The 2022 Rice Owls football team represented Rice University as a member of Conference USA (C-USA) during the 2022 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They were led by head coach Mike Bloomgren, who was coaching his fifth season with the team. The Owls played their home games at the Rice Stadium in Houston, Texas.
In October 2021, Rice accepted the invitation to join the American Athletic Conference (AAC), scheduled to become a full-member on July 1, 2023. The 2022 season was expected to be the program's last season as a member of Conference USA.
The Owls finished their regular season with a 5–7 record, and became bowl eligible due to having the highest APR among FBS teams with 5–7 records.
Preseason
C-USA media day
The Conference USA media day was held on July 27 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. The Owls were predicted to finish tenth in the conference's preseason poll.
Media poll
|
Predicted finish
|
Team
|
1 |
UTSA
|
2 |
UAB
|
3 |
WKU
|
4 |
Florida Atlantic
|
5 |
North Texas
|
6 |
UTEP
|
7 |
Charlotte
|
8 |
Middle Tennessee
|
9 |
Louisiana Tech
|
10 |
Rice
|
11 |
FIU
|
Roster
Schedule
Rice and Conference USA announced the 2022 football schedule on March 30, 2022.
Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
---|
September 3 | 5:00 p.m. | at No. 14 USC* | | P12N | L 14–66 | 60,113 |
September 10 | 6:30 p.m. | McNeese State* | | ESPN3 | W 52–10 | 18,629 |
September 17 | 6:30 p.m. | Louisiana* | | ESPN+ | W 33–21 | 18,746 |
September 24 | 5:00 p.m. | at Houston* | | ESPN+ | L 27–34 | 26,377 |
October 1 | 6:30 p.m. | UAB | | ESPN+ | W 28–24 | 21,926 |
October 15 | 5:00 p.m. | at Florida Atlantic | | ESPN+ | L 14–17 | 21,465 |
October 22 | 2:00 p.m. | at Louisiana Tech | | ESPN+ | W 42–41 OT | 18,300 |
October 29 | 1:00 p.m. | Charlotte | | ESPN3 | L 23–56 | 18,187 |
| 6:00 p.m. | UTEP | | CBSSN | W 37–30 | 18,326 |
November 12 | 1:00 p.m. | at Western Kentucky | | ESPN+ | L 10–45 | 10,127 |
November 19 | 12:00 p.m. | UTSA | | ESPN+ | L 7–41 | 18,249 |
November 26 | 1:00 p.m. | at North Texas | | ESPN+ | L 17–21 | 15,688 |
December 17 | 4:45 p.m. | vs. Southern Miss* | | ESPN | L 24–38 | 20,512 |
|
Game summaries
At No.14 USC Trojans
Statistics
|
Rice
|
No. 14 USC
|
First downs |
14 |
27
|
Plays–yards |
62–280 |
58–538
|
Rushes–yards |
34–146 |
28–208
|
Passing yards |
134 |
330
|
Passing: comp–att–int |
14–28–4 |
25–30–0
|
Time of possession |
32:39 |
27:21
|
Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
Rice
|
Passing |
Wiley Green |
8/13, 69 yards, 1 INT
|
Rushing |
Cameron Montgomery |
6 carries, 99 yards
|
Receiving |
Luke McCaffrey |
5 receptions, 51 yards
|
No. 14 USC
|
Passing |
Caleb Williams |
19/22, 249yds, 2 TD
|
Rushing |
Austin Jones |
4 carries, 48 yards, 2 TD
|
Receiving |
Jordan Addison |
5 receptions, 54 yards, 2 TD
|
Scoring summary
|
Quarter
|
Time
|
Drive
|
Team
|
Scoring information
|
Score
|
Plays
|
Yards
|
TOP
|
Rice
|
No. 14 USC
|
1st
|
12:06
|
7
|
75
|
3:42
|
USC
|
Jordan Addison (#3) 5-yard touchdown reception from Caleb Williams (#13), Denis Lynch (#46) kick good
|
0
|
7
|
1st
|
3:12
|
16
|
74
|
8:09
|
Rice
|
Ari Broussard (#30) 1-yard touchdown run, Christian VanSickle (#31) kick good
|
7
|
7
|
2nd
|
15:00
|
9
|
84
|
3:56
|
USC
|
Austin Jones (#6) 4-yard touchdown run, Denis Lynch (#46) kick good
|
7
|
14
|
2nd
|
11:45
|
4
|
70
|
1:54
|
USC
|
Raleek Brown (#14) 14-yard touchdown run, Denis Lynch (#46) kick good
|
7
|
21
|
2nd
|
9:14
|
1
|
93
|
-
|
USC
|
