2025 Football Game Themes Revealed
8/11/2025 2:37:00 PM | Football
Tailgate Owley Concert Series lineup released
Rice Athletics has finalized plans for seven memorable game experiences at Rice Stadium in 2025 as the Scott Abell era of Rice Football gets underway. Each home game features a specialized theme that will be reflected not only during pregame activities inside Tailgate Owley, but once each game kicks off. Each game will feature of live music as part of the 2025 Tailgate Owley Concert Series, great food, supercar meetups, gaming tournaments and much more.
Sat. Sep. 6 vs. University of Houston • Kickoff Weekend / #All4HTXDay
The venerable Bayou Bucket, as well as city bragging rights, will once again be on the line when the Owls and Cougars kick off the 2025 home schedule on #All4HTXDay. Tailgate Owley will be energized by a pregame concert by the Will Carter Band, a supercar meetup with Team Savage, and an EA Sports NCAA Football gaming tournament, before the action moves inside the stadium, where former players from previous Bayou Bucket battles will be honored. It's a celebration of our city's rich culture and diversity and a fitting kickoff to an exciting and anticipated 2025 season.
Sat. Sep. 13 vs. Prairie View A&M University • Salute To Service
One week later, the pregame festivities ramp up again with another in-state matchup as we hold our annual Salute to Service game. This special event honors the courageous men and women who have dedicated their lives to protecting our nation, capped by a pregame flyover during the national anthem. Double Vision will take over the Tailgate Owley concert stage to energize fans for the third-ever meeting between the Owls and Panthers.
Sat. Oct. 4 vs. Florida Atlantic • Families Weekend / Space Day
Rice's annual Families Weekend features a meeting of Owls in 2025, and Rice will also salute Rice and Houston's heritage of exploration on Space Day. Davi Jay and the Bourbon Street Experience will provide the pregame soundtrack for the gathering of Rice students and their families the while they take in a number of displays and presentations related to the exploration of outer space.
Sat. Oct. 25 vs. UCONN • Rice Athletics Hall of Fame / Fall Fest
Rice Athletics Hall of Fame Weekend will see seven former student-athletes take their place among the greatest names in Rice Athletics and two others honored for a lifetime of service to intercollegiate athletics at Rice. Six Gun Sound will be featured on the Tailgate Owley concert stage while attendees can enjoy the onset of Fall with familiar treats such as apple cider, candy apples, doughnuts, and more. This game's supercar meetup is hosted by Supercar Showcase..
Fri. Oct. 31 vs. Memphis • Halloween
Rice Stadium will be a one-stop Trick or Treat spooktacular when the Owls welcome the Memphis Tigers to town for a prime-time national broadcast. The electrifying Queen Legacy will set the tone for fans of all ages to rock out amidst festive Halloween activities. Cosplay characters from favorite movies and shows will be on hand, and fans can trick-or-treat at our Owl-o-Ween Trunk or Treat. A stunning collection of high-performance vehicles will be the featured attraction at another supercar meetup hosted by Supercar Showcase, before fans can move inside the stadium to root on the Owls.
Sat. Nov. 8 vs. UAB • Alumni Weekend / Homecoming
The annual Alumni Weekend and Homecoming game features a battle between Rice and the Blazers of UAB. Pregame kicks off in Tailgate Owley with an unforgettable show by the high-octane Reckless ATX, as Rice alumni, students, and Houston fans unite for electrifying football action. Rev up the excitement with a stunning Supercar Showcase hosted by Rafa Racing Club, showcasing sleek, high-performance vehicles, alongside vibrant tailgate festivities.
Sat. Nov. 22 vs. North Texas • Senior Day
The 2025 season closes in traditional fashion as the Owls will salute the class of seniors who will make their final appearance at Rice Stadium against the Mean Green. A great lineup of unforgettable Tailgate Owley Concert Series performances comes to a close with the soulful Kate Watson, who will also open the game with a stirring performance of "God Bless America." The final Supercar Showcase will feature jaw-dropping high-performance vehicles.
