Owls seek bowl eligibility
There is plenty at stake in Rice’s regular-season finale in a matchup of Owls. Foremost being, a Rice win makes the team bowl eligible. Prior to the American Athletic Conference game, 17 players will be saluted for Senior Day. Former Rice assistant Tom Herman is in his first season as head coach at Florida Atlantic (4-7, 3-4), coming off a 24-8 defeat to Tulane that extended its losing streak to three games. Rice (5-6, 3-4), under sixth-year coach Mike Bloomgren, won at Charlotte 28-7 last week, ending a three-game skid.
Here are 5 things to watch at Rice Stadium:
Win and get in
Rice does not want to finish its regular season like it did a year ago, in defeat. Needing a victory to reach six wins last season, the Owls lost 21-17 at North Texas to finish 5-7 in their regular season. The Owls prefer not to get a bowl invite from the back door like in 2022, getting in because they had the highest Academic Progress Rate among teams with five wins. They want to earn this one and become bowl eligible, and that is by taking care of business on the field against FAU.
Daniels uncertain
Quarterback JT Daniels has missed the past two games with a head injury after starting Rice’s first nine games, putting up big numbers — 2,443 yards and 21 touchdowns. He has not taken snaps in practice this week. Bloomgren said that if Daniels is healthy enough to play, he will. If not, redshirt freshman A.J. Padgett will make his fifth career start. Offensive coordinator Marques Tuiasosopo has designed plays for true freshman quarterback Chase Jenkins. And do not be surprised if leading receiver Luke McCaffrey takes snaps out of the wildcat formation.
Rice defense rolling
Defense was a contributing factor for Rice’s victory last week, holding a Charlotte offense that averaged 411 yards of offense in its two previous games to only 158. Bloomgren said the Owls had their best week of practice this season under defensive coordinator Brian Smith in preparing for Charlotte. In-game communication resulted in the Owls having their best overall defensive performance against the 49ers since shutting down nationally ranked Marshall in 2020.
“Their film studies are at a different level now,” Bloomgren said. “They are doing all the right things that you want as a coach. It’s so nice when that shows up on the field.”
De’Braylon Carroll leads the team with 26 total pressures and 19 hurries. Coleman Coco and Josh Pearcy have 24 total pressures each. Going up against FAU’s experienced offensive line will be a challenge. Senior offensive lineman Marquice Robinson is part of a starting five that has started every 2023 game, one of only nine FBS programs to accomplish that. Robinson is one game shy of tying the program’s games played number at 60.
Run game improved
For a good portion of the season, Rice ranked last among 14 AAC teams in rushing yards per game. The Owls have moved to 12th in that category. Rice ran for 240 yards against a top-50 rush defense in Charlotte, with Dean Connors netting 184, an average of 9.7 yards per carry. Offensive linemen Clay Servin, Brant Banks, Braedon Nutter, Lavel Dumont and Ethan Onianwa are opening holes.
FAU will try to counter Rice’s run game with its large, experienced defensive line. Three of four line starters played against Rice last year, including Evan Anderson, listed at 6-3, 355 pounds. He is explosive and wreaks havoc on opponents, as does 6-3, 280-pound tackle Latrell Jean.
FAU’s star power
Florida Atlantic does a great job making use of its top players. Dynamic junior receiver LaJohntay Wester, who has led the nation wire-to-wire in receptions, holds 31 school records. He has been targeted 145 times this season, catching 103 balls for 1,124 yards. On special teams, Wester averages 21.5 yards per punt return. He was on the team last year, but Bloomgren vaguely remembers him.
“But this year, you can’t turn on a single one of their films without noticing,” Bloomgren said. “He is so exceptional.”
Since Daniel Richardson took over the starting quarterback position, he has led FAU to a 3-3 record. The 5-10 Richardson has thrown for 1,908 yards and 12 touchdowns.