Interception returned 93 yards for touchdown by Calen Bullock (#7), Denis Lynch (#46) kick good
|
7
|
28
|
2nd
|
2:20
|
10
|
75
|
6:30
|
Rice
|
Ari Broussard (#30) 2-yard touchdown run, Christian VanSickle (#31) kick good
|
14
|
28
|
2nd
|
0:00
|
11
|
67
|
1:35
|
USC
|
25-yard field goal by Denis Lynch (#46)
|
14
|
31
|
3rd
|
14:22
|
1
|
40
|
-
|
USC
|
Interception returned 40 yards for touchdown by Shane Lee (#53), Denis Lynch (#46) kick good
|
14
|
38
|
3rd
|
13:06
|
1
|
31
|
-
|
USC
|
Interception returned 31 yards for touchdown by Ralen Goforth (#10), Denis Lynch (#46) kick good
|
14
|
45
|
3rd
|
9:12
|
4
|
34
|
2:12
|
USC
|
Jordan Addison (#3) 3-yard touchdown reception from Caleb Williams (#13), Denis Lynch (#46) kick good
|
14
|
52
|
3rd
|
2:22
|
8
|
85
|
5:16
|
USC
|
Austin Jones (#6) 28-yard touchdown run, Denis Lynch (#46) kick good
|
14
|
59
|
4th
|
7:05
|
5
|
72
|
3:13
|
USC
|
Darwin Barlow (#22) 2-yard touchdown run, Denis Lynch (#46) kick good
|
14
|
66
|
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football.
|
14
|
66
|
|
Vs. McNeese State
McNeese State Cowboys (0–1) vs. Rice Owls (0–1)
Period |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Cowboys |
0 |
0 |
10 | 0 | 10 |
Owls |
10 |
21 |
14 | 7 | 52 |
at Rice Stadium • Houston, TX
- Date:
- Game time: 6:30 P.M CST
- Game attendance: 18,629
- Referee: Ed Ardito
- TV: ESPN3
Statistics
|
McNeese State
|
Rice
|
First downs |
14 |
26
|
Plays–yards |
51–263 |
74–487
|
Rushes–yards |
30–172 |
43–209
|
Passing yards |
91 |
278
|
Passing: comp–att–int |
8–21–2 |
21–31–0
|
Time of possession |
21:48 |
38:12
|
Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
McNeese State
|
Passing |
Know Kadum |
5/12, 65 yards, 1 INT
|
Rushing |
Deonta McMahon |
5 carries, 101 yards, 1 TD
|
Receiving |
Mason Pierce |
3 receptions, 37 yards
|
Rice
|
Passing |
TJ McMahon |
20/29, 274 yards, 4 TD
|
Rushing |
Ari Broussard |
17 carries, 71 yards, 1 TD
|
Receiving |
Bradley Rozner |
3 receptions, 101 yards, 2 TD
|
Scoring summary
|
Quarter
|
Time
|
Drive
|
Team
|
Scoring information
|
Score
|
Plays
|
Yards
|
TOP
|
McNeese State
|
Rice
|
1st
|
7:23
|
4
|
-1
|
0:57
|
Rice
|
28-yard field goal by Christian VanSickle (#31)
|
0
|
3
|
1st
|
4:38
|
4
|
35
|
1:35
|
Rice
|
Bradley Rozner (#2) 13-yard touchdown reception from TJ McMahon (#7), Christian VanSickle (#31) kick good
|
0
|
10
|
2nd
|
10:17
|
11
|
70
|
7:07
|
Rice
|
TJ McMahon (#7) 9-yard touchdown run, Christian VanSickle (#31) kick good
|
0
|
17
|
2nd
|
6:59
|
1
|
91
|
-
|
Rice
|
Interception returned 91 yards for touchdown by Gabe Taylor (#26), Christian VanSickle (#31) kick good
|
0
|
24
|
2nd
|
3:26
|
5
|
20
|
2:05
|
Rice
|
Ari Broussard (#30) 2-yard touchdown run, Christian VanSickle (#31) kick good
|
0
|
31
|
3rd
|
14:31
|
2
|
77
|
0:23
|
McNeese State
|
Deonta McMahon (#20) 62-yard touchdown run, Garrison Smith (#37) kick good
|
7
|
31
|
3rd
|
14:20
|
1
|
75
|
0:11
|
Rice
|
Bradley Rozner (#2) 75-yard touchdown reception from TJ McMahon (#7), Christian VanSickle (#31) kick good
|
7
|
38
|
3rd
|
9:35
|
6
|
80
|
2:57
|
Rice
|
Jack Bradley (#87) 17-yard touchdown reception from TJ McMahon (#7), Christian VanSickle (#31) kick good
|
7
|
45
|
3rd
|
3:10
|
7
|
60
|
1:41
|
McNeese State
|
23-yard field goal by Garrison Smith (#37)
|
10
|
45
|
4th
|
13:14
|
11
|
75
|
4:56
|
Rice
|
Juma Otoviano (#8) 15-yard touchdown reception from TJ McMahon (#7), Christian VanSickle (#31) kick good
|
10
|
52
|
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football.
