Members of the Rice University community, from alumni to staff and loyal football fans and donors, gathered in Fort Worth Jan. 2 to cheer on the Owls in their Armed Forces Bowl matchup against Texas State University.
Game day included a festive pregame tailgate at Amon G. Carter Stadium, where laughter, memories and school pride filled the area as generations of Owls reconnected and cheered on the program in its 15th bowl appearance — and third in the last four seasons.
For the team, the bowl week schedule blended competition, camaraderie and meaningful engagement. On the opening night, Rice and Texas State squared off in a spirited edition of “Family Feud” at the iconic Billy Bob’s Texas — with the Owls coming away with the win to set an upbeat tone for the week. The next evening brought dinner and an improv comedy show, giving players a chance to unwind together off the field.
Perhaps the most impactful moment of the trip came when the team visited the National Medal of Honor Museum, where players reflected on the stories and sacrifices of America’s servicemembers. Several Rice players also visited patients at Cook Children’s Medical Center, spending time with young patients and families. The Owls took part in the bowl’s kickoff luncheon and strengthened team bonds during an axe-throwing outing. Scott Abell, the Dunlevie Family Head Football Coach, and Tommy McClelland, vice president and director of athletics, also represented Rice at the luncheon.
“What an honor it is to be able to play in this bowl game,” Abell said. “There’s a lot of bowl games out there, and we would’ve been excited to go to any of them, but to have the opportunity to come to the Armed Forces Bowl and see all of the veterans we saw this week and the stories we heard, it’s priceless, for your program and for yourself.
“The score will fade and we’ll move on, but our players will think about this week, being here together in Fort Worth and this experience, and you can’t put a price tag on that when you’re trying build a culture and build a program.”
When game day arrived, Rice took the field for its second appearance in the Armed Forces Bowl and its sixth all-time meeting with Texas State. The Bobcats earned a 41-10 win, extending their series lead to 4-2 overall and securing their second straight bowl victory over the Owls following the 2023 First Responder Bowl.
Still, the week marked another milestone for the program. Rice is now 7-8 all-time in bowl games, and five Owls — Andrew Awe, Micah Barnett, Blake Boenisch, Quinton Jackson and Peyton Stevenson — joined 15 other players in school history to appear in three bowls.