Rice Owls is 1-0 on the season, 1-0 against the spread, and holds a power rating of -15.3. Rice Owls enters the season with a power rating of -15.3, placing them below average relative to the FBS midpoint. The Rice Owls head to Notre Dame next in Week 2. In 2025, Rice Owls went 5-8 overall, 5-8 against the spread, and 7-6 on totals.
In Week 1 of 2026 the Rice Owls Power Rating of -15.3 is 15.3 points below the FBS average according to Blue Chip Analytics. Rice Owls have logged 0 miles of travel so far, out of a season total of 12,304 miles, ranking 18th heaviest in the FBS.
Jacurri Brown QB, Gael Ochoa QB, Quentin Jackson RB
Jo Chavez LB, Joseph Mutombo EDGE
Enock Gota K, Charlie Durkin P
| After | Record | ATS | O/U |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | 1-0 | 1-0 | 0-1 |
| Week 2 | 1-1 | 1-1 | 1-1 |
| Week 3 | 2-1 | 1-2 | 2-1 |
| Week 4 | 3-1 | 2-2 | 3-1 |
| Week 5 | 3-2 | 3-2 | 3-2 |
| Week 6 | 3-3 | 3-3 | 3-3 |
| Week 7 | 3-4 | 3-4 | 4-3 |
| Week 9 | 4-4 | 4-4 | 5-3 |
| Week 10 | 4-5 | 4-5 | 6-3 |
| Week 11 | 5-5 | 5-5 | 6-4 |
| Week 13 | 5-6 | 5-6 | 7-4 |
| Week 14 | 5-7 | 5-7 | 7-5 |
| Postseason | 5-8 | 5-8 | 7-6 |
A season record is a record, not a forecast. Blue Chip Analytics' own research finds that beating the closing line repeats at close to zero from one season to the next - see most underrated and overrated teams. Read the table as what happened, not as what is likely to happen next.
Opened -16.7 in the preseason and finished -12.8 after the postseason, a move of +3.9 points. High -11.6 (week 13), low -17.6 (week 2).
PrePost
SP+ is an independent opponent-adjusted efficiency rating, one of the systems blended into the Blue Chip Analytics power rating rather than a Blue Chip Analytics number itself. Defensive SP+ measures points allowed, so a lower figure is a better defence - the rank beside it already accounts for that.
Source spread is how far apart the independent rating systems are on this team, not a margin of error on our own number. A wide spread means the models disagree, which is itself worth knowing.
The measured and applied home field advantage agree to within 0.6 points here, so smoothing changes little for this venue.
| Opponent | Met | Record | ATS |
|---|---|---|---|
| UTSA | 9 | 1-8 | 2-7 |
| East Carolina | 1 | 1-0 | 1-0 |
| Tulsa | 1 | 1-0 | 1-0 |
| Florida Atlantic | 4 | 1-3 | 1-3 |
| North Texas | 8 | 1-7 | 3-5 |
| Tulane | 2 | 0-2 | 2-0 |
| Army | 4 | 0-4 | 1-3 |
No meeting on record since 2016: Houston Christian, Notre Dame, Western Michigan, Fresno State, Temple.
Week 012,304 mi total
| Week | Opponent | Distance | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 0 | - | Bye | |
| Week 1 | Houston Christian | Home | 0 mi |
| Week 2 | Notre Dame | 973 mi | 1,945 mi |
| Week 3 | Western Michigan | Home | 1,945 mi |
| Week 4 | Fresno State | 1,487 mi | 4,920 mi |
| Week 5 | UTSA | Home | 4,920 mi |
| Week 6 | East Carolina | 1,125 mi | 7,170 mi |
| Week 7 | Tulsa | Home | 7,170 mi |
| Week 8 | Florida Atlantic | 962 mi | 9,094 mi |
| Week 9 | - | Bye | |
| Week 10 | North Texas | 262 mi | 9,617 mi |
| Week 11 | Tulane | Home | 9,617 mi |
| Week 12 | Temple | 1,343 mi | 12,304 mi |
| Week 13 | Army | Home | 12,304 mi |
| Week 14 | - | Bye | |
| Week 15 | - | Bye | |
| Week 16 | - | Bye | |
| Postseason | - | Bye | |
Rice enters 2026 with a new signal-caller for the second straight season after Chase Jenkins transferred. Scott Abell brought in Jacurri Brown (Miami, UCF) and Gael Ochoa (UNLV) to run his triple-option attack, which averaged nearly 205 rushing yards per game last year. The offense struggled to score, managing just 19.1 points per game and topping 20 points only five times. The Owls will lean on returning leading rusher Quentin Jackson, but they lost most of their skill-position production to graduation and the portal, so the new quarterback must quickly adapt to keep the chains moving.
The defense was hit hard by attrition, losing its top seven tacklers and most starters to graduation and transfers. That unit allowed nearly 33 points and 404 yards per game last season, and it forced only seven turnovers. Returning leaders like Viper Jo Chavez and defensive end Joseph Mutombo will be counted on to stabilize a group that also struggled in the red zone, where opponents scored on all 41 trips, including 30 touchdowns. Expect some early growing pains as new faces learn coordinator Jon Kay's scheme.
Kicker Enock Gota returns after hitting 10 of 13 field goals last season, though he has not yet made one beyond 50 yards. He has been reliable on kickoffs with 37 touchbacks in each of the past two years. New punter Charlie Durkin arrives from Kent State, where he averaged 41.4 yards per punt, dropped 14 inside the 20, and booted six over 50 yards. Solid special teams could be crucial in a season where the offense may struggle to sustain drives.
Rice made a bowl game last year despite a 5-8 record, thanks to a high Academic Progress Rate. To return to the postseason, the Owls must improve on offense, which scored more than 20 points in only two of their eight losses. The defense was often overexposed because the offense could not stay on the field. If the new quarterback can run the option effectively and extend drives, Rice has a realistic path to bowl eligibility, but if the scoring woes continue, the defense will be under constant pressure.
The Owls open at home against Houston Christian, a game where they are heavy favorites and have a 94% win probability per prediction markets. That matchup provides an opportunity to install the new offense and build confidence before facing tougher American Athletic Conference competition. With a season that includes significant travel, getting off to a strong start will be important for a team that needs to find its identity on both sides of the ball.
Rice Owls is 1-0 against the spread in the 2026 season, covering 100% of games.
Rice Owls holds a Blue Chip Analytics power rating of -15.3, representing their expected point margin against an average FBS team on a neutral field.
Rice Owls's home field advantage rating is 2.7 points, the venue adjustment Blue Chip Analytics applies for games at their home stadium.
Rice Owls's consensus regular-season win total for 2026 is 3.5 wins, priced at -125 over and -105 under. This is the betting market's expectation, not a Blue Chip Analytics projection.
Rice Owls travels 12,304 miles in the 2026 season, ranking 18th heaviest in the FBS.
Cumulative travel distance counts both the outbound and return journey for every away game. For example, if a team travels 374 miles to play an away game, Blue Chip Analytics counts 748 miles (374 miles there, 374 miles back) toward the cumulative total. Home games and bye weeks add zero miles. The per-week Distance column shows the one-way distance only, as the return trip happens after the game is played.
Rice Owls: 1-0 overall, 1-0 ATS, power rating -15.3 (2026 records).
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