Rice @ Texas A&M preview

Johnny Football will not become Johnny Sidelined after all - at least not for long. Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel's murky eligibility status was resolved Wednesday, when the NCAA and No. 6 Texas A&M agreed to suspend the star quarterback for the first half of Saturday's season opener against visiting Rice. Manziel escaped severe punishment when the NCAA could not prove he accepted cash for signing autographs, the latest saga in his controversy-filled offseason.

With the eligibility issue behind him, Manziel now gets to build on a wondrous 2012 season that saw him become the first freshman to win the Heisman. Rice, a member of the retooled Conference USA, returns 18 starters and hopes to carry the momentum from last season, when it won its final five games and destroyed Air Force in the Armed Forces Bowl. The defense, among the nation's worst over the first half last year, made marked strides during the winning streak.

TV: 1 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Texas A&M –27.

ABOUT RICE (2012: 7-6, 4-4 Conference USA): The Owls have aspirations of making a run at a conference title, but head coach David Bailiff knows his squad faces a daunting task, calling the opener "a great measuring stick for what kind of team we’re going to have." Senior quarterback Taylor McHargue threw for 2,209 yards and 12 touchdowns and ran for over 800 and 11 last season, augmenting a rushing attack that rolled up 201.8 yards per game. The entire offensive line returns, as does leading receiver Jordan Taylor, while 10 starters are back from a defense that yielded 200 fewer yards per game over the second half of last season.

ABOUT TEXAS A&M (2012: 11-2, 6-2 SEC): The Aggies made a smashing debut in the Southeastern Conference behind dual-threat QB Manziel, who shattered a league record with 5.116 total yards while amassing 47 touchdowns (26 passing) and directing an upset of national champion Alabama in Tuscaloosa. The Aggies must replace tackle Luke Joeckel, the No. 2 overall draft pick, and all-time leading receiver Ryan Swope, but Mike Evans looks ready to ascend to stardom following a magnificent 82-catch, 1,105-yard freshman campaign. The defense, headed by linebacker Steven Jenkins, has holes to fill and struggled against the pass last season, which is not the worst issue given the lack of high-powered aerial attacks in the SEC.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Texas A&M has not lost a non-conference home game to an in-state opponent since September 1954 - the school's first game under legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant.

2. Taylor had nine catches for 153 yards and three TDs in the bowl game win over Air Force.

3. The Aggies lead the series 50-27-2 and have beaten Rice 15 straight times, but the former Southwest Conference rivals haven't met since 1995.

PREDICTION: Texas A&M 47, Rice 23