2026 MATRIXWEEK 9138 FBS TEAMS56 GAMESCOLLEGE FOOTBALL DECODEDMODEL + MARKET + CONTEXT
GameDay Matrix
R
American · Owls · 1-7

Rice

Ratings fitted through Week 8. Results through October 25.

Preseason roster reference: Jacurri Brown is a strong fit for Scott Abell's option offense, although limited returning production and a difficult nonconference slate constrain the win ceiling.

MPR #121Projected Wins #133American MPR #12Ratings through Week 8 · Outlook October 25
Matrix Power Rating-14.9National #121
Projected Wins2.14National #133
Schedule Strength#76National SOS rank
Projected Offense21.7Remaining-schedule average
Projected Defense30.4Remaining-schedule average
Point Differential-8.6Projected per game
Week 8 Model Update

Model Response

Moved Up

The Week 8 review is complete. This panel shows the rating change and its football context.

Week-over-Week MPR-15.69 → -14.88+0.81 MPR
Rank#123 → #121+2 spots
Projected Wins2.29 → 2.14Week 9 refresh
SEASON STRENGTH UPDATE

Lost to Florida Atlantic 49–51. The opponent-adjusted season fit moves power +0.8 points; unit inputs are retained.

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Latest Rice news.

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Outcome Range

Season Distribution

Completed results through October 25 are fixed. Remaining-game probabilities use the ratings fitted through Week 8.

Current Season OutlookResults through October 25
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The gold bar is the current mode (2 wins). Each remaining game is treated independently; shared rating uncertainty is not included. Bars below 0.05% are omitted.
Season Market Reference · 2026-08-08
Current Forecast / Preseason Quote

The August 8 quote is retained for comparison. This gap is not a current betting recommendation and does not define team strength.

Preseason Posted Total3.5
Preseason Effective Market3.54
Current Win-Total Gap-1.41
Quote StatusReference only
Game by Game

2026 Schedule Matrix

Upcoming games use season-strength ratings after Week 8. Completed results retain their original pregame Matrix forecast.

DateOpponentWin %Score / ResultMarginTotalConfidenceType
SEP 5Houston ChristianHome · Nonconference — FCSFINALGame Status31–3Final · Pregame Matrix 29–21+32.3Margin50.4TotalFINALFCS CAL v1.1Opponent
SEP 12Notre DameAway · NonconferenceFINALGame Status0–52Final · Pregame Matrix 5–47-52.0Final Margin52.1TotalFINALFBSOpponent
SEP 19Western MichiganHome · NonconferenceFINALGame Status21–28Final · Pregame Matrix 20–26-5.4Margin46.3TotalFINALFBSOpponent
SEP 26Fresno StateAway · NonconferenceFINALGame Status24–38Final · Pregame Matrix 16–30-13.8Margin45.2TotalFINALFBSOpponent
OCT 3UTSAHome · AmericanFINALGame Status14–16Final · Pregame Matrix 23–33-10.9Margin56.0TotalFINALFBSOpponent
OCT 10East CarolinaAway · AmericanFINALGame Status12–28Final · Pregame Matrix 18–31-12.5Margin49.5TotalFINALFBSOpponent
OCT 17TulsaHome · AmericanFINALGame Status17–38Final · Pregame Matrix 24–28-3.5Margin51.9TotalFINALFBSOpponent
OCT 24Florida AtlanticAway · AmericanFINALGame Status49–51Final · Pregame Matrix 22–34-11.2Margin56.0TotalFINALFBSOpponent
NOV 7North TexasAway · American25%Win %22–32Current projection-10.3Margin54.5TotalLowFBSOpponent
NOV 14TulaneHome · American34%Win %22–28Current projection-6.3Margin49.5TotalLowFBSOpponent
NOV 19TempleAway · American30%Win %23–31Current projection-8.0Margin54.0TotalLowFBSOpponent
NOV 28ArmyHome · American26%Win %20–30Current projection-9.9Margin50.4TotalMediumFBSOpponent
Upcoming games use current ratings. Completed games preserve their original forecast and final result.
← All Teams

Week 8 closeout is complete. Season-win market comparisons retain the August 8 quote vintage; they are reference comparisons. Season-win distributions condition on played results and use independent remaining-game probabilities.

Active net power -14.88 = OFF 16.90 − DEF 32.05 + ST 0.50 + legacy residual 0.10 + season adjustment -0.33. Sigma 3.07.