Single-game tickets for all seven of Rice's 2025 home football games are now on sale starting at $22 online HERE or by calling (713) 348-OWLS (6957). Owls' fans also have the option to secure their same seats for all seven games by purchasing season tickets or they can create their own customized two or three-game mini plans.
Sat. Sep. 6 vs. University of Houston • Kickoff Weekend / #All4HTXDay
The venerable Bayou Bucket, as well as city bragging rights, will once again be on the line when the Owls and Cougars kick off the 2025 home schedule on #All4HTXDay. Tailgate Owley will be energized by a pregame concert by the Will Carter Band, a supercar meetup with Team Savage, and an EA Sports NCAA Football gaming tournament, before the action moves inside the stadium, where former players from previous Bayou Bucket battles will be honored. It's a celebration of our city's rich culture and diversity and a fitting kickoff to an exciting and anticipated 2025 season.
Sat. Sep. 13 vs. Prairie View A&M University • Salute To Service
One week later, the pregame festivities ramp up again with another in-state matchup as we hold our annual Salute to Service game. This special event honors the courageous men and women who have dedicated their lives to protecting our nation, capped by a pregame flyover during the national anthem. Double Vision will take over the Tailgate Owley concert stage to energize fans for the third-ever meeting between the Owls and Panthers.
Sat. Oct. 4 vs. Florida Atlantic • Families Weekend / Space Day
Rice's annual Families Weekend features a meeting of Owls in 2025, and Rice will also salute Rice and Houston's heritage of exploration on Space Day. Davi Jay and the Bourbon Street Experience will provide the pregame soundtrack for the gathering of Rice students and their families the while they take in a number of displays and presentations related to the exploration of outer space.
Sat. Oct. 25 vs. UCONN • Rice Athletics Hall of Fame / Fall Fest
Rice Athletics Hall of Fame Weekend will see seven former student-athletes take their place among the greatest names in Rice Athletics and two others honored for a lifetime of service to intercollegiate athletics at Rice. Six Gun Sound will be featured on the Tailgate Owley concert stage while attendees can enjoy the onset of Fall with familiar treats such as apple cider, candy apples, doughnuts, and more. This game's supercar meetup is hosted by Supercar Showcase..
Fri. Oct. 31 vs. Memphis • Halloween
Rice Stadium will be a one-stop Trick or Treat spooktacular when the Owls welcome the Memphis Tigers to town for a prime-time national broadcast. The electrifying Queen Legacy will set the tone for fans of all ages to rock out amidst festive Halloween activities. Cosplay characters from favorite movies and shows will be on hand, and fans can trick-or-treat at our Owl-o-Ween Trunk or Treat. A stunning collection of high-performance vehicles will be the featured attraction at another supercar meetup hosted by Supercar Showcase, before fans can move inside the stadium to root on the Owls.
Sat. Nov. 8 vs. UAB • Alumni Weekend / Homecoming
The annual Alumni Weekend and Homecoming game features a battle between Rice and the Blazers of UAB. Pregame kicks off in Tailgate Owley with an unforgettable show by the high-octane Reckless ATX, as Rice alumni, students, and Houston fans unite for electrifying football action. Rev up the excitement with a stunning Supercar Showcase hosted by Rafa Racing Club, showcasing sleek, high-performance vehicles, alongside vibrant tailgate festivities.
Sat. Nov. 22 vs. North Texas • Senior Day
The 2025 season closes in traditional fashion as the Owls will salute the class of seniors who will make their final appearance at Rice Stadium against the Mean Green. A great lineup of unforgettable Tailgate Owley Concert Series performances comes to a close with the soulful Kate Watson, who will also open the game with a stirring performance of "God Bless America." The final Supercar Showcase will feature jaw-dropping high-performance vehicles.
Single-game tickets for all seven of Rice's 2025 home football games are now on sale starting at $22 online HERE or by calling (713) 348-OWLS (6957). Owls' fans also have the option to secure their same seats for all seven games by purchasing season tickets or they can create their own customized two or three-game mini plans.
Houston postgame
Sunday, September 07
Louisiana Postgame
Sunday, August 31
2025 February Signing Day
Thursday, February 06
Scott Abell 2024 December Signing Day
Wednesday, December 04