Rice at East Carolina - 2026 Matchup Preview
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Rice Owls at East Carolina Pirates

East Carolina logo
Saturday, October 10th 2026 (12:00 PM EDT)
Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium - Greenville, NC  (American Athletic)

 
Owls (0 - 0) (0 - 0 - 0)
Coach Scott Abell (5 - 8)
Avg Score : 19 - 33 (14 - 33 on Road)
Record Prediction: 2.1 - 9.9 (#112)
'26 Opponents: (Elite: 1) (Good: 1) (Avg: 4) (Bad: 5)
ECU coming off BYE
RICE is playing their 6th straight game
Our Line: East Carolina -23  (SP+ ECU -23)

Projected Score: RICE: 15 - ECU: 38 (53)
ECU Win prob: 95% | Cover: 56%
RICE Travel: 1124 miles, 1 hrs behind
Pirates (0 - 0) (0 - 0 - 0)
Coach Blake Harrell (14 - 5)
Avg Score : 33 - 20 (36 - 20 @ Home)
Record Prediction: 8.8 - 3.2 (#15)
'26 Opponents: (Elite: 1) (Good: 1) (Avg: 2) (Bad: 7)
 
Rice's 2026 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 9/5Rice vs Houston Christian-7.5
Sat 9/12Rice at Notre Dame+35
Sat 9/19Rice vs Western Michigan+10
Sat 9/26Rice at Fresno State+20.5
Sat 10/3Rice vs UTSA+15.5
Sat 10/10Rice at East Carolina+23
Sat 10/17Rice vs Tulsa+9
Sat 10/24Rice at Florida Atlantic+11
— Bye Week —
Sat 11/7Rice at North Texas+24.5
Sat 11/14Rice vs Tulane+17
Thu 11/19Rice at Temple+14
Sat 11/28Rice vs Army+13.5

Total: Elite: 1, Good: 1, Avg 4, Bad 4, Poor 1
Played: Elite: 0, Good: 0, Avg 0, Bad 0, Poor 0
Future: Elite: 1, Good: 1, Avg 4, Bad 4, Poor 1
Wins: Elite: 0, Good: 0, Avg: 0, Bad: 0, Poor: 0
Losses: Elite: 0, Good: 0, Avg: 0, Bad: 0, Poor: 0

Predictions for Rice's Schedule
East Carolina's 2026 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 9/5East Carolina at Alabama+14
Sat 9/12East Carolina vs App State-17.5
Sat 9/19East Carolina at Old Dominion+1
Sat 9/26East Carolina vs North Carolina Central-28
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/10East Carolina vs Rice-23
Thu 10/15East Carolina at UAB-18
Thu 10/22East Carolina at Memphis+3
Sat 10/31East Carolina vs Temple-12
Fri 11/6East Carolina vs South Florida-0.5
Sat 11/14East Carolina at Charlotte-24.5
Sat 11/21East Carolina at Army-2.5
Fri 11/27East Carolina vs Florida Atlantic-15

Total: Elite: 1, Good: 1, Avg 2, Bad 2, Poor 5
Played: Elite: 0, Good: 0, Avg 0, Bad 0, Poor 0
Future: Elite: 1, Good: 1, Avg 2, Bad 2, Poor 5
Wins: Elite: 0, Good: 0, Avg: 0, Bad: 0, Poor: 0
Losses: Elite: 0, Good: 0, Avg: 0, Bad: 0, Poor: 0

Predictions for East Carolina's Schedule
Important Stats (2025)
 Teams                  Off Explosive.Off SuccessPPGRush SuccessOL Yds Per AttRush YPGPass SuccessPass YPGOff ScoreZoneDef Explosive.Def SuccessDef PPGRunD SuccessPass D SuccessDef ScoreZonePenalty YPGTO PGDef TO PG
RICE#122 (.06)37% (122)19.138% (114)2.69 (114)20533% (132)983.21 (114)#120 (.25)40% (49)32.941% (55)39% (46)3.71 (73)49.50.80.5
ECU#40 (.21)46% (22)32.745% (55)3.04 (54)17649% (11)2733.76 (63)#33 (.09)38% (27)20.138% (17)39% (45)3.05 (19)61.51.11.8
 Teams                  Off Explosive.Off SuccessPPGRush SuccessOL Yds Per AttRush YPGPass SuccessPass YPGOff ScoreZoneDef Explosive.Def SuccessDef PPGRunD SuccessPass D SuccessDef ScoreZonePenalty YPGTO PGDef TO PG
RICE0%0%000%000%0%0%0000
ECU0%0%000%000%0%0%0000



