# 2020 Rice Owls football team

The 2020 Rice Owls football team represented Rice University in the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Owls played their home games at Rice Stadium in Houston, Texas, and competed in the West Division of Conference USA (C–USA). They were led by third-year head coach Mike Bloomgren.

## Preseason
### Award watch lists

Listed in the order that they were released
| Award | Player | Position | Year |
| Chuck Bednarik Award | Blaze Alldredge | LB | SR |
| Fred Biletnikoff Award | Bradley Rozner | WR | RS JR |
| Butkus Award | Blaze Alldredge | LB | SR |
| Bronko Nagurski Trophy | Blaze Alldredge | LB | SR |
| Paul Hornung Award | Austin Trammell | WR | SR |

### C-USA media poll

The preseason poll will be released prior to the Conference USA media days sometime during summer 2020 via a virtual conference due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
West Division :
* Team
* Louisiana Tech
* North Texas
* Rice
* Southern Miss
* UAB
* UTEP
* UTSA
East Division :
* Team
* Charlotte
* FIU
* Florida Atlantic
* Marshall
* Middle Tennessee
* Old Dominion
* Western Kentucky

### Preseason All–C-USA teams

The Preseason team will be released during the Virtual Media Day to be held in the summer of 2020.

### Recruiting class

References:
College recruiting information :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | 40$^‡$ | Commit date |
| Jaren Banks Linebacker | Junction City, OR | Sheldon HS New Mexico Military | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 210 lb (95 kg) | – | Feb 6, 2020 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Kobie Campbel Running Back | Missouri City, TX | Hightower HS | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) | 165 lb (75 kg) | – | Dec 18, 2019 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Michael "Mike" Collins Quarterback | New Canaan, CT | New Canaan HS TCU | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 225 lb (102 kg) | – | Dec 18, 2019 |
| Star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: N/A 247Sports: ESPN: N/A |||||||
| Jordan Dunbar Cornerback | Tarrytown, NY | Iona Prep | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | – | Dec 18, 2019 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Sean Fresch Athlete | Austin, TX | Lyndon B. Johnson HS | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) | 170 lb (77 kg) | – | Dec 18, 2019 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Khalan Griffin Running Back | Tyler, TX | Chapel Hill HS | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) | – | Dec 18, 2019 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Geron Hargon Linebacker | Shreveport, LA | Captain Shreve HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 220 lb (100 kg) | – | Dec 18, 2019 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Nate Kamper Tight End | Fort Hood, TX | Killeen HS | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 210 lb (95 kg) | – | Dec 18, 2019 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Cole Latos Defensive Lineman | Allen, TX | Allen HS | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 270 lb (120 kg) | – | Dec 18, 2019 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Mike Leone Offensive Lineman | Bryn Mawr, PA | The Hun School | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 270 lb (120 kg) | – | Dec 18, 2019 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Andrew Mason Wide Receiver | Spring Hill, TN | Ravenwood HS | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 155 lb (70 kg) | – | Dec 18, 2019 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| TJ McMahon Quarterback | Anaheim, CA | Servite HS Cerritos College | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | – | Dec 18, 2019 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Lamont Narcisse Cornerback | Pasadena, CA | Calabasas HS | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 176 lb (80 kg) | – | Feb 6, 2020 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Braedon Nutter Offensive Lineman | Tomball, TX | Tomball Memorial HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 290 lb (130 kg) | – | Dec 18, 2019 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Trey Phillippi Offensive Tackle | Montgomery, TX | Montgomery HS | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 260 lb (120 kg) | – | Dec 18, 2019 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Jalen Reeves Defensive Lineman | Hollywood, FL | NSU University School | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 210 lb (95 kg) | – | Dec 18, 2019 |
| Star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: N/A 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Collin Riccitelli Kicker | San Marcos, CA | Carlsbad HS Stanford | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 198 lb (90 kg) | – | Feb 6, 2020 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Adam Sheriff Offensive Lineman | Prosper, TX | Prosper HS Butler CC | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 285 lb (129 kg) | – | Dec 18, 2019 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Gabriel "Gabe" Taylor Defensive Back | Miami, FL | Gulliver Prep | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | – | Feb 6, 2020 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Jovaun Woolford Offensive Lineman | Des Plaines, IL | Maine West HS Colgate | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 285 lb (129 kg) | – | Dec 18, 2019 |
| Star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A ESPN: N/A |||||||
| Plae Wyatt Safety | McKinney, TX | Boyd HS | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) | – | Dec 18, 2019 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||

## Schedule

Rice had games scheduled against Lamar, Louisiana Tech, LSU, UTEP, and UTSA which were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| October 24 | 2:30 p.m. | Middle Tennessee | Rice StadiumHouston, TX | ESPN3 | L 34–40 $^{2OT}$ | 0 |
| October 31 | 2:00 p.m. | at Southern Miss | M. M. Roberts StadiumHattiesburg, MS | ESPN3 | W 30–6 | 0 |
| November 21 | 1:00 p.m. | at North Texas | Apogee StadiumDenton, TX | ESPN3 | L 17–27 | 5,976 |
| December 5 | 11:00 a.m. | at No. 21 Marshall | Joan C. Edwards StadiumHuntington, WV | ESPN+ | W 20–0 | 10,429 |
| December 12 | 11:00 a.m. | UAB | Rice StadiumHouston, TX | ESPN3 | L 16–21 | 2,000 |
| Rankings from AP Poll and CFP Rankings after November 24 released prior to gameAll times are in Central time |||||||

