HOUSTON -- Rice clinched its first outright conference title since 1957, running over Marshall 41-24 in the Conference USA Championship Game Saturday.

The Owls (10-3) relied on their bruising ground attack to subdue the Herd (9-4), with running backs Charles Ross and Luke Turner delivering via versatility. Rice gained 250 of its 489 yards on the ground.

Ross rushed for 109 yards and two touchdowns, upping his season total to 14 and matching the program single-season mark set by Trevor Cobb in 1991. Turner passed for two touchdowns, doubling his career total.

The Owls' defense was exceptional, limiting the Herd to 371 yards and just 4.8 yards per play. Marshall averaged 53 points during the five-game winning streak it carried into its first C-USA Championship Game appearance.

Herd quarterback Rakeem Cato passed for 265 yards and two touchdowns in the loss.