Overall Stats 2025
 Teams                  GamesPPGPPG H/RSuccess RatePts PerOppTO1stD PGTotalYds PGRushYds PGPassYdsPGRYPARun RatePass RateRun SuccessPass SuccessHavoc RateTotal PPA
RICE Offense1319.114.236.8%3.210.817302205984.170%28%38%33%18%.06
ECU Defense1320.119.838.3%3.051.8 - - - - - 47%52%38%39%19%.09
 Teams                  GamesPPGPPG H/RSuccess RatePts PerOppTO1stD PGTotalYds PGRushYds PGPassYdsPGRYPARun RatePass RateRun SuccessPass SuccessHavoc RateTotal PPA
RICE Defense1332.932.640%3.710.5 - - - - - 49%50%41%39%14%.25
ECU Offense1332.736.246.4%3.761.1234491762734.152%46%45%49%13%.21

Additional Stats 2025
 Teams                  GamesPossession Time1st Downs PG3rd Down %4th Down %Penalties PGPenalty Yds PGOff TO PGDef TO PGTFL PGSacks PGD/ST TDsAvg Field Pos
Rice1332:4317.134%55%4.849.50.80.551.9027
East Carolina1328:1923.347%47%7.261.51.11.87.82.3131.2
Run Game Stats (2026)
 Teams                  GamesRun Play RateRun Play SuccessRush Att PGRush Yds PGRush Yds Per AttRushing TDsRun Pred Pts AddedOL Yds Per Att3rd/4th & ShortFront 7 HavocRun Play Explosivness
RICE Offense1370% (4)38% (114)49.8204.84.120 (60).05 (102)2.69 (114)73% (61)14% (134)1 (53)
ECU Defense1347% (30)38% (17) - - - - .02 (24)2.51 (11)49% (1)14% (5)1.09 (123)
 Teams                  GamesRun Play RateRun Play SuccessRush Att PGRush Yds PGRush Yds Per AttRushing TDsRun Pred Pts AddedOL Yds Per Att3rd/4th & ShortFront 7 HavocRun Play Explosivness
RICE Defense1349% (52)41% (55) - - - - .16 (103)3.02 (98)64% (23)9% (106)1.17 (132)
ECU Offense1352% (44)45% (55)43176.34.131 (30).09 (77)3.04 (54)69% (94)8% (30)0.83 (120)

Pass Game Stats (2026)
 Teams                  GamesPassPlay RatePassPlay SuccessComp PGAtt PGYds PGYds PAYds PCTDs    Ints    PassPlays PPAPassPlays ExplPassDowns RatePassDowns Succ RatePassDowns PPADB HavocPassDowns Expl
RICE Offense1328% (133)33% (132)11.417.297.65.78.611 (121)4 (7).12 (122)1.7 (28)32% (81)20% (135).02 (133)3% (7)2.1 (41)
ECU Defense1352% (113)39% (45) - - - - - - 10 (100).17 (36)1.4 (22)36% (11)28% (44).18 (23)6% (81)1.8 (22)
 Teams                  GamesPassPlay RatePassPlay SuccessComp PGAtt PGYds PGYds PAYds PCTDs    Ints    PassPlays PPAPassPlays ExplPassDowns RatePassDowns Succ RatePassDowns PPADB HavocPassDowns Expl
RICE Defense1350% (88)39% (46) - - - - - - 3 (100).36 (117)1.9 (134)32% (55)31% (84).43 (123)5% (102)2.5 (135)
ECU Offense1346% (91)49% (11)21.933.8272.78.112.422 (61)6 (34).37 (32)1.5 (71)26% (7)37% (12).49 (13)5% (33)1.8 (118)

Rice's Power Ratings
Rice's Power Rating: -17.12  #127
Rice's Offense Rating: 6.36  #129
Rice's Defense Rating: 23.47  #126
2026 Talent Rating: 482.00  #104
Blue Chip Ratio: 125%  #81
Rice's 2026 Expected Record: 2.1 - 9.9
Rice's 2026 Overall SP+ Rating: -14.8  #121
Rice's Offense SP+ Rating: 17.7  #119
Rice's Defense SP+ Rating: 33.9  #112

Average Talent
Average American Athletic Talent Rating is 513
Average Power Five Talent: 871.03
Average FBS Talent: 676.7

