Time and date: Saturday, September 26 at 10:00 p.m. ETNetwork: The CW NetworkLocation: Valley Children’s Stadium — Fresno, CASpread: Fresno State (-13.5)Over/under: 44.5All-time series: Fresno State leads, 6-1Last meeting: Rice 30, Fresno State 6 — December 24, 2014 (Hawaii Bowl)Current streak: Rice, 1 (2014)
Do you remember where you were on Christmas Eve in 2014? Perhaps the Hawaii Bowl was on a nearby screen, where the Rice Owls handled the Fresno State Bulldogs in 30-6 fashion.
That Christmas Eve marked the Rice’s most recent bowl victory and most recent winning season. The Owls are aiming to revert to those days under second-year head coach Scott Abell. Abell thrived in the non-conference last year, finishing 3-1 with wins over two bowl eligible teams. Rice currently rides a two-game losing streak heading into this Week 4 road matchup at Fresno State.
Meanwhile, Fresno State has taken the opposite trajectory — since that Hawaii Bowl and in the 2026 season. The Bulldogs have been to bowls in five-straight seasons, and this year, they enter this matchup on a two-game winning streak.
It’s another American vs. Pac-12 matchup, and the Pac-12 has a slight 2-1 edge right now.
SOUTH BEND, IN – SEPTEMBER 12: Rice Owls quarterback Jacurri Brown (11) passes the ball to his teammate during the game between the Rice Owls and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on September 12, 2026 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Joseph Weiser/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Rice (1-2, 0-0 American) concludes its non-conference slate on the West Coast. The Owls have not been able to find consistency in the month of September, and that’s primarily due to the varying levels of opponents. Rice handled FCS opponent Houston Christian by four touchdowns, was rocked by 52 points against a top-5 Notre Dame team, and came within a touchdown of a Western Michigan team on the fringe of the AP Poll last week.
The Owls’ option attack has generally improved over last year’s product, Notre Dame game aside. Rice opened the season with its highest rushing total since 2004, and last Saturday against the reigning MAC champions, it managed 209 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
One reason Scott Abell’s option offense is working better this year — it has a quarterback perfectly suited for the system. Former Miami (FL) and UCF quarterback Jacurri Brown has found a home at Rice, leading the team with 258 rushing yards. The 6’4”, 225-pound senior shouldered a heavy load last week, managing 128 rushing yards on 23 attempts. And when Western Michigan got ahead late, he proved his merit as a passer, connecting on 11-of-18 attempts for 121 yards and a touchdown. For a team that attempts the fourth-fewest passes in the FBS, that was by far the best aerial performance the Owls have seen this season.
Rice remains without its star tailback Quinton Jackson, and the tandem of Tyvonn Byars and D’Andre Hardeman Jr. must step up in his place. Both enjoyed career-highs in the season opener, and Rice will look to reignite the physical backs in this Week 4 matchup after combining for 98 yards in the last two weeks.
The Owls’ defense has varied in performance from week-to-week, giving up zero touchdowns to Houston Christian, six to Notre Dame, and three to Western Michigan. The unit showed plenty of positives in the Western Michigan game and forced the Broncos to four punts. However, that punt total could have been even higher, as Western Michigan converted on 7-of-14 third down attempts.
Getting off the field on third down is one emphasis for the Rice defense. Another involves capitalizing on turnover opportunities. Rice finished fourth-to-last in the FBS last season with only seven takeaways. The Owls only have two takeaways this season, and one was on special teams. Western Michigan fumbled four times last week, yet Rice only managed to recover one.
Fresno State is a plus-5 in the turnover battle this year, and Rice hopes to reverse the trend on the road. The Owls defense features several key contributors with experience in the Valley. Nevada transfer linebackers Stone Combs and Austin Harnetiaux both played in Fresno last October, and the quick learners — who joined Rice during the summer session — currently combine for 29 tackles.
Fresno State Bulldogs outlook
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 04: Jayden Mandal #7 of the Fresno State Bulldogs hands the ball off to Bryson Donelson #6 against the USC Trojans during the first quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 04, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Griffin C. Hooper/Getty Images) Getty Images
Fresno State (2-1, 0-0 Pac-12) has also seen extreme volatility in its week to week performance. The Bulldogs didn’t manage a single point in their opener at USC, falling victim to a 39-0 shutout. They rebounded to obliterate FBS newcomer Sacramento State, 49-3, before defeating San Jose State in a close one. Despite winning the latter game 26-10, the Bulldogs’ lead was only 13-10 with under seven minutes to go before a strong closing effort.
Fresno State returned 13 starters from its 9-4 team a year ago, enjoying some of the best continuity in the country. That continuity has been evident on defense, as the unit has allowed just 13 points since the USC game. Everything starts up front, and Fresno State has done a tremendous job stuffing the run. Not a single opponent, including the Trojans, managed 4.0 yards per carry on the Bulldogs, and the run defense allows 114 yards per game on a 3.3 average. Fresno State regularly feasts in backfields, and three defenders — defensive ends Jahzon Jacks and Dylan Hampsten and outside linebacker K’vion Thunderbird — already have at least three tackles for loss.
USC was ridiculously efficient against the Bulldogs through the air, but Sacramento State and San Jose State did not enjoy the same fate. The Hornets completed just 15-of-31 passes, while the Spartans tossed four interceptions. Defensive backs Simeon Harris and Ethan Tierney both have multiple interceptions on the year in a defense renowned for creating havoc.
The defense has regularly put Fresno State in position to succeed. Now the offense needs to step up. The Bulldogs only managed three points off the four turnovers it forced last week. They ended up punting seven times, although, Nick Verdugo was an expert at flipping the field and pinning San Jose State deep. Verdugo has made frequent appearances due to the team’s 32.4 third down conversion percentage (125th in FBS). Fresno State is also one of eight teams yet to a convert a fourth down.
As excellent as the punting game has been, Fresno State would rather keep Verdugo sidelined and solve its 106th-ranked run game. The Bulldogs returned two 600-yard rushers from 2025 in Rayshon Luke and Bryson Donelson. Donelson has been stellar in the last two outings with 159 yards and four touchdowns; the team must also get Luke going as well.
Fresno State’s passing offense has been a mixed bag thus far. Jayden Mandal pieced together a near perfect outing against Sacramento State, completing 23-of-26 passes for 316 yards and two touchdowns. He’ll need to revert to that form to spark a Fresno State offense which only reached the end zone twice against its other two opponents. Josiah Freeman has been his top receiver so far, logging a team-best 195 yards on 12 receptions.
Expect a lack of scoring in this late-night showdown, which will be largely controlled by the defensive fronts. Fresno State hasn’t been consistent in the run game, and Rice held Western Michigan’s high-powered rushing offense relatively in check. Meanwhile, Rice has improved its option attack, but Fresno State will present significant resistance up front.
Punts will be frequent in this war of attrition, and this one could come down to a key fumble. It won’t be an aesthetically pleasing game for either team, but Fresno State prevails at home to capture its third consecutive win.
Prediction: Fresno State 19, Rice 14