University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Rice
Huskies Head to RIce This Weekend
10/23/2025 2:55:00 PM | Football
Media Coverage
Television: ESPN+ (pxp) Ted Emrich (analyst) Charles Arbuckle (sideline) Smacker Miles
Radio: UConn Sports Network from Learfield Flagship Station -Â Fox Sports 97-9 FM (Hartford)
(pxp) Mike Crispino (color) Wayne Norman (sideline) Adam Giardino
Affiliates - WAVZ 1300 AM (New Haven), WGCH 1490 AM (Greenwich), WILI 1400 AM/95.3FM, (Willimantic); WICH 1310 AM/94.5 FM (Norwich-New London)
Online: The Varsity Network App
SIriusXM 384 and on the SiriusXM App
Live Stats: RiceOwls.com
Social Media: X: @UConnFootball Instagram: UConnFootball
Quick Hits:
The UConn Huskies have won four-straight and head back on the road this weekend with a trip to Houston to take on the Rice Owls on ESPN+.
This is the third-straight season the Huskies and Owls have matched-up with UConn taking the first two meetings. The Huskies went to Rice in 2023 and posted a 38-31 win and then won last fall 17-10 at home. The two schools have a future game scheduled for the 2028 season in East Hartford, CT. The Huskies are 5-3 against teams from the American Athletic Conference since leaving the conference and becoming an independent starting in the 2021 season. UConn has three games against the AAC this season, this weekend against Rice, hosting UAB and heading to Florida Atlantic for the season finale.
The Huskies are coming off a 38-23 win at Boston College last week, their fourth-straight win. The Huskies are riding their longest winning streak under head coach Jim Mora and the longest since the 2010 season when UConn won five-straight to close the year on the way to an 8-5 campaign. A win on Saturday over the Owls will give the Huskies bowl eligibility for the second-straight season and the third time in the four seasons under Coach Mora. The last time UConn was bowl eligible in back-to-back seasons was the 2009 and 2010 seasons.
The win at BC last week marked the Huskies first road win over their New England rivals as well as the first road win for UConn over a power conference opponent since the 2012 season when they won at Louisville and at Maryland.
Last Meeting vs. Rice... October 26, 2024 - UConn 17 Rice 10 - E. Hartford, CT
The UConn defense held Rice to 178 total yards including just 88 yards passing on the way to a 17-10 win over the Owls at home in 2024. The Huskies limited the Owls to just three points on offense while forcing eight three-and-outs and holding Rice to just two-for-16 on third down. UConn finished with nine tackles for loss, including two sacks, and had 11 pass break-ups in a dominating defensive effort. On the flip side, UConn's offense struggled to get going, being shutout in the first half for just the second time on the season, the last being the season-opener at Maryland. UConn had 18 yards rushing at the half, turning it over twice that led to a Rice field goal and 3-0 first quarter lead. The rushing attack had 30 yards on 23 carries early in the third quarter before running back Durell Robinson kick-started the UConn attack. On the first play of the team's second drive of the second half, the r-freshman back blew through the line of scrimmage and then up the right sideline untouched for a 68-yard touchdown run to get the Huskies on the board and a lead they would never let go of. Robinson would go on to carry it 15 times for 132 yards in the win. UConn extended their lead to 14-3 at 10:15 in the fourth quarter as running back Cam Edwards had a four-yard score. After a Chris Freeman field goal with 3:40 left in the game put UConn up 17-3, the Owls got the ensuing kick-off and Quinton Jackson ripped off a 100-yard return to pay-dirt, pulling the Owls within 17-10. The Owl defense was able to get the ball back to the offense but with just 22 seconds left and on their own nine-yard line. After a Pryce Yates sack, the Huskies forced a fumble on the final play to end the game.
Scouting the Owls... The Rice Owls are back in action after their bye week as they host the Huskies for the first of four-straight at home. The Owls are 3-4 on the season and 1-3 in The American, coming in having lost three-straight and off a 61-13 loss to UTSA. The Owls are under the director of first year head coach Scott Abell, who was hired after seven seasons at Davidson. Rice is in the top-20 nationally running the ball this season, averaging 215.4 yards per game. Quinton Jackson and Daelen Alexander lead the rushing attack, both averaging over 5.0 yards per carry. Jackson has carried it 96 times for 487 yards (5.10 ypg) and three scores. Alexander has 370 yards on 63 carries (5.90 ypg) and three touchdowns. Quarterback Chase Jenkins has run it 80 times for 275 yards and a team-best four scores. Jenkins has been asked to throw it just 89 times this season but is completing 67.4 percent and has four touchdown throws. On defense, linebacker Andrew Awe is the team's top-tackler with 53 stops on the season.
UConn vs. The American... UConn is 5-3 against teams from the American Athletic Conference since becoming an independent starting in the 2021 season. UConn has three games against the AAC this season, traveling to Rice, hosting UAB and heading to Florida Atlantic for the season finale. The Huskies went 4-0 against their former league last season, beating Florida Atlantic, 48-14, Temple, 29-20, Rice, 17-10, all at home, and UAB, 31-23, on the road. UConn was 1-1 against their former conference in 2023, winning at Rice but falling at home to USF. In 2021, UConn was 0-2, falling at UCF 49-17, and falling at home to nationally ranked Houston, 45-17 when the two schools were still members of the conference. The Huskies were a member of the AAC from 2013 through 2019.
