RICE OWLS NEWS

Matt Sykes - Scores game-winning touchdown Sykes had seven receptions (on nine targets) for 85 yards and one touchdown during Saturday's 29-27 win against Texas-San Antonio.

Impact Sykes caught an 18-yard touchdown with four seconds left in Saturday's game, a score which secured the Owls' first conference win of the season. He has now gained over 80 yards in each of his last three games and has at least six catches and at least nine targets in every game over that stretch. That consistency should give him a nice floor for the rest of the season.

OCTOBER 14 • ROTOWIRE

Dean Connors - Scores twice in win over UTSA Connors had eight carries for 27 yards and one touchdown and caught 5 of 9 targets for 109 yards and one touchdown during Saturday's 29-27 victory over Texas-San Antonio.

Impact Connors scored a pair of touchdowns Saturday, an eight-yard rush and a 69-yard reception, both in the third quarter. He now has seven touchdowns on the season. While his lack of rushing yards Saturday is a slight concern, his continued production through the air gives him a high floor every week.

OCTOBER 14 • ROTOWIRE

E.J. Warner - Productive in Saturday's win Warner was 25-for-39 passing for 347 yards and two touchdowns during Saturday's 29-27 victory over Texas-San Antonio. He also had five rushes for two yards with one touchdown.

Impact Warner had his best game of the season as he set a season-high with 347 passing yards and scored his first rushing touchdown of the season. He also threw the game-winning touchdown to Matt Sykes with four seconds remaining, earning the Owls' their first conference win of the season. He has thrown multiple touchdown passes in four of his last five games which gives him a solid floor on a weekly basis.

OCTOBER 14 • ROTOWIRE

Warner throws TD pass to Matt Sykes with 4 seconds left, Rice beats UTSA 29-27

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OCTOBER 13 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

How to Watch Rice vs. UTSA: Time, TV Channel, Live Stream – October 12, 2024

Learn which TV channel or how to live stream the Rice Owls vs. UTSA Roadrunners game, Saturday, Oct. 12.

OCTOBER 12 • DATA SKRIVE

UTSA vs. Rice Prediction, Odds, Picks - October 12, 2024

Preview the Oct. 12 matchup between the UTSA Roadrunners and Rice Owls with predictions, odds, over/under, spread, betting lines and more.

OCTOBER 10 • DATA SKRIVE

HBCU football player loses life in car accident Marcus Williams Jr. is being mourned by his HBCU family.

OCTOBER 8 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Boden Groen - DNP vs. UNC Charlotte Groen (undisclosed) did not play during Rice's 21-20 loss Saturday against UNC Charlotte.

Impact According to Matthew Bartlett of The Roost, Groen was not healthy Saturday, which is why Rice's team used Elijah Mojarro as its primary tight end then. Up next for Groen is a bye week followed by an Oct. 12 game against UTSA.

SEPTEMBER 30 • ROTOWIRE

Matt Sykes - Another productive day Sykes hauled in 8 of 14 targets for 97 yards during Saturday's 21-20 loss versus Charlotte.

Impact Sykes further established himself as EJ Warner's go-to target as he set season highs in receptions, targets and receiving yards in Saturday's win. He now has 24 targets in the last two weeks alone, which is volume very few players in the country are receiving. Although the Owls have a relatively tough conference schedule compared to their counterparts, Sykes should still be able to produce given his high volume.

SEPTEMBER 30 • ROTOWIRE

Elijah Mojarro - Scores in Saturday's loss Mojarro gathered in 4 of 5 targets for 73 yards and one touchdown during Saturday's 21-20 defeat against Charlotte.

Impact Mojarro scored his first touchdown of the season Saturday, a 41-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter. It marked his first career collegiate touchdown. He came into the game with just one catch for four yards, so it was truly surprising to see him breakout with 74 yards on five targets. Quarterback EJ Warner has found connections with tight ends throughout his collegiate career, so this could be the start of a productive connection.

SEPTEMBER 30 • ROTOWIRE

Dean Connors - Productive in Saturday's loss Connors compiled 14 rushes for 121 yards and caught 2 of 4 targets for 14 yards during Saturday's 21-20 loss versus Charlotte.

Impact Connors rushed for a season-high 121 yards Saturday, significantly more than his last two games combined. Connors has been able to produce at a high level against weaker run defenses, and he faces his fair share of those throughout the rest of the season. After a bye week he faces UTSA in Week 7, a team which has given up just 106 yards per game on the ground.

SEPTEMBER 30 • ROTOWIRE

E.J. Warner - Two touchdowns in narrow loss Warner completed 21 of 39 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns during Saturday's 21-20 defeat versus Charlotte. He also had four rushes for 24 yards.

Impact Warner was a bit inefficient Saturday as he completed a season-low 54 percent of his passes, however he threw for a season-high 254 yards and tossed two touchdowns for the third time in his last four games. He also did not throw an interception for the first time this season. Given how the season has gone for the Owls so far, Warner will likely be forced to throw the ball early and often which gives him a high floor, especially against weaker defenses in the AAC.

