FACTS & STATS: Site: Rice Stadium (47,000) -- Houston, Texas. Television: ESPN. Home Record: SMU 0-0, Rice 0-0. Away Record: SMU 0-0, Rice 0-0. Neutral Record: SMU 0-0, Rice 0-0. Conference Record: SMU 0-0, Rice 0-0. Series Record: SMU leads, 45-39-1.

GAME NOTES: The June Jones era at SMU officially begins this Friday when the Mustangs kick off the 2008 season against intrastate rival Rice. Conference USA foes as well, these two teams know each other inside and out with this being the 86th meeting in the series. SMU holds a narrow six-game edge (45-39-1). Jones left the warm, tropical breezes of Hawaii to hopefully help the Ponies make an ascent up the C-USA ladder. Having directed the Warriors to some lofty heights in recent years, expectations are high in Dallas although it is fair to say that Jones has his work cut out for him. SMU won just once last season and is currently riding a 10-game losing streak. The team failed to win any of its eight conference clashes, although it was competitive in most. Of the eight league setbacks, five came by seven points or fewer, including three in overtime. As for Rice, it was only slightly better last year, going 3-9, although all of its victories came in C-USA play. The Owls, coached by second-year head man David Bailiff, won just one of their six home games in 2007. Rice claimed a narrow victory in the most recent meeting with SMU, 43-42, last November.

At Hawaii, Jones ran the spread offense to near perfection and he plans on doing the same at SMU. While it may take time for the players to grasp the concept, there is certainly talent in place. Jones recently announced that freshmen QBs Bo Levi Mitchell and Braden Smith have been anointed the guys he will utilize to run his offense. Both have done a nice job picking up the terminology and are executing well at the moment. The return of junior WR Emmanuel Sanders will serve as the team's big-play threat, although depth at the position is somewhat of a concern due to the new scheme. Still, the 6-1, 175-pound Sanders is a serious talent and he led the team with 74 catches for 889 yards and nine TDs a year ago. Senior DeMyron Martin is a tough runner between the tackles and with more touches he should easily improve on the 458 yards he amassed last year. The biggest concern for the offense is in the trenches, where three starters, including both tackles, need to be replaced.

The Mustangs finished 116th in total defense and 117th in scoring defense last season, so vast improvement is needed across the board. Up front, the Ponies are hoping sophomore Youri Yenga can become a monster pass rusher as they desperately need someone to put pressure on the quarterback. The 6-2, 225- pound end has good speed but he had just 2.5 sacks in '07. The linebacking corps returns just one starter, but he is a good one in senior Will Bonilla. A bit undersized at 5-11, 225 pounds, Bonilla is quick to the ball and led SMU with 82 tackles last season. He is on the Butkus Award watch list heading into this new season. Sophomore Justin Smart and Pete Fleps will start as well and there is a lot of excitement surrounding those two youngsters. In the secondary, junior Bryan McCann highlights a group that is in desperate need of improvement after allowing more than 300 ypg through the air last year. McCann has the speed to shut down opposing wideouts and he could be in line to receive All-Conference USA honors after notching 59 stops and a team-best four INTs a year ago.

Rice had an explosive offense last season and it should be more of the same in 2008 thanks to the return of several starters, including QB Chase Clement. The 6-1, 215-pound senior rewrote the record books for the Owls last season, throwing for 3,377 yards and 19 TDs while adding another 535 yards and eight scores on the ground. Clement has built a reputation for being a clutch performer and he is one of the true leaders on this team. The return of the club's top four receivers, including senior Jarett Dillard, will surely help Clement and the rest of the team reach its goals. The 5-11, 190-pound Dillard is one of the most explosive players in the country and he has developed some serious chemistry with Clement, catching 170 balls for 2,304 yards and 35 TDs over the past two seasons. While the wideout position is set, the same can't be said about the Owls' running game. Rice averaged a mere 110 rushing yards per tilt last season and the team is still in search of workhorse back. Junior C.J. Ugokwe rushed for 263 yards and a score in '07 and he could see the bulk of the carries this fall, although he will be pushed by sophomore Justin Hill, who rumbled his way to 321 yards and three TDs a year ago.

Rice was absolutely terrible defensively last season, yielding 42.9 points and 510 total yards per game. Although several starters return, with numbers like that, it may not be a good thing. Up front, however, the Owls have high hopes for DE Scott Solomon, who stood out at times as a freshman. The 6-3, 250- pounder made 49 stops, including 11 TFLs and 4.5 sacks, and the hope is he can develop into one of the more dominant pass rushers in the conference. Rice runs a 4-2-5, and both LBs are back for another go. Seniors Brian Raines and Vernon James combined to make 155 tackles, among them 15 TFLs, in '07 and they figure to make an even bigger impact this year. The secondary is deep and experienced and should improve greatly on the 312 passing ypg it surrendered last season. Junior FS Andrew Sendejo highlights the group and he is coming off a solid campaign in which led the team with 107 tackles and five INTs.

SMU scored big time with the hiring of Jones, but it will take time for him to put his stamp on the program. Patience is the order of the day as young QBS take time to develop, particularly in a system as wide open as the one the Mustangs will run. As for Rice, it will score points as the offense is just fine, but defensively is where the Owls need to make serious strides if they are to close the gap in C-USA. This game should be high scoring, with the edge going to the home team.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Rice 41, SMU 35