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Rice University Athletics
Saturday, September 12
South Bend, Ind.
2:30 p.m.
Rice University
1-1 , 0-0
0
at
52
Notre Dame
2-0 , 0-0
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rice | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Notre Dame | 21 | 21 | 10 | 0 | 52 |
Photo by: Daniel Horan
Turnovers Doom Rice in Road Opener at No. 3 Notre Dame
9/12/2026 5:44:00 PM | Football
The Lead
No. 3 Notre Dame took advantage of four Rice turnovers, and the Owls were held to 128 yards, as they fell to the Fighting Irish, 52-0.
The Story
On the second play of the game, Davis Lane, Jr. fumbled and Boubacar Traore returned it 24 yards for a touchdown. After picking up 13 yards on its second possession, Jacurri Brown fumbled the snap, and Notre Dame recovered at the Rice 38-yard line. Three plays later, CJ Carr connected with Jordan Faison on a 25-yard touchdown. After a Rice three-and-out, Carr and Faison connected on their second touchdown, this time from 11-yards out. Nolan James, Jr., then scored on a pair of one-yard runs. Rice went three-and-out, and two plays later, Carr hit Micah Gilbert for a 39-yard touchdown pass, sending the Owls into halftime facing a 42-0 deficit.
Notre Dame started the second half going 75 yards behind a 56-yard pass from Carr to Jerome Bettis, Jr. Carr then found Cooper Flanagan in the back of the end zone for two yards. Rice had its best drive of the game late in the fourth quarter, driving 75 yards in 12 plays after stopping the Irish on fourth down. But Brown fumbled at the Notre Dame 13-yard line, and the Fighting Irish recovered.
Next Up
Rice returns home next Saturday, Sept. 19, when it hosts Western Michigan. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m., and will be streamed by ESPN+
Postgame Notes
No. 3 Notre Dame took advantage of four Rice turnovers, and the Owls were held to 128 yards, as they fell to the Fighting Irish, 52-0.
The Story
On the second play of the game, Davis Lane, Jr. fumbled and Boubacar Traore returned it 24 yards for a touchdown. After picking up 13 yards on its second possession, Jacurri Brown fumbled the snap, and Notre Dame recovered at the Rice 38-yard line. Three plays later, CJ Carr connected with Jordan Faison on a 25-yard touchdown. After a Rice three-and-out, Carr and Faison connected on their second touchdown, this time from 11-yards out. Nolan James, Jr., then scored on a pair of one-yard runs. Rice went three-and-out, and two plays later, Carr hit Micah Gilbert for a 39-yard touchdown pass, sending the Owls into halftime facing a 42-0 deficit.
Notre Dame started the second half going 75 yards behind a 56-yard pass from Carr to Jerome Bettis, Jr. Carr then found Cooper Flanagan in the back of the end zone for two yards. Rice had its best drive of the game late in the fourth quarter, driving 75 yards in 12 plays after stopping the Irish on fourth down. But Brown fumbled at the Notre Dame 13-yard line, and the Fighting Irish recovered.
Next Up
Rice returns home next Saturday, Sept. 19, when it hosts Western Michigan. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m., and will be streamed by ESPN+
Postgame Notes
- Series vs. Notre Dame
• This is the sixth meeting between Rice and Notre Dame.
• Notre Dame has won all six meetings.
Team Notes
• Notre Dame won the toss and deferred to the second half.
• Rice faced a non-conference ranked opponent for the first time since No. 11 Texas on Sept. 2, 2023.
• Rice faced a Top 3 opponent for the first time since playing at No. 2 Texas, Sept. 17, 2005.
• Rice's 42 first half points allowed are the most since giving up 44 at Texas on Sept. 18, 2021.
• Rice was shut out for the first time since Sept. 18, 2021 at Texas.
• Rice was held scoreless in the first half for the first time since Sept. 21, 2024 at Army West Point.
• LB Stone Combs made his first start at Rice.
Individual Notes - Offense
#11 QB Jacurri Brown
• Brown was 8-of-12 for 64 yards.
• He also ran 16 times for a team-high 32 yards.
#23 WR Chris Bruce
• Bruce's 19-yard reception in the second quarter was the first of his career.
#7 WR Barry Jackson, Jr.
• Jackson, Jr.'s 30-yard reception with 12:03 to play in the fourth quarter was his first as an Owl.
Individual Notes - Defense
#94 DL Braden Bays
• Bays recorded a career-high 2.0 tackles for loss.
• He now has 3.0 tackles for loss in his career.
#10 CB Kyren Condoll
• Condoll recorded a career-high five tackles.
#44 LB Cooper King
• King led the Owls with a career-high 10 tackles.
• It was his first career double-digit tackle game.
#95 DL Brock Reddic
• Reddic recorded his first tackle at Rice in the third quarter.
Individual - Special Teams
#29 P Charlie Durkin
• Durkin punted six times for a career-high 45.8 yards per punt.
• Durkin had a 58-yard punt with 8:54 to play in the second quarter.
• It was his second 50-yard punt this year and the ninth of his career.
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Players Mentioned
DL
/ Football
QB
/ Football
SLOT
/ Football
LB
/ Football
CB
/ Football
P
/ Football
LB
/ Football
SLOT
/ Football
DL
/ FootballTeam Stats
RIC
UND
Total Yards
128
478
Pass Yards
64
360
Rushing Yards
64
118
Penalty Yards
37
20
1st Downs
7
24
3rd Downs
2
7
4th Downs
2
1
TOP
27:42
32:18
1st Quarter
RIC 0, UND 7
UND - Traore,Boubacar 24 yd fumble recovery (Porath,Spencer kick)
RIC 0, UND 14
UND - Faison,Jordan 25 yd pass from Carr,CJ (Porath,Spencer kick) 3 plays, 38 yards, TOP 01:06
RIC 0, UND 21
UND - Faison,Jordan 11 yd pass from Carr,CJ (Porath,Spencer kick) 7 plays, 58 yards, TOP 04:07
2nd Quarter
RIC 0, UND 28
UND - James Jr.,Nolan 1 yd run (Porath,Spencer kick), 8 plays, 64 yards, TOP 02:55
RIC 0, UND 35
UND - James Jr.,Nolan 1 yd run (Porath,Spencer kick), 2 plays, 6 yards, TOP 00:29
RIC 0, UND 42
UND - Gilbert,Micah 39 yd pass from Carr,CJ (Porath,Spencer kick) 2 plays, 38 yards, TOP 00:42
3rd Quarter
RIC 0, UND 49
UND - Flanagan,Cooper 2 yd pass from Carr,CJ (Porath,Spencer kick) 6 plays, 75 yards, TOP 03:19
RIC 0, UND 52
UND - Porath,Spencer 36 yd field goal 10 plays, 49 yards, TOP 05:01
Game Leaders
CMP
8
TD
0
YDS
64
INT
0
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