Power Ratings Matchup
Rice: -17.12   East Carolina: 7.205

SP+ Ratings Matchup
Rice: -14.8   East Carolina: 8.0




East Carolina's Power Ratings
East Carolina's Power Rating: 7.205  #60
East Carolina's Offense Rating: 15.77  #66
East Carolina's Defense Rating: 14.35  #61
2026 Talent Rating: 569.00  #90
Blue Chip Ratio: 125  #81
East Carolina's 2026 Expected Record: 8.8 - 3.2
East Carolina's 2026 Overall SP+ Rating: 8.0  #37
East Carolina's Offense SP+ Rating: 32.6  #33
East Carolina's Defense SP+ Rating: 24.0  #51

Average Talent
Average American Athletic Talent Rating is 513
Average Power Five Talent: 871.03
Average FBS Talent: 676.7


Rice Scoring
Offense: 19.1 PPG
Offense on Road: 14.2
Defense: 32.9 PPG
Defense on Road: 32.6

Rice's 2026 Record
Record: 0 - 0
Record vs Spread: 0 - 0 - 0
Over/Under Record: 0 - 0
Record on Road: 0 - 0
Record vs Spread on Road: 0 - 0 - 0
Projected Score
East Carolina 38
Rice 15


Projected Total Points: 53
East Carolina Scoring
Offense: 32.7 PPG
Offense at Home: 36.2
Defense: 20.1 PPG
Defense at Home: 19.8

East Carolina's 2026 Record
Record: 0 - 0
Record vs Spread: 0 - 0 - 0
Over/Under Record: 0 - 0
Record at home: 0 - 0
Record vs Spread at home: 0 - 0 - 0


YearDateHomeScoreAwayScoreSpreadCoverTotalO/U
202309/30Rice24East Carolina17Rice -3.5Rice47.0Under
201011/20Rice62East Carolina38
200910/17East Carolina49Rice13
200611/18Rice18East Carolina17
200510/08East Carolina41Rice28
TeamWinsCoversO/U
East Carolina200 Overs
Rice311 Unders

WinsCoversFavsDogs
Home Teams5 - 01 - 01 - 00 - 0
Road Teams0 - 50 - 10 - 00 - 1

(#127) RICE at (#60) ECU
Overall StatsOvr
CategoryCatRICEECU
Game ControlGC #124 #67
Momentum ControlMC #122 #21
Net PPPPPPNRNR
Power RatePwr #127 #60
SP+SP+ #121 #37
Perf GradeGradeNRNR
OffenseOffNRNR
DefenseDefNRNR
Spec TeamsSTNRNR
TalentTal #104 #90
Blue ChipsBC% #81 #81
Rice Notes
(1/29) Staff year 2, unique Gun Option offense
(1/29) QB Brown (UCF) better runner than pass, good fit
(1/29) RB Jackson good LY, 3 RB needed, some depth
(1/29) WR rebuild, Mosey (HC) good add. Must block/run
(1/29) OL 2 FT starters, 2 PT. Has pieces if depth can fill
(1/29) DL lost best DE/DT. Some exp to build on
(1/29) LBs are the size of DBs. Huge ? that lacks answers
(1/29) DBs went heavy in portal, some decent options
(1/29) Def Succ #s LY misleading, torched by big plays
Rice Injury Report
East Carolina Notes
(2/25) Vibes: Good, Harrel a 14-5 start, won 9 LY
(3/26) New DC Hankins was Memphis DC last 2 years
(3/3) QB1 Williams (Miami) a name to watch, big add
(3/3) New OC Davis (N Tex) great, name to watch
(2/25) Sneaky good portal class, #12 in G5
(2/25) RB Allen (Marsh) & Gray (UNT) with depth
(2/25) WR has good looking trio & really good depth
(2/25) OL has 3 starters, need help at OT, 3 portals
(2/25) DL looks workable, solid DT combo, need rush
(2/25) Def back 7 needs work, 8 portals should help
East Carolina Injury Report
Rice on Offense
Option Offense 71%, Pass: 28%
CategoryCat
RICE OffECU Def
Game ControlGC #125 #39
Momentum ControlMC #109 #36
PPPOffPPPNRNR
Perf GradePerfNRNR
SuccessSuc #122 #27
ExplosiveExp #115 #84
PPAPPA #122 #33
PowerPwr #129 #61
SP+SP+ #119 #51
Pts POPPO #114 #19
HavocHav #109 #11
Rice Run Game
Option Offense 71%, Pass: 28%
CategoryCat
RICE OffECU Def
Run GameRunNRNR
Run SuccessRSuc #114 #17
Run ExplRExp #53 #123
PPAExp #102 #24
Run BlockR BlkNR -
OL YdsOLY #114 #11
Stuff RateStuff #102 #3
TackleTak - NR
Rice Pass Game
Option Offense 71%, Pass: 28%
CategoryCat
RICE OffECU Def
Pass GamePassNRNR
Pass SuccessPSuc #132 #45
Pass ExplPExl #28 #22
PPAExp #122 #36
Pass Rush/BlockP BlkNRNR
F7 HavocF7 #134 #5
DB HavocDB #7 #81
East Carolina on Offense
Balanced offense, Pass: 48%, Run: 51%
CategoryCatECU OffRICE Def
Game ControlGC #91 #117
Momentum ControlMC #18 #121
PPPDefPPPNRNR
Perf GradePerfNRNR
SuccessSuc #22 #49
ExplosiveExp #111 #136
PPAPPA #40 #120
PowerPwr #66 #126
SP+SP+ #33 #112
Pts POPPO #63 #73
HavocHav #25 #110
East Carolina Run Game
Balanced offense, Pass: 48%, Run: 51%
CategoryCat
ECU OffRICE Def
Run GameRunNRNR
Run SuccessRSuc #55 #55
Run ExplRExp #120 #132
PPAExp #77 #103
Run BlockR BlkNR -
OL YdsOLY #54 #98
Stuff RateStuff #13 #93
TackleTak - NR
East Carolina Pass Game
Balanced offense, Pass: 48%, Run: 51%
CategoryCatECU OffRICE Def
Pass GamePassNRNR
Pass SuccessPSuc #11 #46
Pass ExplPExl #71 #134
PPAExp #32 #117
Pass Block/RushP BlkNRNR
F7 HavocF7 #30 #106
DB HavocDB #33 #102
Program Comparison
ECU 5 Year Profile: Improving Below Avg P4
'26 Profile: Up to Average P4

