Rice will be looking to earn its third consecutive bowl bid for only the second time in school history. The first time occurred from 2012-2014.
Despite the current streak, Rice is also seeking its first winning season since going 8-5 in 2014. The Owls were 6-7 last season, losing to Texas State 45-21 in the First Responder Bowl.
For Rice to have a winning season, the Owls must replace the production of wide receiver Luke McCaffrey, who had 71 receptions for 991 yards and 13 touchdowns. McCaffrey was a third-round draft pick for the Washington Commanders.
Still, with one of the deepest quarterback rooms in the AAC, Rice will enter the 2024 season with optimism and looks to break the streak of nine consecutive sub .500 seasons.
Rice Football’s AAC Title Odds
Rice’s odds to win the American Athletic Conference are +1600, via BetMGM.
Rice Football’s Betting Odds & Over/Under Win Total
Rice’s win total Over/Under is 6.5 with Under 6.5 at +110 and Over 6.5 at -135.
Rice Football’s 2024 Schedule
8/31 vs Sam Houston
9/7 vs Texas Southern
9/14 at Houston
9/21 at Army
9/28 vs Charlotte
10/12 vs UTSA
10/19 at Tulane
10/26 at UConn
11/2 vs Navy
11/8 at Memphis
11/23 at UAB
11/30 vs USF
Bold indicates AAC contests
Key Rice Football Returners
2023 AAC Honorable Mention
RB Dean Connors
LB Myron Morrison
DL Josh Pearcy
S Gabriel Taylor
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Rice Bolstered At The QB Position
Rice has one of the top QB combos in the AAC. Temple transfer EJ Warner is expected to run the offense. In two seasons at Temple, Warner, the son of NFL Hall of Fame QB Kurt Warner, completed 59% of his passes for 6,104 yards, 41 touchdowns, and 24 interceptions. Warner led the AAC in passing yards per game (307.6) last season.
Last season after Rice starter JT Daniels suffered a season-ending concussion, AJ Padgett took over as the starter for the final four games, where the Owls went 2-2. Padgett completed 60.6% of his passes for 721 yards, eight touchdowns, and six interceptions. He is only the second quarterback in school history to start in two bowl games.
Last season, Rice was 113th in the country in rushing, averaging 110.5 yards per game, but there should be improvement. Dean Connors is the leading returning rusher after tallying 771 yards and seven touchdowns. Connors was also a threat in the passing game. He was Rice’s second-leading receiver behind McCaffrey with 43 receptions for 403 yards and three scores.
Warner had a lot of success throwing to tight ends at Temple, and he will have a good target at Rice in Boden Groen, who was third on the team in receptions with 38 for 383 yards and three touchdowns.
The offensive line has plenty of size, led by graduate student Brant Banks, who started 13 games at guard, and led the team with 845 offensive snaps. He could see action at tackle. Ethan Onianwa has started 23 consecutive games at right tackle.
The Owls return an experienced defense and return their top three tacklers in safety Plae Wyatt (81 tackles), linebacker Myron Morrison (80), and safety Gabriel Taylor (59).
2024 Rice Football Season Prediction
I predict Rice will go Under its 6.5 win total and be victorious in six games and that the Owls won’t win the AAC title.
So much depends on how the Owls fare in their opener against Sam Houston, a team coming off a 3-9 season, but the Bearkats were winners of three of their past four games and appear to be improved. Rice needs to get off to a good start because the second half of the schedule is extremely difficult, including matchups at Tulane and Memphis, which are expected to be among the top teams in the AAC.
A key for improvement is doing a better job taking care of the ball. Rice was 128th in the FBS last season in turnover margin at minus-14. So much will also depend on how quickly Warner adjusts to a new system and whether a player or two can help make up for the lost production of McCaffrey.
