Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Chase Clement threw for 258 yards and six touchdowns on 24-of-37 passing to lead the Rice Owls in a rout of the SMU Mustangs, 56-27, in the season-opener for both teams.

Clement also ran the ball 13 times for a total of 87 yards to lead all Rice (1-0, 1-0 C-USA) rushers. Jarett Dillard caught seven passes for 89 yards and found the end zone three times. James Casey, Corbin Smiter and Patrick Randolph all had touchdown receptions. Brandon King had two interceptions and Andrew Sendejo had one pick in the win.

Bo Levi Mitchell was 25-of-43 passing for 244 yards with three TDs and three interceptions for SMU (0-1, 0-1). Mitchell also ran three times for minus-27 yards to spoil the debut of SMU head coach June Jones. Backup quarterback Logan Turner was 5-of-6 for 82 yards and a score. Emmanuel Sanders caught eight passes for 121 yards and a score, while Aldrick Robinson had seven grabs for 91 yards and two TDs.

Tyler Jones recovered a King fumble on a punt return, which led to a 26-yard touchdown reception by Robinson. The strike put SMU up 7-0 and, as Mitchell connected with Bradley Haynes for a 19-yard touchdown, the Mustangs went ahead 13-0 after the botched extra point late in the frame.

Clement found Casey for a seven-yard Owls score and on SMU's ensuing possession, Mitchell lost a fumble as he was scrambling. On the next play, Clement found Randolph for a 35-yard TD that gave Rice a 14-13 lead after 15 minutes of football.

Clement found Dillard for a 21-yard scoring strike with 9:11 to go before the half and a 12-yard toss to Smiter gave the Owls a 28-13 lead at the half.

Mitchell hit Robinson just over two minutes into the third for a 22-yard score to pull the 'Stangs within eight. However, Clement found Dillard in the back of the end zone to cap an 11-play, 74-yard drive that lasted 4:49 and gave Rice a 35-20 cushion.

On SMU's next drive, King picked off Mitchell for an interception which was returned 54 yards to the Mustangs' one-yard line. Casey crossed the goal line on the next play and as the Mustangs were driving on their next possession, Sendejo grabbed an interception and took it across the goal line for a 49-20 Rice advantage.

Dillard hauled in an eight-yard TD pass from Clement to balloon the Owls' lead to 56-20 heading into the final stanza.

Turner found Sanders for a 32-yard touchdown pass late in the fourth to pull the Mustangs within 56-27.