Thursday Tidbits - Rice
Happy Thursday - These are your Thursday Tidbits - Rice
Overreaction
Okay, okay, Notre Dame was sluggish, mistake-prone and fortunate to be leading after the first half, however, let’s keep things in perspective.
During the second half, ND’s offensive line played better and the run game started opening up, Wisconsin’s zone defense had a ton of holes in pass coverage, and the Irish just started making it look easy. The defense, with the exception of one blown coverage, was excellent.
Notre Dame scored a touchdown on all three of its second-half offensive possessions, scoring 28 points while allowing just three after the break. The game was the 11th consecutive victory for Notre Dame dating back to the 2025 regular season, all by margins of 10 or more points. It is only the second time in program history — and first in over 100 years (1921–22) — that the Irish have won 11 straight all by double digits.
Despite that, there is still work to get done—Greathouse and Graham need to be more involved in the pass game, the running game needs more explosiveness, and the offensive line needs to jell. All of this was anticipated, and gives the coaching staff plenty of things to work on.
Lambeau
On a personal level, I have attended close to 100 road or neutral site games, including the last four times that ND played for the national championship, many bowl games, and at some of the most iconic stadiums in the country. Lambeau Field topped them all, not because of the game itself, but rather because of the environment. Absolutely incredible.
Notre Dame in the Rose Bowl is next!
1842
Each end zone at Notre Dame Stadium is marked with nine lines (18 total). Each line slants 42 degree, pointing toward the Basilica. The symbolism pays homage to the university’s humble beginnings.
At Lambeau, both end zones had the nine lines, however one end zone pointed southeast toward South Bend and the other pointed southwest toward Madison.
Rice
The Owls enter Saturday’s game with a record of 1-0, having defeated Houston Christian 31-3 in their season opener. They rushed for 465 yards while passing for only 28, completing only four passes on ten attempts. They run a triple option offense out of the shotgun.
Their offense centers around QB Jacurri Brownwill the former Miami (FL) and UCF transfer who excelled in a new offensive system. Brown generated 98 rushing yards, while splitting reps with UNLV transfer Gael Ochoa who added 34 yards and a touchdown. Unfortunately for the Owls, their star running back was injured in the season opener and won’t play on Saturday.
Per their sports information office about the game, “For Rice, the matchup is about more than football. It brings together two storied universities known for academic excellence, proud traditions and close-knit residential communities. Rice and Notre Dame share meaningful connections beyond the field with key research collaborations spanning fields including biosciences, computer science, electrical and computer engineering, physics and astronomy, religion, sociology and statistics. Both universities also place a distinctive emphasis on the residential college experience, where students build lasting communities and traditions alongside their academic pursuits.“
Interpretation—“We are smart enough to know that we are going to get our butts kicked.”
William Marsh Rice University, was founded after its wealthy benefactor was murdered with chloroform in a bizarre plot by his valet and lawyer in 1900. The plot was uncovered when a check written to the valet had a misspelled middle name.
Rice is ranked second for universities with highest quality of life, and sixth for happiest students.
The Game
Saturday afternoon will mark the start of the 98th season at Notre Dame Stadium where the Irish have a 534-133-13 record. The contest will be the sixth time the Owls and Irish have faced off against each other. ND is 5-0 all time against Rice. Both teams roll into week two with a 1-0 record.
ND opened as a 44.5 point favorite with the over/under set at 54.5. Notre Dame has lost three of the last four home openers under Freeman who posts a record of 4-5 in early season games.
As the Irish proved against Wisconsin, they have a very good rush defense. Rice won’t be passing very much, so assume ND will load up the box. Offensively, hopefully the starters will call it a day early in the third quarter, and we will see what we have as a back up QB, and perhaps some of the receivers may emerge from the witness protection program.
Expect those happy Rice students to get back to their physics and electrical engineering studies by midafternoon.
ND 55-3
Those are your Thursday Tidbits - Rice
Stay thirsty, my friends.
Go Otters and Go Irish!
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