|
10
|
52
|
|
Vs. Louisiana
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns (2–0) vs. Rice Owls (1–1)
Period |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Ragin' Cajuns |
7 |
7 |
0 | 7 | 21 |
Owls |
3 |
10 |
6 | 14 | 33 |
at Rice Stadium • Houston, TX
- Date:
- Game time: 6:30 P.M CST
- Game weather: 87 °F (31 °C) • Weather: Sunny • Wind: SE 10 MPH
- Game attendance: 18,746
- Referee: Scott Hardin
- TV announcers (ESPN+): David Saltzman (play-by-play), Chris Mycoskie (analyst)
Statistics
|
Louisiana
|
Rice
|
First downs |
9 |
26
|
Plays–yards |
43–175 |
80–449
|
Rushes–yards |
15–61 |
44–146
|
Passing yards |
114 |
303
|
Passing: comp–att–int |
13–28–1 |
25–36–3
|
Time of possession |
18:09 |
41:51
|
Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
Louisiana
|
Passing |
Ben Wooldridge |
6/14, 76 yards
|
Rushing |
Chris Smith |
6 carries, 39 yards, 1 TD
|
Receiving |
Michael Jefferson |
5 receptions, 53 yards
|
Rice
|
Passing |
TJ McMahon |
25/36, 303 yards, 3 TD, 3 INT
|
Rushing |
Ari Broussard |
19 carries, 49 yards, 1 TD
|
Receiving |
Luke McCaffrey |
10 receptions, 105 yards, 2 TD
|
Scoring summary
|
Quarter
|
Time
|
Drive
|
Team
|
Scoring information
|
Score
|
Plays
|
Yards
|
TOP
|
Louisiana
|
Rice
|
1st
|
7:17
|
7
|
33
|
2:42
|
Rice
|
23-yard field goal by Christian VanSickle (#31)
|
0
|
3
|
1st
|
2:47
|
1
|
54
|
-
|
Louisiana
|
Interception returned 54 yards for touchdown by Caleb Anderson (#11), Preston Stafford (#37) kick good
|
7
|
3
|
2nd
|
5:20
|
13
|
83
|
7:56
|
Rice
|
Luke McCaffrey (#10) 8-yard touchdown reception from TJ McMahon (#7), Christian VanSickle (#31) kick good
|
7
|
10
|
2nd
|
1:24
|
3
|
17
|
1:28
|
Louisiana
|
Terrence Williams (#23) 11-yard touchdown reception from Chandler Fields (#18), Preston Stafford (#37) kick good
|
14
|
10
|
2nd
|
0:01
|
9
|
60
|
1:19
|
Rice
|
31-yard field goal by Christian VanSickle (#31)
|
14
|
13
|
3rd
|
10:20
|
11
|
75
|
4:40
|
Rice
|
Bradley Rozner (#2) 12-yard touchdown reception from TJ McMahon (#7), 2-point pass incomplete
|
14
|
19
|
4th
|
11:25
|
10
|
65
|
6:07
|
Rice
|
Luke McCaffrey (#10) 6-yard touchdown reception from TJ McMahon (#7), 2-point pass good
|
14
|
27
|
4th
|
9:17
|
7
|
75
|
2:08
|
Louisiana
|
Chris Smith (#13) 22-yard touchdown run, Preston Stafford (#37) kick good
|
21
|
27
|
4th
|
2:59
|
11
|
70
|
6:14
|
Rice
|
Ari Broussard (#30) 2-yard touchdown run, 2-point pass incomplete
|
21
|
33
|
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football.
