Rice names Wiley Green starting quarterback for season opener against USC

Redshirt junior Wiley Green was named starting quarterback for the Rice Owls by head coach Mike Bloomgren following Monday's practice in Houston. Green was the starter to start the 2021 season against Arkansas before an injury forced him out against Texas later in the non-conference season. He returned to become the Conference USA Player of the Week during Rice’s upset win over UAB weeks later thanks to 205 yards passing and three touchdowns. He suffered a season-ending injury a week later against North Texas. 

Green beat out fellow junior TJ McMahon for the starting quarterback spot. The reward for winning Rice's quarterback battle ahead of the 2022 college football season is a Wee 1 trip to Los Angeles to face the USC Trojans and new head coach Lincoln Riley. Green enters the 2022 season with a team-high 12 starts at quarterback. He's thrown for 1,849 yards and 11 touchdowns to 10 interceptions in his four seasons at Rice. He was also the opening-day starter in 2019 and made seven starts that season. He only made one appearance in 2020.