The Sam Houston Bearkats (0-0) visit the Rice Owls (0-0) at Rice Stadium on Saturday, August 31, 2024.
You should head to ESPN+ in order to see this matchup.
Watch Rice vs. Sam Houston live on ESPN+
When is Rice vs. Sam Houston and when does it start?
This contest between the Owls and Bearkats will take place on Saturday, August 31, 2024. You can expect the kickoff at 7:00 p.m. ET.
Where to watch Rice vs. Sam Houston
The Owls and Bearkats will take to the field at Rice Stadium for this matchup on August 31, and if you want to see the action live, get your tickets now from Vivid Seats!
What channel is the game on?
You can catch Rice vs. Sam Houston live on ESPN+.
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Rice Stats & Insights
A season ago, the Owls went 6-7 and lost the First Responder Bowl. Offensively, they averaged 29.5 points per game (56th in the nation) while defensively conceding 28.1 (83rd).
On offense, Rice ranked 84th in the FBS with 362.9 yards per game last season. Meanwhile, it ranked 54th in total defense (364.5 yards allowed per contest).
The Owls ranked 45th in pass offense (252.5 passing yards per game) and 43rd in pass defense (211.6 passing yards allowed per game) last season.
Rice was a bottom-25 run offense last season, ranking 19th-worst with 110.5 rushing yards per game. On the defensive side of the ball, it ranked 72nd in the FBS (152.9 rushing yards allowed per game).
The Owls had the third-worst turnover margin in college football last season at -13, forcing 12 turnovers (117th in the FBS) while turning it over 25 times (126th in the FBS).
Sam Houston Stats & Insights
The Bearkats went 3-9 in 2023 and failed to make a bowl appearance. They gave up 26.2 points per game (to rank 64th in college football) while scoring 20.0 per game (118th).
Sam Houston ranked 14th-worst in the FBS in total offense (311.4 yards per game) last season, but it played slightly better on defense, ranking 88th with 394.4 yards allowed per game.
The Bearkats totaled 222.6 passing yards per game on offense last season, which ranked them 66th in the FBS. On defense, they ranked 77th, allowing 231.5 passing yards per game.
While Sam Houston’s run defense ranked 90th with 162.9 rushing yards allowed per game last season, it was worse on offense, ranking sixth-worst (88.8 rushing yards per game).
With 20 forced turnovers (38th in the FBS) against 15 turnovers committed (34th in the FBS), the Bearkats (+5) owned the 31st-ranked turnover margin in college football last season.
Rice Key Players (2023)
Last season, JT Daniels had 2,443 yards (187.9 yards per game), a 63.1% completion percentage (181-of-287), 21 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.
Last year, Dean Connors racked up 771 rushing yards (59.3 yards per game) and seven touchdowns. In the receiving game, he made 43 catches for 403 yards (31.0 yards per game) and three touchdowns.
Juma Otoviano ran for 326 yards on 92 carries (25.1 ypg), with four rushing touchdowns last year.
In the previous season, Luke McCaffrey reeled in 71 catches for 992 yards (76.3 ypg). He also scored 13 touchdowns.
Boden Groen grabbed 39 passes for 383 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 29.5 yards per game last year.
Sam Houston Key Players (2023)
Keegan Shoemaker completed 63% of his passes to throw for 2,507 and 15 touchdowns last season. Shoemaker also contributed in the run game, collecting one touchdown on 21.2 yards per game.
John Gentry racked up three rushing touchdowns on 32.6 yards per game last season. Gentry was also productive in the passing game, totaling 35 catches and two touchdowns over the course of the year.
Noah Smith averaged 65.3 receiving yards and racked up six receiving touchdowns over the course of the 2023 season.
Malik Phillips hauled in one touchdown and had 430 receiving yards (35.8 ypg) in 2023.
Al’Vonte Woodard averaged 28.3 receiving yards per game a season ago.
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