Rice secured a hard-fought 14-12 road win over Louisiana as the Owls' rushing attack proved decisive with touchdowns from Quinton Jackson and Aaron Turner in the second quarter. The Ragin' Cajuns kept it close with two Tony Sterner field goals and a Walker Howard 25-yard touchdown run, but a failed two-point conversion in the third quarter proved costly. Despite a scoreless fourth quarter, Rice's defense held firm to preserve the season-opening victory in Lafayette.