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Rice University Athletics
Owls Open ’26 American Campaign at Home with UTSA
2/26/2026 1:07:00 PM | Football
American Conference schedule released
2026 Rice Football Season Ticket Interest Form
Houston- Rice will open its American Conference football season at home for the first time when the Owls host UTSA at Rice Stadium on Saturday, October 3, the conference announced on Thursday as part of its release of the entire 2026 football schedule.
The Owls opened each of their first three seasons in the American on the road (at USF in 2023, Army in 2024, and Charlotte in 2025).
The conference opener follows an opening month of non-conference games, kicking off 2026 by hosting HCU on September 5 and Western Michigan on September 19, along with road games at Notre Dame on September 12 and Fresno State on September 26.
After opening with the Roadrunners, Rice will travel to Greenville, North Carolina, for the first time since 2009 to meet East Carolina on October 10. The Owls will welcome Tulsa to Rice Stadium on October 17 and then face Florida Atlantic on the road on October 24, followed by an off week. The conference schedule resumes on November 7 at North Texas.
Tulane returns to Rice Stadium on November 14 as the centerpiece of Rice's annual Alumni Weekend Homecoming & Reunion, which runs from November 12-15.
Rice's final road trip of the regular season will also be the Owls' only mid-week assignment in 2026 when they make their first-ever trip to Philadelphia to take on Temple on November 19. The 2026 regular season wraps up at Rice Stadium on November 28 when the Owls host Army.
Kickoff times and television designations for the first three weeks of the season, as well as the season-long weeknight games, will be finalized by June 1. The rest of the schedule will fall under the customary 12-day and six-day selection processes. All dates announced today are subject to change.
Information on renewing Rice Football season tickets will be sent to all current account holders on Friday. Fans looking to purchase new season tickets for the 2026 season can express their interest using this form and will be contacted by a sales representative.
Houston- Rice will open its American Conference football season at home for the first time when the Owls host UTSA at Rice Stadium on Saturday, October 3, the conference announced on Thursday as part of its release of the entire 2026 football schedule.
The Owls opened each of their first three seasons in the American on the road (at USF in 2023, Army in 2024, and Charlotte in 2025).
The conference opener follows an opening month of non-conference games, kicking off 2026 by hosting HCU on September 5 and Western Michigan on September 19, along with road games at Notre Dame on September 12 and Fresno State on September 26.
After opening with the Roadrunners, Rice will travel to Greenville, North Carolina, for the first time since 2009 to meet East Carolina on October 10. The Owls will welcome Tulsa to Rice Stadium on October 17 and then face Florida Atlantic on the road on October 24, followed by an off week. The conference schedule resumes on November 7 at North Texas.
Tulane returns to Rice Stadium on November 14 as the centerpiece of Rice's annual Alumni Weekend Homecoming & Reunion, which runs from November 12-15.
Rice's final road trip of the regular season will also be the Owls' only mid-week assignment in 2026 when they make their first-ever trip to Philadelphia to take on Temple on November 19. The 2026 regular season wraps up at Rice Stadium on November 28 when the Owls host Army.
Kickoff times and television designations for the first three weeks of the season, as well as the season-long weeknight games, will be finalized by June 1. The rest of the schedule will fall under the customary 12-day and six-day selection processes. All dates announced today are subject to change.
Information on renewing Rice Football season tickets will be sent to all current account holders on Friday. Fans looking to purchase new season tickets for the 2026 season can express their interest using this form and will be contacted by a sales representative.
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