Rice Football 2026 Preview: Can the Owls Rebuild on the Fly?
Rice is heading into the 2026 season with more questions than answers-and that’s not uncommon for a program trying to bounce back after a wave of departures. Head coach Scott Abell enters his second year in charge facing a full-scale rebuild, and the challenge is clear: how do you stay competitive in the American Athletic Conference when you’re replacing the bulk of your starters on both sides of the ball?
Last season, Rice finished 5-8 overall and 2-6 in conference play, capping the year with a lopsided 41-10 loss to Texas State in the Armed Forces Bowl. That bowl appearance was a silver lining in an otherwise up-and-down season, and it came thanks in large part to a veteran-heavy roster. Now, most of those vets are gone, and Abell and his staff are tasked with quickly developing new leaders while integrating a wave of transfer talent.
Let’s break down where the Owls stand heading into 2026.
Offense: A Backfield to Build Around
Returning Starters: RB Quinton Jackson, WR Payton Matthews, RT Luke Miller
Key Departures: QB Chase Jenkins, WRs Drayden Dickmann & Aaron Turner, TE Micah Bennett, Four Starting Offensive Linemen
The offense took a hit-there’s no sugarcoating it. Between graduation and the transfer portal, Rice lost its starting quarterback, top wideouts, and nearly the entire offensive line. But there’s one name that gives the Owls a foundation to build on: Quinton Jackson.
Jackson was a workhorse last season, rushing for 889 yards on 180 carries (4.9 YPC) and finding the end zone six times. He’s a tough, physical runner who thrives between the tackles and rarely goes down on first contact. If Rice is going to stay afloat offensively, it’ll be on Jackson’s shoulders early and often.
He’ll be joined by fellow back D’Andre Hardeman Jr., who added 325 yards and two scores of his own last year. Together, they give Rice a reliable one-two punch in the backfield.
The passing game, though, is a different story. With the departure of Jenkins at quarterback and the loss of top targets like Turner and Dickmann, the Owls are starting fresh. Payton Matthews is the lone returning starter at receiver, and while his numbers were limited (4 catches, 93 yards), he showed big-play ability with an eye-popping 23.3 yards per catch.
Up front, Luke Miller brings some stability. He’s logged 13 career starts and finished last season at left tackle, a position he’s likely to hold down again in 2026. But the rest of the line is brand new, and that’s a major concern in a conference where defensive fronts can be relentless.
Defense: Starting Over Almost Everywhere
Returning Starters: DE Joseph Mutombo, DT Dillan Botts, CB Jerrick Harper
Key Departures: NT Blake Boenisch, LB Ty Morris, S Marcus Williams, LB Andrew Awe, FS Jack Kane, CB Amari Porter
If the offense is rebuilding, the defense is practically starting from scratch. Only three starters return from last year’s unit: Mutombo, Botts, and Harper. That trio brings some experience, but the rest of the depth chart will be filled with new faces.
Mutombo and Botts combined for just 28 tackles and two sacks last season, but they’ll be counted on to anchor the defensive line. Harper, meanwhile, returns at corner after recording 27 tackles and two pass breakups.
The losses at linebacker and in the secondary are particularly tough. Ty Morris (88 tackles, 2.5 sacks) and Marcus Williams (67 tackles, 5 pass breakups) were playmakers who hit the portal, while others like Andrew Awe and Jack Kane exhausted their eligibility.
Defensive coordinator John Kay has his work cut out for him. The key will be how quickly the new additions can gel-and there are plenty of them.
Transfer Portal Additions: A New Core Arrives
Rice was aggressive in the portal, and they had to be.
On Offense, the big name is quarterback Jaccuri Brown, who transfers in from UCF. At 6'4", 220 pounds, Brown brings a dual-threat dimension to the offense and fits the mold of what Abell wants under center. He’s a physical runner with a strong arm, and if he can get comfortable quickly, he could be the spark this offense needs.
The Owls also added wide receivers Barry Jackson Jr. (Cincinnati) and Max Mosey (Holy Cross), along with tight end Preston Zinter, a former linebacker from Notre Dame who’s making the switch to offense. Zinter has a chance to make an immediate impact, especially with the departure of Bennett at tight end.
Center Leo Bluhm (Yale) comes in to help solidify the interior of the offensive line, and his experience will be vital in keeping Brown upright.
On Defense, Rice added a handful of players who could step in as day-one starters. Safety Koa Akui (Sacramento State) is one to watch.
He racked up 65 tackles, six pass breakups, and five interceptions last season and has a nose for the football. AJ Brown (UAB) is another veteran safety who brings three years of experience and a physical presence in the back end.
Up front, defensive end Tariq May (Eastern Washington) and linebacker Jesus Machado (Houston) will be asked to contribute early, while cornerback Zach Cody (Coastal Carolina) adds depth and experience to a thin secondary.
The Road Ahead
Rice’s 2026 schedule hasn’t been released yet, but the path won’t be easy. The American Athletic Conference remains one of the toughest Group of Five leagues in the country, with teams like Tulane (a 2025 playoff team), Memphis, and Navy all posing serious challenges.
With only six returning starters across the board, this season is going to be about growth and development. The coaching staff will lean heavily on portal additions, and the hope is that the mix of returning veterans and new faces can find chemistry quickly.
It’s a rebuild, no doubt-but it’s also an opportunity. If Brown can settle in at quarterback and Jackson continues to produce on the ground, Rice has the pieces to be competitive. It may not be a breakout year, but it could be the foundation for something stronger down the line.
For now, it’s all about taking the next step.