## Game summaries
### Middle Tennessee

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
| • Blue Raiders | 0 | 14 | 17 | 3 | 6 | 40 |
| Owls | 6 | 7 | 6 | 14 | 0 | 33 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| RICE −4 | 48.5 |
| Statistics | Middle Tennessee | Rice |
| First downs | 22 | 26 |
| Total yards | 451 | 425 |
| Rushing yards | 118 | 183 |
| Passing yards | 333 | 242 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 27:03 | 32:57 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Middle Tennessee | Passing | Asher O'Hara | 24/33, 333 yards, 2 TDs |
| Middle Tennessee | Rushing | Asher O'Hara | 22 carries, 69 yards, 2 TDs |
| Middle Tennessee | Receiving | CJ Windham | 7 receptions, 109 yards, 1 TD |
| Rice | Passing | Mike Collins | 18/35, 242 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT |
| Rice | Rushing | Juma Otoviano | 20 carries, 84 yards |
| Rice | Receiving | Austin Trammell | 3 receptions, 76 yards, 2 TDs |
The game was particularly notable for the occurrence of a rare "quadruple doink," in which Rice kicker Collin Riccitelli's field goal attempt during the first overtime period hit the right upright, the crossbar, the left upright and the crossbar again before bouncing back into the field of play as no good.

### At Southern Miss

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Owls | 3 | 20 | 0 | 7 | 30 |
| Eagles | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| RICE −1 | 59 |
| Statistics | Rice | Southern Miss |
| First downs | 22 | 11 |
| Total yards | 412 | 269 |
| Rushing yards | 179 | 100 |
| Passing yards | 233 | 169 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 36:52 | 23:08 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Rice | Passing | Mike Collins | 12/17, 233 yards, 4 TDs |
| Rice | Rushing | Juma Otoviano | 25 carries, 111 yards |
| Rice | Receiving | Austin Trammell | 7 receptions, 143 yards, 3 TDs |
| Southern Miss | Passing | Jack Abraham | 12/17, 112 yards, 1 INT |
| Southern Miss | Rushing | Frank Gore Jr. | 11 carries, 71 yards |
| Southern Miss | Receiving | Antoine Robinson | 3 receptions, 41 yards |

### At North Texas

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Owls | 10 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
| • Mean Green | 0 | 14 | 3 | 10 | 27 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| UNT –1.5 | 65 |
| Statistics | Rice | North Texas |
| First downs | 23 | 17 |
| Total yards | 376 | 389 |
| Rushing yards | 49 | 269 |
| Passing yards | 327 | 120 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 36:25 | 23:35 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Rice | Passing | Mike Collins | 23/34, 327 yards, 2 TDs |
| Rice | Rushing | Khalan Griffin | 20 carries, 72 yards |
| Rice | Receiving | Austin Trammell | 6 receptions, 116 yards, 1 TD |
| North Texas | Passing | Jason Bean | 9/20, 120 yards, 1 TD |
| North Texas | Rushing | DeAndre Torrey | 19 carries, 102 yards, 1 TD |
| North Texas | Receiving | Austin Ogunmakin | 3 receptions, 60 yards |

### At Marshall

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Owls | 7 | 3 | 10 | 0 | 20 |
| No. 21 Thundering Herd | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| MARSH –23.5 | 46.5 |
| Statistics | Rice | Marshall |
| First downs | 17 | 19 |
| Total yards | 213 | 245 |
| Rushing yards | 127 | 80 |
| Passing yards | 86 | 165 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 5 |
| Time of possession | 36:26 | 23:34 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Rice | Passing | JoVoni Johnson | 10/14, 86 yards |
| Rice | Rushing | Ari Broussard | 19 carries, 62 yards |
| Rice | Receiving | Jake Bailey | 7 receptions, 57 yards |
| Marshall | Passing | Grant Wells | 18/35, 165 yards, 5 INTs |
| Marshall | Rushing | Brenden Knox | 20 carries, 76 yards |
| Marshall | Receiving | Talik Keaton | 7 receptions, 48 yards |

### UAB

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Blazers | 0 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 21 |
| Owls | 3 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 16 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| UAB –7 | 42.5 |
| Statistics | UAB | Rice |
| First downs | 13 | 20 |
| Total yards | 354 | 232 |
| Rushing yards | 137 | 66 |
| Passing yards | 217 | 166 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 22:42 | 37:18 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| UAB | Passing | Tyler Johnson III | 9/18, 217 yards, 2 TDs |
| UAB | Rushing | Tyler Johnson III | 7 carries, 41 yards |
| UAB | Receiving | Myron Mitchell | 1 reception, 63 yards, 1 TD |
| Rice | Passing | JoVoni Johnson | 17/23, 139 yards, 1 TD |
| Rice | Rushing | Khalan Griffin | 14 carries, 34 yards |
| Rice | Receiving | Jake Bailey | 7 receptions, 72 yards |