In its fifth season under head coach Philip Arbuckle, the team compiled a 6–1–2 record (2–1 against SWC opponents) and outscored opponents by a total of 346 to 62.
This remains the single-game scoring record for a Rice football team.
[4] Rice scored 23 touchdowns in the game, including six by left halfback Griffith Vance.
The Houston Daily Post wrote that Vance's work was the "outstanding feature of the game", describing a "wonderful side step" and "quick change of pace" that enabled him to run through the entire SMU team several times for touchdowns.
This college football 1916 season article is a stub.