Since the start of the 2015 season, the Rice Owls only have attained six wins one time.
2025 represented a rebuild season for the program, as Rice made a splash hire of Scott Abell, who previously worked wonders on academic powers at the Division III and FCS levels, most recently turning Davidson College into a perennial FCS playoff contender. Abell’s rebuild didn’t require too much time to materialize as the Owls are enjoying one of their best seasons in the past decade.
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On Saturday, Rice stymied UAB’s offense in a 24-17 result, improving to 5-5 in the coach’s debut year. The Owls now sit one win away from bowl eligibility after logging five wins for just the third time since 2016.
Rice trailed 17-10 at halftime but coasted smoothly to the finish, as its domineering defense pitched a second half shutout. UAB never crossed the Rice 30-yard line on six second half possessions — punting twice, turning it over on downs three times, and simply running out of time on a last-second heave to the end zone. Rice played an aggressive style defense which produced five sacks and 11 tackles for loss, regularly invading the Blazer backfield from start to finish. Inside linebacker Andrew Awe led the charge with a team-high seven tackles and two sacks as the Owls held their fourth opponent below 20 points this season.
Meanwhile, Rice’s offense enjoyed two lengthy third quarter drives that resulted in 10 points, allowing the Owls to jump ahead of the Blazers during the defense’s domination. Rice took a lead in the early third quarter when quarterback Chase Jenkins faked a sweep on an option concept and found Aaron Turner on a screen out of the H-back position. The next drive, Enock Gota sunk a 38-yard field goal to give the Owls’ seven points of cushion entering the final frame.
Jenkins wound up with two touchdown passes on an 11-of-15, 41-yard showing, keeping things efficient in the short-throw game. The quarterback also added 56 of the team’s 191 rushing yards — a category which was led by running back Quinton Jackson’s 81. While UAB out-gained Rice 315-232 and won the turnover battle 1-0, one significant equalizer was penalties. The Blazers were flagged 11 times for 95 yards while the Owls were assessed three penalties for 22.
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UAB’s offense finished drives significantly better in the first half, notching points on three of five series before the break. Guided by quarterback Ryder Burton — making his second start of the season after previously knocking off a ranked Memphis squad — delivered two first half passing touchdowns in a 18-of-34, 213-yard performance.
UAB (3-6, 1-4 American) is now on the brink of missing a bowl game for the third-straight season. The Blazers are 1-2 under interim Alex Mortensen, still looking to recapture the magic from that massive upset over Memphis on Oct. 18. The Blazers’ struggles away from Birmingham continued Saturday, and the program has now dropped 17-consecutive road games — with the last win occurring Nov. 26, 2022 at Louisiana Tech back in UAB’s Conference USA tenure.
Rice (5-5, 2-4 American) is one victory away from bowl eligibility in Abell’s first season, but the road to a sixth victory won’t be easy. A bye week awaits in Week 12, and then American Conference contenders North Texas and South Florida loom on the November schedule. Rice aims to disrupt the conference title picture to capture that elusive sixth win as the program remains in search of its first winning season in 11 years.