RICE 5 Year Profile: Consistent Below Avg G5
'26 Profile: Up to Poor G5

Weather Forecast
Playing in Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium
Conditions:
Temp: 0°
Previous Matchups
Rice beat East Carolina in 2023 (24-17)

  
RICE's OC Vince Munch (in his second season)
Player NameCOMPATTPCTYDSTDINTYPA
Patrick Crayton Jr.71547%73124.9
Lucas Scheerhorn91369%40003.1
Player NameCARYDSTDYPCLONG
Quinton Jackson18088964.973
DAndre Hardeman Jr.7630224.036
Tyvonn Byars3419315.732
Jacurri Brown (Tr)1614228.960
Player NameRECYDSTDYPCLONG
Max Mosey (Tr)5049009.846
Payton Matthews493023.354
Quinton Jackson474118.575
Tyvonn Byars253026.543

View Rice's Full Roster

RICE's DC Jon Kay (in his second season)
Top DefTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
AJ Brown (Tr)530000
Jo Chavez402011
Austin Harnetiaux (Tr)372002
Chibby Nwajuaku253220
SacksTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
Chibby Nwajuaku253220
Joseph Mutombo122211
Daveon Hook163100
Cooper King82100
Pass DTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
Tariq Watson120012
Austin Harnetiaux (Tr)372002
Jerrick Harper231002

ECU's OC Jordan Davis (in his first season)
Player NameCOMPATTPCTYDSTDINTYPA
Mitch Griffis (Tr)263672%357209.9
Emory Williams (Tr)131968%156008.2
Player NameCARYDSTDYPCLONG
Michael Allen (Tr)7738545.068
Ashton Gray (Tr)5837756.551
TJ Engleman5930615.223
DeJuan Lacy104414.415
Player NameRECYDSTDYPCLONG
Brock Spalding42554313.255
Ja'Keith Hamilton (Tr)40545513.664
Landon Sides (Tr)34449113.260
Ismael Smith Flores (Tr)19227611.943

View East Carolina's Full Roster

ECU's DC Jordan Hankins (in his first season)
Top DefTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
Zyeir Gamble (Tr)724004
DJ Johnson Jr.605120
Ayden Duncanson331001
Preston Carr315220
SacksTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
Jasiyah Robinson267530
Kendrick DuJour115411
Rion Roseborough166310
Preston Carr315220
Pass DTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
Zyeir Gamble (Tr)724004
Ashton Levells (Tr)211004
Kevon Merrell275012