No. 3 Notre Dame hosts Rice for upcoming home opener at Notre Dame Stadium

No. 3 Notre Dame prepares to host Rice at Notre Dame Stadium this Saturday. The matchup marks the first meeting between the two programs since August 30, 2014, when Notre Dame won 48-17. Rice, led by second-year head coach Scott Abell, enters the contest coming off a season-opening win over Houston Christian. Abell, who previously coached at the high school, Division III, and FCS levels, is guiding his team into its first road game against a top-five opponent under his tenure. The Owls run a run-first, no-huddle offense that produced 458 yards and three touchdowns on the ground in their most recent outing. Abell acknowledged the difficulty of the assignment and the national stage, noting that his program is preparing for the specific challenges of facing a top-five opponent.

• 8:53 PMYahoo Sports — Notre Dame vs. Rice: How the head coaches stack up against each other