The Rice Owl football team will look to once again sweep games against local opponents in the 2024 season, opening the year against three straight foes from Houston and nearby Huntsville, Texas.
Last year, the Owls took down the University of Houston 43-41 in a double-overtime thriller during the season’s home opener and followed it up with a 59-7 thrashing of Texas Southern University, clinching the city sweep. This season, Rice will again see some local opponents in its first few weeks of action.
After kicking off the year at Rice Stadium against Sam Houston State University Aug. 31, Rice will then take on TSU at home and travel about five miles east to TDECU Stadium the week after to face the Cougars.
Rice will open the season at home for the first time since 2018, and Dunlevie Family Head Football Coach Mike Bloomgren says his team is chomping at the bit to get out there and perform Saturday.
“Opening at home is right where you want to be,” Bloomgren said during a Tuesday press conference. “I’m fired up for the opportunity to play in front of our home crowd every time we get a chance to.
“Every coach and player in this building is excited to kick this thing off on Saturday. It feels like it’s been forever since we got a chance to play a real game, so we’re really excited to play Sam Houston.”
While players are excited at the chance to run the table against three straight in-state opponents, they are taking it one game at a time, senior defensive tackle Izeya Floyd said.
“I think that that’d be great, but it starts with the first one,” Floyd said. “Sam Houston this weekend is our opponent, and we’re going to prepare to our highest ability for them.”
Separated by a little more than 70 miles, Rice and Sam Houston share a football history that dates back to 1912, when they met in the first intercollegiate football game for both schools. This year’s game likely has a special meaning for Sam Houston Athletic Director Bobby Williams who was a starter at wide receiver for the Rice Owls. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Rice in 1981 and his Master of Arts from Rice a year later.
Saturday’s game will be the 18th matchup between the schools with Rice leading the all-time series 16-1.
“We understand that this is a great opponent, and we’ve been preparing for these opportunities and matchups all offseason and training camp,” Bloomgren said. “I think physically and mentally, we’re a stronger football team than we’ve ever been, and that’s what excites me for the challenge of playing a great Sam Houston team. I think it’s going to be a heck of a football game for 60 minutes.”
Single-game tickets for all six of Rice’s 2024 home football games are now on sale starting at $22 online at TicketMaster or by calling 713-348-OWLS (6957). Owls’ fans also have the option to secure their same seats for all six games by purchasing season tickets , or they can create their own customized two- or three-game mini plans .
To learn more about Rice Football, visit riceowls.com/sports/football.