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The No. 3 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (1-0) have their home opener on Saturday when they host the Rice Owls (1-0). Notre Dame will look to earn its first home opening win over a FBS opponent under head coach Marcus Freeman. This is the sixth all-time meeting between the Irish and Owls, with the most recent matchup being a 48-17 Notre Dame win to kick off the 2014 season. Prior to that win, the most recent victory was a 54-11 win during Notre Dame's 1988 national championship season.

Location: Notre Dame Stadium (Notre Dame, Ind.)
Date: Saturday – September 12
Time: 3:30 PM ET
Network: NBC/Peacock
Line: Notre Dame -44.5, O/U: 55.5

Here are our predictions for this matchup.

BRYAN DRISKELL

Prediction: Notre Dame 63, Rice 7

Notre Dame earned an impressive season-opening win, dominating in the second half to pull away for a four touchdown victory over Wisconsin. Notre Dame quickly got over a sloppy start and dominated, which should send the Irish into week two with some momentum. Notre Dame has a significant size and talent advantage over the Owls, especially in the matchup of the Irish offense and the undersized Rice defense. Rice has given up at least 30 points per game in three of the last five seasons, including 2025, which was the first under new head coach Scott Abell. Notre Dame should be able to handle business against the Owl defense, who is vulnerable through the air and on the ground. Quarterback CJ Carr should get a chance to attack down the field more this week after facing Wisconsin's soft coverage last weekend. The ground game should also thrive after having to battle for every yard against Wisconsin. Expect to see Notre Dame's talented freshman class on the field in the second half.

Defensively, Notre Dame faces a much tougher test. Rice has a bit more talent on offense, even without talented running back Quinton Jackson. Miami transfer quarterback Jacurri Brown is a dynamic athlete and the Owls racked up 458 rushing yards in the season opening win over Rice. Notre Dame enters the game with one of the best run defenses in college football, and that was evident when it held Wisconsin to just 67 yards on the ground. Quarterback Colton Joseph, who rushed for 1,007 yards in 2025 (including 179 vs. Indiana), was completed bottled up and held to three yards. If Notre Dame can be as effective shutting down the Rice ground game as it was the Badgers this game will get ugly in a hurry.

TREVOR TROWBRIDGE

Prediction: Notre Dame 59, Rice 3

This is a matchup that heavily favors the Irish. They enter this matchup as 45 point favorites over the visiting Owls. Head coach Marcus Freeman hasn't fared well in home openers against inferior opponents, a stigma I think he'll look to shut down after Saturday afternoon. This is a game the Irish should absolutely dominate on both sides of the ball. We're going to see the passing offense come alive in this game. The defense has a unique challenge this week, but their athletic advantage will make up for Rice's gimmicky offense. I have the Irish winning big and dominating in all three phases of the game. 

VINCE DEDARIO

Prediction: Notre Dame 52, Rice 10

Notre Dame should be able to control this game from start to finish, but Rice presents a more interesting challenge than the typical Group of Five opponent because of its run-heavy, option-based offense. The Owls ran for 465 yards in their opener, so this is a good early test of Notre Dame's discipline and ability to defend an offense it doesn't see regularly. I expect CJ Carr and the Irish offense to continue building confidence, while the defense eventually overwhelms Rice's offensive line and limits the big plays. Notre Dame is a massive 44.5-point favorite, but I don't think the Irish need to chase the spread; 52-10 feels like a comfortable Notre Dame victory that gives Marcus Freeman another opportunity to get his younger players meaningful snaps.

ANDREW McDONOUGH

Prediction: Notre Dame 45, Rice 6

Marcus Freeman is 0-3 in home openers against FBS opponents at Notre Dame (with a win against FCS Tennessee State), but the Irish will have little trouble in this one against a Rice team that will struggle with the speed and athleticism of Notre Dame after playing Houston Christian last week. Rice ranked 100th in total defense last season and the only thing that will keep the points down for Notre Dame is the fact that Rice will come into this one looking to control the ball and shorten the game. In the opener, the Owls ran the ball 70 times for 465 yards and had the ball for almost 40 minutes.

Ultimately for Notre Dame, this game will be judged on whether the Irish play to their standard rather than down to their opponent. I expect they will, and after playing a limited rotation in the opener against Wisconsin, the Fighting Irish to make a point of rotating more players at running back, wide receiver, and linebacker. Notre Dame will keep Rice out of the end zone, though the Owls will take advantage of a couple big plays in the option game to get into field goal range. 

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