SEPTEMBER 30 • ROTOWIRE

Wilson scores in final minute to lift Charlotte past Rice 21-20 in AAC contest

Hahsaun Wilson scored on a 1-yard run with 47 seconds left to lift Charlotte to a 21-20 win over Rice in the 49ers American Athletic Conference opener

SEPTEMBER 29 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

How to Watch Rice vs. Charlotte: Time, TV Channel, Live Stream – September 28, 2024

Learn which TV channel or how to live stream the Rice Owls vs. Charlotte 49ers game, Saturday, Sept. 28.

SEPTEMBER 28 • DATA SKRIVE

Rice vs. Charlotte Prediction, Odds, Picks - September 28, 2024

Preview the Sept. 28 matchup between the Rice Owls and Charlotte 49ers with predictions, odds, over/under, spread, betting lines and more.

SEPTEMBER 26 • DATA SKRIVE

Matt Sykes - Back on track Saturday Sykes accrued six receptions (on 10 targets) for 82 yards and one touchdown during Saturday's 37-14 defeat versus Army.

Impact After a rough outing last week versus Houston, Sykes bounced back with season highs in receiving yards and targets. He also scored his second touchdown of the season, a 16-yard reception in the third quarter. Outside of running back Dean Connors, Sykes has established himself as E.J. Warner's favorite target which is a valuable role given how often the team has been throwing the ball.

SEPTEMBER 23 • ROTOWIRE

Dean Connors - Solid without touchdown Connors posted nine rushes for 51 yards and hauled in 8 of 12 targets for 31 yards during Saturday's 37-14 loss to Army.

Impact Connors failed to score a touchdown for the first time this season, but he still put together a nice performance. He gained 82 total yards, a mark he has hit in three of four games this season, and caught eight passes on a season-high 12 targets. Even though the Owls are not able to run the ball much given they fall into a deficit early in games, Connors' production in the passing game makes him a valuable asset regardless of the matchup.

SEPTEMBER 23 • ROTOWIRE

Christian Francisco - Catches TD in loss Francisco recorded one rush for three yards and gathered in all three targets for 24 yards and one touchdown during Saturday's 37-14 loss versus Army.

Impact Francisco caught his first touchdown of the season Saturday, a five-yard reception late in the fourth quarter. He now has 50 yards on five receptions in the last two games. However, he has only received one carry in each of the Owls' first four games, and with Dean Connors being productive in the passing game too, Francisco's floor and ceiling are limited.

SEPTEMBER 23 • ROTOWIRE

E.J. Warner - Inconsistent versus Army Warner was 28-for-43 passing for 235 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions during Saturday's 37-14 defeat to Army.

Impact Warner set a season high with 235 passing yards and tossed two touchdown passes Saturday, but he also threw two interceptions bringing him to six on the young season. It was a vast improvement on last week at Houston where he threw for just 50 yards, but it was still not a great performance. He faces a more favorable matchup Saturday versus Charlotte.

SEPTEMBER 23 • ROTOWIRE

Daily rushes for 3 scores, passes for 2 more, to lead Army over Rice 37-14

Bryson Daily ran for three touchdowns and passed for two more to lead Army over Rice 37-14 on Saturday

SEPTEMBER 21 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

How to Watch Army vs. Rice: Time, TV Channel, Live Stream – September 21, 2024

Learn which TV channel or how to live stream the Army Black Knights vs. Rice Owls game, Saturday, Sept. 21.

SEPTEMBER 20 • DATA SKRIVE

2024 College Football Week 4 predictions, best bets by Chris 'The Bear' Fallica

"The Bear" delivers his best bets for Week 4 of the college football season. Check out which games have caught his attention.

SEPTEMBER 19

Army vs. Rice Prediction, Odds, Picks - September 21, 2024

Preview the Sept. 21 matchup between the Army Black Knights and Rice Owls with predictions, odds, over/under, spread, betting lines and more...

SEPTEMBER 18 • DATA SKRIVE

Dean Connors - Lone bright spot in loss Connors logged 11 carries for 32 yards and one touchdown during Saturday's 33-7 defeat against Houston.

Impact Despite the team's loss, Connors had a decent outing that was saved by a four-yard touchdown run with one minute left in the game. He continued to be productive in the passing game too as he caught five passes, bringing him up to 18 through three games. Although the Rice offense has not looked great through three weeks, Connors has proved his ability to produce even when the rest of his team doesn't.

SEPTEMBER 15 • ROTOWIRE

E.J. Warner - Struggles in blowout loss Warner was 12-for-21 passing for 50 yards and one interception during Saturday's 33-7 loss to Houston.

Impact Warner had an extremely rough outing Saturday as he threw for just 50 yards and threw his fourth interception of the season. He was benched for the last two drives and backup Drew Devillier led a touchdown drive at the end of the game. While Warner will almost certainly keep the starting job, it was a very concerning outing for him.

SEPTEMBER 15 • ROTOWIRE