Overview
- Brad Jackson threw for 173 yards with three touchdowns and added a 6-yard rushing score as Texas State pulled away after halftime.
- Running back Lincoln Pare gained 106 yards on 11 carries, including a 63-yard touchdown, and finished his final season with 1,022 rushing yards.
- Receiver Chris Dawn Jr. caught scoring passes of 12 and 14 yards, and a 69-yard connection to Beau Sparks helped ignite the second-half surge.
- Rice’s lone touchdown was a 2-yard pass from freshman Patrick Crayton Jr. to Aaron Turner as the Owls played without transfer-portal departures Chase Jenkins and Drew Devillier at quarterback.
- Rice reached the bowl at 5-7 via APR preference after a shortage of eligible teams, and Texas State entered as a heavy favorite in sportsbooks with lines reported around -16.5 to -18.5.