Rice University athletic teams are known as the Rice Owls. The name comes from the owls in Rice's crest. Rice participates in NCAA Division I athletics. A member of the American Athletic Conference, Rice sponsors teams in seven men's and seven women's NCAA sanctioned sports. Rice was a member of the Southwest Conference until its breakup in 1996. Rice then joined the Western Athletic Conference and Conference USA, until joining the American Athletic Conference on July 1, 2023. The women's swimming team moved to The American in 2022 after C-USA dropped women's swimming & diving. Rice is the fifth-smallest school competing in NCAA Division I FBS football measured by undergraduate enrollment, just above the University of Tulsa's 2,756 and the three FBS United States service academies's approximate 4,500. Rice's rivals include the cross-town Houston Cougars.
The Rice Owls football program represents Rice University in the sport of American football. The team competes at the NCAA Division I FBS level and compete in the American Athletic Conference. Rice Stadium, built in 1950, hosts the Owls' home football games. Rice has the second-smallest undergraduate enrollment of any FBS member, ahead of only Tulsa.
The 2011 Rice Owls football team represented Rice University in the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Owls were led by fifth-year head coach David Bailiff and played their home games at Rice Stadium. They are a member of the West Division of Conference USA. They finished the season 4–8, 3–5 in C-USA play to finish in fourth place in the West Division.
The 2014 Rice Owls football team represented Rice University in the 2014 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was led by eighth-year head coach David Bailiff and played its home games at Rice Stadium. The team was a member of the West Division of Conference USA. They finished the season 8–5, 5–3 in C-USA play to finish in a tie for second place in the West Division. They were invited to the Hawaii Bowl where they defeated Fresno State.
The 2015 Rice Owls football team represented Rice University in the 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football season as members of the West Division of Conference USA. They were led by ninth year head coach David Bailiff and played their home games at Rice Stadium in Houston, Texas. They finished the season 5–7, 3–5 in C-USA play to finish in a three-way tie for third place in the West Division.
The 1957 Rice Owls football team represented Rice University during the 1957 NCAA University Division football season. The Owls were led by 18th-year head coach Jess Neely and played their home games at Rice Stadium in Houston, Texas. They competed as members of the Southwest Conference, winning the conference with a conference record of 5–1. After two consecutive losing seasons in 1955 and 1956, Rice bounced back to finish the 1957 regular season with a record of 7–3. They won the last four games of the regular season, including a victory over the undefeated and number one-ranked Texas A&M Aggies, coached by Bear Bryant. The Owls were ranked eighth in the final AP Poll and seventh in the final Coaches Poll, which were conducted before bowl season. Rice was invited to the 1958 Cotton Bowl Classic, held on New Years' Day, where they were defeated by fifth-ranked Navy.
The 1937 Rice Owls football team was an American football team that represented Rice University as a member of the Southwest Conference (SWC) during the 1937 college football season. In its fourth season under head coach Jimmy Kitts, the team compiled a 6–3–2 record, won the conference championship, was ranked No. 18 in the final AP Poll, and outscored opponents by a total of 201 to 101.
The 1934 Rice Owls football team was an American football team that represented Rice University as a member of the Southwest Conference (SWC) during the 1934 college football season. In its first season under head coach Jimmy Kitts, the team compiled a 9–1–1 record, won the conference championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 204 to 44.
The 1920 Rice Owls football team was an American football team that represented Rice University as a member of the Southwest Conference (SWC) during the 1920 college football season. In its eighth season under head coach Philip Arbuckle, the team compiled a 4–2–2 record, and outscored opponents by a total of 105 to 28.
The 1919 Rice Owls football team was an American football team that represented Rice University as a member of the Southwest Conference (SWC) during the 1919 college football season. In its seventh season under head coach Philip Arbuckle, the team compiled an 8–1 record, and outscored opponents by a total of 190 to 60.
The 2017 Rice Owls football team represented Rice University in the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Owls played their home games at the Rice Stadium in Houston, Texas, and competed in the West Division of Conference USA (C–USA). They were led by eleventh-year head coach David Bailiff. They finished the season 1–11, 1–7 in C-USA play to finish in sixth place in the West Division.
The 2018 Rice Owls football team represented Rice University in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Owls played their home games at the Rice Stadium in Houston, Texas, and competed in the West Division of Conference USA (C–USA). They were led by first-year head coach Mike Bloomgren. They finished the season 2–11, 1–7 in C-USA play to finish in a tie for sixth place in the West Division.
The 1998 Rice Owls football team represented Rice University in the 1998 NCAA Division I-A college football season. The Owls, led by fifth-year head coach Ken Hatfield, played their home games at Rice Stadium in Houston, Texas. The Owls finished the season 5–6, 5–3 in WAC play to finish in fourth place in the Mountain Division.
The 1917 Rice Owls football team was an American football team that represented Rice University as a member of the Southwest Conference (SWC) during the 1917 college football season. In its sixth season under head coach Philip Arbuckle, the team compiled a 7–1 record, and outscored opponents by a total of 228 to 55.
The 1926 Rice Owls football team was an American football team that represented Rice University as a member of the Southwest Conference (SWC) during the 1926 college football season. In its third season under head coach John Heisman, the team compiled a 4–4–1 record and outscored opponents by a total of 84 to 81.
The 1929 Rice Owls football team was an American football team that represented Rice University as a member of the Southwest Conference (SWC) during the 1929 college football season. In its first season under head coach Jack Meagher, the team compiled a 2–7 record and was outscored by a total of 208 to 34.
The 1932 Rice Owls football team was an American football team that represented Rice University as a member of the Southwest Conference (SWC) during the 1932 college football season. In its fourth season under head coach Jack Meagher, the team compiled a 7–3 record and was outscored by a total of 141 to 77.
The 2020 Rice Owls football team represented Rice University in the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Owls played their home games at Rice Stadium in Houston, Texas, and competed in the West Division of Conference USA (C–USA). They were led by third-year head coach Mike Bloomgren.
The 1977 Rice Owls football team was an American football team that represented Rice University in the Southwest Conference during the 1977 NCAA Division I football season. In their second year under head coach Homer Rice, the team compiled a 1–10 record.
The 1980 Rice Owls football team was an American football team that represented Rice University in the Southwest Conference during the 1980 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their third year under head coach Ray Alborn, the team compiled a 5–6 record.
