5 THINGS TO WATCH

Throughout the offseason, a point of emphasis for the Rice football program was playing more consistently and getting bowl eligible. Playing in a bowl game is something the Owls have failed to do the past seven years. Here are five things to watch this season:

GREEN TO START AT QB

1 Wiley Green has emerged from training camp as the No. 1 quarterback and is scheduled to get the start in the Owls’ opener against Southern California on Sept. 3 at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Green will be the first quarterback to start consecutive openers for the Owls since Driphus Jackson in 2014-15.

GOOD RECEIVER ROOM HAS GOTTEN BETTER

2 The switch of Luke McCaffrey, who started three games at quarterback, to receiver in the spring has only made a position of strength even stronger. The decision was made solely by McCaffrey. Tulsa transfer

Sam Crawford should be heavily targeted and will help offset the loss of Jake Bailey to SMU. Cedric Patterson emerged with six touchdown receptions, averaging 15 yards per catch.

CAN THE RUN GAME SET UP THE BIG PLAY?

3 Even though Rice’s bread and butter has been to pound the ball, eat up clock, and try to tire out the defense, there’s an emphasis this season on more explosive plays. Ari Broussard rushed for a team-best 569 yards. A big part of the responsibility of moving the ball will come from linemen Ethan Onianwa, Braedon Nutter, Isaac Klarkowski, Shea Baker and Clay Servin.

CONTINUED GROWTH OF ENECHUKWU

4 Redshirt junior Ikenna Enechukwu (6-4, 269) was a menace to opposing offenses in 2021, managing a team-best 4½ sacks in addition to 48 tackles, 8 for loss, in Rice’s three-man front. A pairing in the line of Enechukwu and De’Braylon Carroll will make the Owls formidable. More responsibility will be placed on Enechukwu this season to make plays.

SPECIAL TEAMS NEED TO PICK UP

5 By making only 45.5 percent of their field-goal attempts last year, the Owls had the second-to-last percentage in FBS, making good on only 2-of-7 from more than 30 yards. Christian VanSickle was 4-of-7. To create competition, Washington transfer Tim Horn has been brought in.