson (24) and Luke Turner (1) combined for 25. The last time Rice threw more than 25 in a season was in 2008 when the Owls set the school record with 48.
• Rice is ranked 10th nationally in fourth down conversions (16/22; 72.8%), the Owls' highest ranking since they finished ninth in both 2012 (12/17; 70.6%) and 2010 (13/18; 72.2%). The 16 conversions match last year's total (in 27 attempts) and are the most since they converted 16 of 29 in 2021. Rice converted 18 of 30 attempts in Mike Bloomgren's first year with the Owls in 2018.
• On the defensive side, the Owls are tied for 23rd nationally in fourth down defense (.400, 10/25), but rank fifth against teams who have defended at least 25 fourth down attempts. (TCU .345, 19/29; Ohio State .385, 10/26; Washington .387, 12/31 and Tulane .393, 11/28).
• Rice is seventh in Red Zone Defense (.721, 31/43) with five of the six teams currently ranked in the top 25 (Louisville, Michigan, Notre Dame, Texas, Iowa). Rice and Arizona are tied for the most stops in the Red Zone this season (12).
• Rice is tied for 32nd nationally with 43 pass breakups this season on 320 pass attempts. The Owls have broken up 13.4% of all pass attempts this season, their highest mark since they broke up 14.5% in 2014 (60/414).
Players Mentioned
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SAF
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