Rice will officially join the American Athletic Conference for competition in the 2023-24 academic year, the university and league have announced.
Rice is one of six institutions leaving Conference USA for The American. The others are the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Florida Atlantic University, the University of North Texas, the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the University of Texas at San Antonio.
The Owls have been members of C-USA since the 2005-06 academic year, after an eight-year run in the Western Athletic Conference that began following the dissolution of the Southwest Conference at the end of 1995-96.
“Today’s announcement brings Rice Athletics a step closer to its very bright future,” Rice Director of Athletics, Recreation and Lifetime Fitness Joe Karlgaard told RiceOwls.com. “As we prepare for entry into the American Athletic Conference in 2023, we need all of our alumni and fans to step forward in support of our coaches and student athletes. Only in working together can we realize our aspirations to win championships and offer the best student athlete experience available.”
For more, visit RiceOwls.com.