Rice Men's Basketball Announces American Conference Schedule for 2025-26 Season

POSTED: September 25, 2025 -- 5:39 p.m. CT

The American Conference has announced its Men's Basketball league schedule, the conference office announced on Thursday.

For the second straight year, Rice will open the conference season on the road on at Tulsa on Dec. 31. The Owls are opening its conference slate on the road for the fifth straight year and the sixth time in the last seven years.

The Owls host their first home game of the new year against on Jan. 3 against American Conference champion Memphis. Rice then heads to NIT participant Wichita State on Jan. 7.

Rice then hosts Charlotte on Jan. 11 before traveling to San Antonio to face UTSA on Jan. 14.

The Owls return to Tudor for a pair of home games, beginning Jan. 21 against Temple before closing the homestand versus Tulsa on Jan. 25.

Rice closes January with a two-game road trip through North Carolina. They begin the trip on Jan. 28 when it faces East Carolina. They then head to Charlotte to face the 49ers on Jan. 31.

Rice return home to host North Texas on Feb. 4. The Owls will also face the Mean Green in Denton on Mar. 4. Rice then heads to Birmingham, Ala., to face UAB on Feb. 8.

The Owls will host a pair of games, first against Florida Atlantic (Feb. 11) before taking on East Carolina on Feb. 15.

Rice then takes to New Orleans to face Tulane on Feb. 22 before hosting South Florida on Feb. 25. The Owls then go back on the road to face Temple on Mar. 1.

Rice closes the regular season on Mar. 8 when it hosts UTSA on Senior Day.

Beginning this season, the 2026 American Men's Basketball Championship will feature the top 10 teams in a new five-day bracket format. The No. 1 and No. 2 seeds will advance directly to the semifinals, while the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds will maintain byes to the quarterfinals. The No. 5 and No. 6 seeds will receive byes to the second round. The 2026 Championship will run Wednesday through Sunday, March 11-15 at Legacy Arena at the BJCC in Birmingham, Alabama.

Game times and television selections will be announced at a later date.

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