(Photo credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images)

Most coaches profess excitement to play in a bowl game, whether they mean it or not.

It's probably a safe guess that first-year Rice coach Scott Abell wasn't faking his thoughts about getting an invitation to take his team to the Armed Forces Bowl against Texas State on Friday in Fort Worth, Texas.

'I am thrilled to have another opportunity to coach this group of young men this year,' Abell said. 'Having two more weeks of practice is invaluable as we continue to grow this program. The fact that our seniors have a chance to end their career with a bowl championship is truly special.'

And truly surprising.

The Owls finished 5-7, a record that ordinarily doesn't allow a team to play in a bowl game. However, a number of bowl-eligible programs opted not to play for one reason or another, even though in a couple of cases, it meant absorbing $500,000 fines from the Big 12 Conference. Iowa State and Kansas State were the schools preferring to pay instead of play.

So Rice, a team coming off 56-24 and 52-3 losses to North Texas and South Florida, respectively, in its last two games, has a chance to end the year on an unexpected high. The Owls started 3-1 but dropped six of their last eight.

Arguably their best win was a 37-34 double-overtime home decision over a UConn team that won nine games this year.

The Owls will have to play without starting quarterback Chase Jenkins, who hit the transfer portal after throwing for 1,025 yards and nine touchdowns with two interceptions while rushing for 531 yards and five scores. Drew Devillier, who completed 10 of 21 passes in limited duty, would figure to take the snaps on Friday, though Abell didn't make it official.

'My focus turns to giving all my attention to the quarterbacks that are here,' Abell said.

Texas State (6-6) is also dealing with some changes due to the portal. Starting center Brock Riker has put San Marcos in the rearview mirror after starting all 12 games as a redshirt freshman, while another offensive lineman, Teliek Lockette, is also departing via the portal.

The good news for the Bobcats is that coach GJ Kinne has retained most of the star players off this team. Freshman quarterback Brad Jackson (3,050 yards, 18 TDs, seven interceptions), top receiver Beau Sparks (80 catches, 1,113 yards, 9 TDs) and No. 2 pass-catcher Chris Dawn Jr. (54 catches, 931 yards, 2 TDs) have all announced they will return in 2026.

Texas State earned its bowl chance by walloping South Alabama 49-26 in the regular-season finale on Nov. 29 for its third straight win. The Bobcats endured a five-game skid before putting things together at the end.

'We fought extremely hard, and a lot of hard work went into getting this opportunity,' Kinne said. 'There's a ton of excitement for our guys and we're excited to showcase what we're all about. I know what quality of bowl game this is. I know Rice will present issues for us in all three phases.'

This will be the second time these teams have met in a bowl in three years. Texas State prevailed 45-21 in 2023 at the First Responder Bowl in Dallas.

--Field Level Media