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This week a huge game nobody is talking about will be the 25th ranked Memphis Tigers (7-1, 3-1 AAC) traveling to Houston to take on the Rice Owls (4-4, 1-3), as the Tigers hope to strengthen their Playoff chances. Memphis upset the team everyone had thought would get the G5 spot in South Florida last week 34-31, while Rice snapped a 3-game losing streak by outlasting UConn 37-34 in double overtime.
Your Thursday – Saturday plans📺⬇️
Yet another big week in the American🏈#BuiltToRise x #AmericanFB pic.twitter.com/OJWRASpmCu
— The American (@American_Conf) October 29, 2025
Memphis trails Navy by 1 1/2 games for the conference lead, as they head to a clash on November 27th, while also trailing Tulane by a half game who they face next week on Friday. With the first set of College Football Playoff rankings being released next week, and Memphis is offering a convincing case for its chances, if it can become the American Conference champion it will help. “Immediately on a short week, we have to turn the focus to Rice,” Memphis coach Ryan Silverfield said. “Great focus on a great opponent on the road on a Friday night. “This game is the most important game of the season. I want our guys to sense that.”
𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 🎃#𝐖𝐄 pic.twitter.com/s15KZu3LEu
— Rice Football (@RiceFootball) October 28, 2025
Friday begins a tough final four-game stretch in which Rice plays Memphis, North Texas and South Florida, who have a combined 20-4 record. Rice has the second-worst scoring offense in the conference (21.6 points), and average 103.6 passing yards (134th out of 136 FBS teams), but also can give opponents trouble with a triple option offense similar to Navy’s.
Away we go ➡️
#ALLIN | #GoTigersGo pic.twitter.com/Qjiyr1sQUq— Memphis Football (@MemphisFB) October 30, 2025
“That’s a challenge, especially when you’re playing this type of offense,” Silverfield said about Rice. “You’ve got to keep the guys in the right mindset, keeping those guys in rhythm, understanding the ebbs and flows of the game.” Last week, Quinton Jackson ran for 168 yards, caught three passes for 80 yards and scored four touchdowns, including the game-ending 23-yard score in double overtime. Rice was able to get its second-most points this season after being held to 47 points total during its three-game fall, “It’s a great feeling,” Jackson said. “We’ve been through a lot of hardships the last two, three, four weeks, so it really feels good to see that celebration. We haven’t had that feeling in a very long time.”
Greenville Sports Media Prediction: Memphis 27 Rice 28
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