Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1546494
32 SEPT. 12, 2026 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED GAME PREVIEW: RICE BY TYLER JAMES R ice head coach Scott Abell em- phasized DNA so much this past offseason that it might have seemed like he was study- ing to become a geneticist. Abell, who took over the program prior to last season, didn't have literal molecules in mind. What he wanted was a clear understanding of what should be en- grained in every player on his roster. That starts with physicality and toughness, which required a lot of hard coaching throughout the offseason. Abell wanted to see how the team re- sponded, and he liked what he saw. "This team will be a tough football team," Abell said before Rice's season opener. "I can guarantee that Saturday. We'll be physical. "There's a lot of things that you can't guarantee. You want to, but I can guaran- tee we'll be tough. We'll be very physical. That's something I've talked about all offseason and camp. They've responded to that. I'm excited to see that happen." That Abell could speak with such conviction about a roster that welcomed 50 new players in the offseason reflects his confidence in how well the team has coalesced. The Owls finished last season with a 5-8 record and haven't logged a winning mark since 2014. But turnarounds don't have to be slow in the current landscape of college football. "I'm excited about this group," Abell said. "They really gelled together nicely. In this new world of college football, probably everybody who stands up here and talks about their team has to ask themselves that question: Have we brought the team together? "This group is incredibly tight. They've bonded quickly. They're ex- cited about what's ahead for them." What's ahead for Rice is a meeting with a Notre Dame team that has national championship aspirations and a reunion for former Irish linebacker/defensive end Preston Zinter. The former Rivals Indus- try three-star recruit in the 2023 class transferred to Rice in the offseason and switched positions to tight end, where he earned a starting spot coming out of pre- season camp. The 6-foot-2, 254-pound Zinter might not be a headliner on Rice's roster, but he was one of two players Abell wanted to highlight before the season who might be under the radar for casual fol- lowers of the program. " He 's a n i m pa c t p l aye r," A b e l l said. "He's impactful in our block- ing schemes. He's impactful as a pass catcher for us. He can run. He's physi- cal. I'm incredibly excited for this season for him. I think his teammates would echo that sentiment." Abell also highlighted safety Koa Akui, a transfer from Sacramento State, in the same fashion. "We were excited that we were able to get him out of the portal," Abell said. "He's made play after play in camp. He seems to always be around the football. He's physical." That Abell put Zinter and Akui in the spotlight certainly wasn't by accident. They're examples of what he wants to see in his program. "I just mentioned two kids that RICE DNA Head coach Scott Abell continues to rebuild the Owls in his vision Abell is in his second season at Rice after leading the Owls to a 5-8 mark last year. PHOTO COURTESY RICE ATHLETICS