Rice defeats Houston Christian 31-3 in season opener at Rice Stadium

Rice opened its 2026 season with a 31-3 victory over Houston Christian on Saturday at Rice Stadium in Houston. The Owls relied on a heavy ground attack, recording 465 rushing yards on 70 attempts. Quinton Jackson scored two rushing touchdowns, while D'Andre Hardeman and Gael Ochoa added one each. Houston Christian managed only a 42-yard field goal from Lukasz Smolen in the first quarter, representing the team's lone score of the night. The game, which was delayed 20 minutes due to lightning, marked the first meeting between the two local programs. Rice head coach Scott Abell became the first coach in over 30 years at the school to win his first two season openers. The Owls now prepare for a road game against No. 4 Notre Dame next Saturday.

• 4:11 AMYahoo Sports — Rice's ground assault too much as Owls roll past Houston Christian to start season