Owls Set for Night Opener in 2025
5/29/2025 10:48:00 AM | Football
Bayou Bucket Classic kicks off a 6 p.m.
Houston-Dunlevie Family Head Football Coach Scott Abell will make his Rice Stadium debut under the lights on September 6, when his Owls face Houston at 6 p.m. on ESPN+. The American Athletic Conference has announced kickoff times and television designations for the first three weeks of the 2025 football season, in addition to prime-time games on ESPN networks on Thursday.
Abell and the Owls make their Rice debut on the road on ESPN+ at Louisiana at 7 p.m. on August 30 before returning home to open the seven-game home schedule with the 47th meeting overall between the crosstown rivals and the 44th to determine possession of the Bayou Bucket trophy. Rice won the last meeting in the series at Rice Stadium, a 43-41 double overtime thriller in 2022.
Abell and the Owls will be back in action at Rice Stadium the following Saturday when they host Prairie View A&M at 6 p.m. and then make their ESPN prime time debut five days later when the Owls meet Charlotte on Thursday, September 18, at 6 p.m.
Rice and Memphis will get an early start on Halloween when they kick off at 6 p.m. on Friday, October 31, with coverage on ESPN2. The game with the Tigers is one of the AAC's five Friday night prime time games on the schedule.
Game time assignments for the final seven regular season games, including home contests against Florida Atlantic (October 4), UConn (October 25), UAB (November 8), and North Texas (November 22), will be released every week through the season by The American as part of the conference's 12-day selection process.
The American Athletic Conference Football Championship Game will air on ABC on Friday, Dec. 5 at 8 p.m. ET. It will be the 11th consecutive season that The American Championship will be televised on ABC.
Season ticket packages start at $145 per seat, providing fans with the best value for their money and a family-friendly viewing experience at college football's highest level. Those interested in purchasing season tickets should secure their seats now by visiting RiceOwls.com/25FBTix or calling (713) 348-OWLS (6957).
Fans interested in purchasing tailgating opportunities for the 2025 season should contact Nathan Castillo, Assistant AD - Ticketing and Business Strategy for more information when it becomes available.
The standard benefits for 2024 football season ticket members will roll over into this year. For more information on season ticket member benefits, please click here.
2025 RICE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
DAY DATE OPPONENT TIME (C) NETWORK
Sat 8/30 @Louisiana 7:00 PM ESPN+
Sat 9/6 Houston 6:00 PM ESPN+
Sat 9/13 Prairie View A&M 6:00 PM ESPN+
Thu 9/18 @Charlotte 6:30 PM ESPN
Sat. 9/27 @Navy TBA ESPN networks
Sat. 10/4 Florida Atlantic TBA ESPN networks
Sat. 10/11 @UTSA TBA ESPN networks
Sat. 10/25 UConn TBA ESPN networks
Fri 10/31 Memphis 6:00 PM ESPN2
Sat. 11/8 UAB TBA ESPN networks
Sat. 11/22 North Texas TBA ESPN networks
Sat. 11/29 @South Florida TBA ESPN networks
Abell and the Owls make their Rice debut on the road on ESPN+ at Louisiana at 7 p.m. on August 30 before returning home to open the seven-game home schedule with the 47th meeting overall between the crosstown rivals and the 44th to determine possession of the Bayou Bucket trophy. Rice won the last meeting in the series at Rice Stadium, a 43-41 double overtime thriller in 2022.
Abell and the Owls will be back in action at Rice Stadium the following Saturday when they host Prairie View A&M at 6 p.m. and then make their ESPN prime time debut five days later when the Owls meet Charlotte on Thursday, September 18, at 6 p.m.
Rice and Memphis will get an early start on Halloween when they kick off at 6 p.m. on Friday, October 31, with coverage on ESPN2. The game with the Tigers is one of the AAC's five Friday night prime time games on the schedule.
Game time assignments for the final seven regular season games, including home contests against Florida Atlantic (October 4), UConn (October 25), UAB (November 8), and North Texas (November 22), will be released every week through the season by The American as part of the conference's 12-day selection process.
The American Athletic Conference Football Championship Game will air on ABC on Friday, Dec. 5 at 8 p.m. ET. It will be the 11th consecutive season that The American Championship will be televised on ABC.
Season ticket packages start at $145 per seat, providing fans with the best value for their money and a family-friendly viewing experience at college football's highest level. Those interested in purchasing season tickets should secure their seats now by visiting RiceOwls.com/25FBTix or calling (713) 348-OWLS (6957).
Fans interested in purchasing tailgating opportunities for the 2025 season should contact Nathan Castillo, Assistant AD - Ticketing and Business Strategy for more information when it becomes available.
The standard benefits for 2024 football season ticket members will roll over into this year. For more information on season ticket member benefits, please click here.
2025 RICE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
DAY DATE OPPONENT TIME (C) NETWORK
Sat 8/30 @Louisiana 7:00 PM ESPN+
Sat 9/6 Houston 6:00 PM ESPN+
Sat 9/13 Prairie View A&M 6:00 PM ESPN+
Thu 9/18 @Charlotte 6:30 PM ESPN
Sat. 9/27 @Navy TBA ESPN networks
Sat. 10/4 Florida Atlantic TBA ESPN networks
Sat. 10/11 @UTSA TBA ESPN networks
Sat. 10/25 UConn TBA ESPN networks
Fri 10/31 Memphis 6:00 PM ESPN2
Sat. 11/8 UAB TBA ESPN networks
Sat. 11/22 North Texas TBA ESPN networks
Sat. 11/29 @South Florida TBA ESPN networks
WBB: Rice vs. Marshall Postgame Presser
Wednesday, March 09
VB: Rice-Texas Postgame Presser
Saturday, December 04
VB: Rice-San Diego Postgame Presser
Thursday, December 02