Owl Droppings ahead of Saturday's Game

[Aaron Carrara]

Saturday's game at DKR will mark the 96th meeting between the Texas Longhorns and the Rice Owls, with the Longhorns holding a commanding 73-21-1 all-time advantage against their former Southwest Conference foe.  Despite the road loss to Arkansas in a game in which the Longhorns' vulnerabilities were manifested, expect Rice to have their work cut out for them in their quest for an upset win.  Texas has won the last 14 straight games against the Owls, who haven't beaten the Longhorns since 1994 and haven't won in Austin since 1965.

GAME NOTES

• The Owls return experience on both sides of the ball this season, with the offense bringing back 9 starters and the defense bringing back 10 (86% of its starters).
• The Owls are 0-2 to start the 2021 season, losing at Arkansas 38-17 and to Houston 44-7 in the Bayou Bucket
• The Rice quarterback situation is similar to Texas' in that they will have two quarterbacks ready to play on Saturday.  Nebraska transfer and redshirt freshman Luke McCaffrey will get the start for Mike Bloomgren's squad but it's likely redshirt sophmore Wiley Green will make an appearance also. They both played in the opener against Arkansas but McCaffrey played exclusively last week against the Cougars but threw three interceptions.
• While Steve Sarkisian and Mike Bloomgren have never met on the field as head coaches, they are familiar with one another in different roles.  Bloomgren held a series of offensive coaching positions for the Stanford Cardinal, including OC, when Sarkisian was head coach at Washington and subsequently USC. 
• The Rice offensive identity largely remains the same as it has in years past, The Owls are run-heavy, fullback-utilizing, and aren't afraid of the option.  Bloomgren brought former QB Marques Tuiasosopo on as the new OC this year after former OC Jerry Mack left to take the RB coaching job for the Tennessee Volunteers. Tuiasosopo's job is the infuse the passing game with some life, so expect McCaffrey air it out every now and then.
• TEXAS INJURY UPDATE:  Sophmore DB Jahdae Barron is out for approximately three weeks with a knee sprain.  WR Troy Omeire will miss Saturday's contest against Rice.  TE Jared Wiley is available and will play on Saturday.
• Junior Casey Thompson will start for the Longhorns under center against the Owls. Saturday's game will mark the first start for Thompson since his senior year at Newcastle High School in Oklahoma (2017).
• Hudson Card will play, as indicated by head coach Steve Sarkisian on Monday and reiterated again on Thursday.
• Longhorns' kicker Cameron Dicker has missed two field goals this season and mishandled a punt snap last week against the Razorbacks.  Sarkisian confirmed on Thursday that Dicker's duties on Saturday will include both kicking and punting.  

Texas Depth Chart vs. Rice

Rice Head Coach Mike Bloomgren on Texas:

Texas Head Coach Steve Sarkisian Talks Rice:

 

[J.B. TexasEx]

TEXAS 41

RICE 24

Longhorns play much better, but don't cover the spread.