American · 2026

Rice

2025 record 5–8 2–6 conference
Postseason Armed Forces Bowl L 10–41 vs Texas State
Head coach Scott Abell Year 2
Scheme Spread Option / Multiple 3-4
Conference
C−

Scheme Y2 + Jackson identity vs 5–8 baseline and thin WR production

Portal
C−

Portal #12; small supplement class

Depth
C

Better holdover spine (RB/OL/front) than full-wipe peers

Market odds

To Win AAC
Yes 0.00%
No 0.00%
To Make Conf. Championship
Yes 0.00%
No 0.00%
Over 3.5 wins
Yes 0.00%
No 0.00%

Recruiting ranks

Overall #9 45 commits · 185.04 pts
Portal #12 20 commits· avg 83.5

Roster notes

Leading story

Year-two gun-choice offense

QB

Jacurri Brown (Miami / UCF)

RB

Quinton Jackson (889 yards) is the clear feature

WR

Thin after Aaron Turner left

OL

Returns more experience than most rebuilds

Defense

Lost Andrew Awe (106 tackles) and Tony Anyanwu (6.5 sacks). Jesus Machado Jr. is the portal LB add; Chibby Nwajuaku / Jo Chavez return

Key offense

  1. 01
    Quinton Jackson RB
    Returning
    • 2025 (incl. bowl): 180 carries, 889 yds, 6 rushing TD (4.9 YPC)
    • 4 receptions, 74 yds, 1 TD (includes bowl 16 receptions, 78 yds). Feature back
  2. 02
    Jacurri Brown QB
    Portal
    • Miami → UCF → Rice
    • Career ~85/148, 906 pass, 6 TD, 9 INT
    • ~823 rush, 8 rush TD. 2025 (regular season) UCF: 3/5, 97, 1 TD, 1 INT
    • 16 carries, 142 yds, 2 rushing TD rush
  3. 03
    Payton Matthews WR
    Returning
    • Top remaining WR after Turner’s exit (~93 receiving yards led returners in 2025 (regular season))

Key defense

  1. 01
    Jesus Machado Jr. ILB
    Portal
    • Tulane → Houston → Rice
    • Led Tulane with 98 tackles in 2023
    • limited 2025 (regular season) Houston (4 G) after prior ACL
  2. 02
    Chibby Nwajuaku DE
    Returning
    • 2025 (incl. bowl): 28 tackles, 2.0 sacks — top remaining edge after Anyanwu left
  3. 03
    Jo Chavez Viper
    Returning
    • 2025 (incl. bowl): ~40 tackles — top returning tackle total among listed holdovers