|
21
|
33
|
|
At Houston (Bayou Bucket Classic)
Rice at Houston
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Owls |
0 |
14 | 10 | 3 |
27 |
• Cougars |
7 |
3 | 14 | 10 |
34 |
- Date: September 24, 2022
- Location: TDECU Stadium (Houston, TX)
- Game start: 5:02 p.m. CDT
- Elapsed time: 3 hours and 28 minutes
- Game attendance: 26,377
- Game weather: 94 °F (34 °C) • Weather: Sunny
- Referee: Rodney Burnette
- TV announcers (ESPN+): Ted Emrich (play-by-play) and Taylor McHargue (analyst)
|
|
Scoring summary |
---|
| 1 | | | (, , ) | |
| | ( , , ) | |
| 2 | | | (, , ) | |
| | ( , , ) | |
| 3 | | | ( , , ) | |
| | ( , , ) | |
| 4 | | | ( , , ) | |
| | ( , , ) | |
| OT | | | ( , , ) | |
|
Pregame line |
Over/under
|
HOU –17.5 |
52
|
Statistics |
Rice
|
Houston
|
First downs |
22 |
19
|
Plays–yards |
65–424 |
58–427
|
Rushes–yards |
25–90 |
32–178
|
Passing yards |
334 |
249
|
Passing: Comp–Att–Int |
25–40–1 |
19–26–1
|
Time of possession |
29:55 |
30:05
|
Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
Rice |
Passing |
T. J. McMahon |
25/39, 334 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
|
Rushing |
Kobie Campbell |
1 carry, 34 yards
|
Receiving |
Bradley Rozner |
5 receptions, 123 yards
|
Houston |
Passing |
Clayton Tune |
19/26, 249 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
|
Rushing |
Ta'Zhawn Henry |
17 carries, 112 yards, 1 TD
|
Receiving |
Tank Dell |
7 receptions, 134 yards, 1 TD
|
UAB
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 |
Total |
Blazers
|
7
|
10
|
7
|
0 |
24 |
Owls
|
7
|
0
|
14
|
7 |
28 |
At Florida Atlantic
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 |
Total |
Rice Owls
|
14
|
0
|
0
|
0 |
14 |
FAU Owls
|
0
|
7
|
3
|
7 |
17 |
At Louisiana Tech
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 | OT |
Total |
Owls
|
0
|
7
|
14
|
14 | 7 |
42 |
Bulldogs
|
10
|
0
|
17
|
8 | 6 |
41 |
Statistics |
RICE |
LT
|
First downs |
24 |
19
|
Total yards |
487 |
373
|
Rushing yards |
279 |
144
|
Passing yards |
208 |
229
|
Turnovers |
3 |
1
|
Time of possession |
33:22 |
26:38
|
Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
Rice |
Passing |
T. J. McMahon |
16/27, 208 yards, 3 TD
|
Rushing |
Cameron Montgomery |
14 rushes, 87 yards
|
Receiving |
Luke McCaffrey |
10 receptions, 171 yards, 2 TD
|
Louisiana Tech |
Passing |
Matthew Downing |
12/24, 159 yards, 2 TD, INT
|
Rushing |
Marquis Crosby |
14 rushes, 87 yards
|
Receiving |
Tre Harris |
8 receptions, 92 yards, 3 TD
|
Charlotte
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 |
Total |
49ers
|
7
|
21
|
21
|
7 |
56 |
Owls
|
14
|
3
|
0
|
6 |
23 |
UTEP
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 |
Total |
Miners
|
7
|
10
|
3
|
10 |
30 |
Owls
|
10
|
10
|
7
|
10 |
37 |
At Western Kentucky
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 |
Total |
Owls
|
0
|
7
|
3
|
0 |
10 |
Hilltoppers
|
7
|
17
|
7
|
14 |
45 |
UTSA
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 |
Total |
Roadrunners
|
21
|
7
|
13
|
0 |
41 |
Owls
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
7 |
7 |
At North Texas
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 |
Total |
Owls
|
0
|
14
|
0
|
3 |
17 |
Mean Green
|
7
|
7
|
0
|
7 |
21 |
Statistics |
RICE |
UNT
|
First downs |
19 |
16
|
Total yards |
415 |
362
|
Rushing yards |
186 |
159
|
Passing yards |
229 |
203
|
Turnovers |
2 |
0
|
Time of possession |
35:43 |
24:17
|
Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
Rice |
Passing |
AJ Padgett |
13/22, 229 yards, TD, INT
|
Rushing |
Juma Otoviano |
14 rushes, 94 yards
|
Receiving |
Braylen Walker |
4 receptions, 77 yards, TD
|
North Texas |
Passing |
Austin Aune |
16/29, 203 yards, 2 TD
|
Rushing |
Ikaika Ragsdale |
17 rushes, 122 yards, TD
|
Receiving |
Ikaika Ragsdale |
5 receptions, 59 yards, TD
|
Vs. Southern Miss (LendingTree Bowl)
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 |
Total |
Owls
|
0
|
3
|
21
|
0 |
24 |
Golden Eagles
|
7
|
10
|
7
|
14 |
38 |