A seven-yard rushing touchdown by senior running back Zach Line is the only SMU Mustangs score in a Conference USA football game that features the Rice Owls leading 20-7 at halftime.

Lince has carried the ball 14 times for 57 yards for the Mustangs (5-5, 4-2 C-USA), who need one more victory to become bowl eligible. Junior quarterback Garrett Gilbert is 7-for-15 with 68 passing yards. His favorite target has been Darius Johnson, who has three catches for 46 yards.

Lince's touchdown helped SMU earn a brief 7-3 lead, but the Owls (4-6, 2-4 C-USA) finished the half with 17-unanswered points. The last was a seven-yard touchdown pass from Taylor McHargue to wide receiver Donte Moore with 20 seconds to go in the second quarter.

Wide receiver Vance McDonald also has a touchdown reception while kicker Chris Boswell has made field goals from 56 and 51 yards, respectively. Boswell has also missed from 45 yards out.