Rice University Football at Fresno State

The Rice Owls and Fresno State Bulldogs renew their rivalry in a non-conference road game on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at Valley Children's Stadium in Fresno, California. The game kicks off at 9 PM CT and can be heard on the Varsity Network and RiceOwls.com. This matchup is the first leg of a scheduled home-and-home series between the two programs. Rice will host Fresno State at Rice Stadium in Houston on September 11, 2027, for the return game. The two teams have met seven times all-time, with Rice's most recent win coming in the 2014 Hawai'i Bowl, a 30-6 victory. Rice enters 2026 as a member of the American Athletic Conference, while Fresno State is in its first season competing in the revamped Pac-12 Conference. The Fresno State game is the fourth and final non-conference game on Rice's 2026 schedule before conference play begins.