Notre Dame’s next opponent just won with only 28 passing yards
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Notre Dame’s next opponent just won with only 28 passing yards originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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While the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame will have to wait until Sunday night to start the season, the Irish may face one of the strangest offenses on its schedule when Rice arrives in South Bend for Week 2.
The Owls opened their season by defeating Houston Christian 31-3 despite finishing with only 28 passing yards.
That was not a typo.
Rice attempted only a handful of meaningful throws because its running game encountered almost no resistance. Eleven different Owls combined for 465 rushing yards, the program’s highest total since it ran for 496 against SMU in 2004.
Tyvonn Byars led the attack with a career-high 104 yards on 16 carries. Quarterback Jacurri Brown added 98 yards, while Quinton Jackson scored two rushing touchdowns.
Rice finished with 493 total yards and controlled possession for 39 minutes and 32 seconds. Houston Christian possessed the ball for only 20:28.
The Owls’ defense was equally effective. Houston Christian opened the scoring with a 42-yard field goal, but it did not score again.
Rice’s official recap noted that the game marked the first football meeting between the two Houston programs. Rice could not have scripted a better introduction to its 2026 identity. The question is whether that unusual formula can create problems for Notre Dame on Sept. 12.
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Rice’s option attack creates a unique Notre Dame test
No. 4 Notre Dame opens its season against Wisconsin on Sunday before returning home to face Rice. The Owls will enter that matchup as substantial underdogs. Their performance against Houston Christian nevertheless demonstrated why preparing for them could be uncomfortable.
Rice coach Scott Abell’s offense is built around misdirection, quarterback movement and disciplined rushing execution. Defenders must maintain their assignments instead of pursuing the first player who appears to have the ball. That can become particularly difficult during a short preparation week.
Notre Dame will possess significant advantages in size, depth and overall talent. Its defensive front should be far more capable of disrupting Rice than Houston Christian was.
The Irish still must play assignment-sound football. Rice proved Saturday that it is willing to abandon conventional offensive balance if an opponent cannot stop the run. Throwing for 28 yards would be a disaster for most teams. For the Owls, it accompanied a 28-point victory.
Brown’s athleticism will be central to the challenge. The UCF transfer was selected as a captain after winning the starting quarterback job during the spring. He may not throw frequently, but every defender must account for him as a runner.
Byars, Jackson and the rest of Rice’s deep rushing rotation can then attack whichever area the defense leaves vulnerable. The Owls will not arrive at Notre Dame expecting to win a traditional passing contest. They will attempt to shorten the game, control possession and frustrate the Irish with an offense they rarely see.
Rice’s first opponent could not solve it. Notre Dame now knows exactly what is coming. That does not always make an option attack easier to stop.
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