Western Michigan hits the road to play Rice

Audio By Carbonatix

Western Michigan (1-1) at Rice (1-1), Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. EDT.

Opening Line: Western Michigan by 11.5. Against the spread: Western Michigan 2-0, Rice 1-1.

How to watch: ESPN+

Key stats

Western Michigan Offense

Overall: 317.5 yards per game (119th in FBS)

Passing: 177.5 yards per game (107th)

Rushing: 140.0 yards per game (94th)

Scoring: 30.5 points per game (72nd)

Western Michigan Defense

Overall: 353.5 yards per game (85th in FBS)

Passing: 221.5 yards per game (90th)

Rushing: 132.0 yards per game (85th)

Scoring: 13.5 points per game (35th)

Rice Offense

Overall: 310.5 yards per game (122nd in FBS)

Passing: 49.5 yards per game (138th)

Rushing: 261.0 yards per game (12th)

Scoring: 15.5 points per game (130th)

Rice Defense

Overall: 358.0 yards per game (89th in FBS)

Passing: 228.0 yards per game (97th)

Rushing: 130.0 yards per game (82nd)

Scoring: 27.5 points per game (104th)

Western Michigan ranks 120th in defensive third down percentage, allowing opponents to convert 46.7% of the time. Rice ranks 55th on offense, converting on 44.8% of third downs.

Rice ranks 125th in the FBS with a -3 turnover margin, compared to Western Michigan's 5th-ranked +5 margin.

Rice is 20th in the FBS averaging 33.5 penalty yards per game.

Rice is 125th in FBS in red zone offense, scoring on 66.7% of trips. Western Michigan's red zone defense ranks 13th at 60.0%.

Both teams rank high in time of possession. Western Michigan is 20th in the FBS with an average time of possession of 34:08, while Rice's 25th-ranked average is 33:37.

Team leaders

Western Michigan

Passing: Broc Lowry, 301 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INTs, 70.7 completion percentage

Rushing: Jalen Buckley, 90 yards on 29 carries, 3 TDs

Receiving: Aveion Chenault, 154 yards on 10 catches, 0 TDs

Rice

Passing: Jacurri Brown, 82 yards, 1 TD, 0 INTs, 61.1 completion percentage

Rushing: Brown, 130 yards on 29 carries, 0 TDs

Receiving: Barry Jackson Jr., 30 yards on 1 catch, 0 TDs

Last game

Western Michigan defeated Monmouth 49-14 on Sept. 12. Lowry led Western Michigan with 212 yards on 14-of-20 passing (70.0%) for three touchdowns and no interceptions. He also carried the ball four times for 40 yards. Trey Petty carried the ball four times for 30 yards. Chenault put up 101 yards on four catches.

Rice was beaten by Notre Dame 52-0 on Sept. 12. Brown led Rice with 64 yards on 8-of-12 passing (66.7%) for no touchdowns and no interceptions. He also carried the ball 16 times for 32 yards. Tyvonn Byars carried the ball seven times for 24 yards. Jackson put up 30 yards on one catch.

Next game

Western Michigan hosts Boise State on Sept. 26. Rice plays at Fresno State on Sept. 26.