No. 3 Notre Dame Tries to Avoid Another Early Season Stumble in Home Opener Against Rice
Notre Dame is a 44.5-point favorite after both teams opened 1-0, with Rice bringing the FBS’s third-ranked rushing attack into the matchup.
- On Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, No. 3 Notre Dame hosts Rice at 3:30 p.m. ET at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana, for the Fighting Irish's home opener, broadcast on NBC and Peacock.
- Coach Marcus Freeman noted Rice's "nontraditional" triple-option offense out of "gun" presents a unique challenge; the undefeated Owls arrive after a 31-3 win over Houston Christian.
- Following foot injuries against Wisconsin, safety Brauntae Johnson and defensive tackle Jason Onye are ruled out for the game, while quarterback C.J. Carr leads Notre Dame's offense seeking consistency after a 41-13 Week 1 victory.
- Freeman emphasized the urgency of winning at home to avoid repeating early-season struggles that previously derailed playoff hopes; the Fighting Irish seek to reassert their home-field dominance this season.
- With a guaranteed playoff spot possible if the Irish finish in the CFP selection committee's final top 12, every game carries significant weight toward Notre Dame's national championship aspirations.
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thesportsleader.comNo. 3 Notre Dame guarding against letdown vs. run-heavy Rice
Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman considered allowing his players to practice without pads for an extra day this week.But the more Freeman thought about it, the more he realized his players needed to keep the pads on and create an intense practice atmosp...
Winnipeg Free Press
No. 3 Notre Dame takes on Rice in Week 2
Rice (1-0) at No. 3 Notre Dame (1-0), Sept. 12 at 3:30 p.m. EDT.
Notre Dame Faces A Unique Matchup Against Rice
Notre Dame faces a unique challenge against Rice, as the Owls bring an unconventional offense, a massive offensive line and a deep running back room into South Bend. We break down the matchup on both sides of the ball, including Rice’s quarterback rota...
Notre Dame vs Rice Preview - Irish Look To Build Momentum In Home Opener
Irish Breakdown takes a look at the next opponent on the Notre Dame schedule, the Rice Owls. We’ll also recap week one of the college football season and will end the show with a mailbag. Join the Irish Breakdown premium message board: https://boards.irishbreakdown.com Subscribe to the Irish Breakdown podcast on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/irish-breakdown/id1485286986 Like and follow Irish Breakdown on Facebook: https://www.fac…
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