It’s Friday, and that means it’s game prediction time once again. The Irish are looking to build on their impressive win over Wisconsin last Sunday, and the Owls are hoping to pull the massive upset in South Bend. Which team will come out on top?
Mike Frank
Rice is an option team that isn’t nearly as good as Navy. Navy isn’t scared of Notre Dame, and when they play recently, it doesn’t matter. The Irish are just too good for even a great option team like Navy.
It’s a different look than Navy, it’s more of a traditional option, but there is a reason Navy doesn’t run the traditional option anymore. It became easier to defend.
I just cannot see the Rice O-line and offense being able to stop the Irish and their penetration into the backfield all day long. If you get penetration against an option offense, they’re dead in the water.
Notre Dame 56, Rice 7
Greg Flammang
These are the September games that have given Marcus Freeman trouble. The short week against an opponent that is very easily overlooked.
Those struggles have coincided with poor/inexperienced quarterback play and that is not the case for the Notre Dame football team in 2026.
This is the game where the passing attack really clicks with Jaden Greathouse and Mylan Graham making big plays and the freshmen backs Jonaz Walton and Javian Osborne showing out in the 4th quarter.
Notre Dame 49, Rice 3
Jamie Uyeyama
A short week against an option offense isn't an ideal scenario for a football team, but that's the situation Notre Dame's been put into. It's probably a good thing because it will force the team to refocus for a game they could easily take lightly.
Rice hasn't had a winning season since 2014. That was the last time they played Notre Dame and the Irish won big that day. The program is in a different place now. Scott Abell is the right coach for them because he has proven he can win with less resources, but there is too big of a gap between getting back to winning in the AAC and competing with this Notre Dame team.
The Irish offense will come out hot and Rice will struggle to slow them down all game. On offense I could see Rice putting together a couple of promising drives and QB Jacurri Brown having a couple of explosive runs, but they will desperately miss Quinten Jackson. He's their best player and without him, I believe they won't be able to generate the big plays required to put any kind of scare into the Irish.
Notre Dame 56, Rice 3
Christian McCollum
Notre Dame isn't going to have much trouble with Rice, but there are still plenty of reasons for Irish fans to watch.
CJ Carr is more aggressive pushing the ball downfield and spreads it around to Jordan Faison, Jaden Greathouse and Mylan Graham as the Irish passing game takes another step forward.
Nolan James Jr.'s breakout season continues as he provides a couple more head-turning plays.
Defensively, Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa makes the most of limited snaps and shows why he's always been considered an elite prospect and now looks to be on the verge of being a truly elite player.
The Irish are in complete control from start to finish.
Notre Dame 49, Rice 7
Matt Freeman
There are good football teams and there are bad football teams. And then there is Rice. It's an ideal opponent for Notre Dame coming off a short week, as the Owls are a far cry from Northern Illinois. Chris Ash wants to stop the run and Rice wants to run, so that's not a favorable matchup. I'd also expect Notre Dame to get its run game going early in this one. Mylan Graham finishes with 94 yards receiving and Jaden Greathouse catches two touchdowns.
Notre Dame 70, Rice 6
