Rice Men's Hoops Announces 2026-27 Non-Conference Schedule

POSTED: September 14, 2026 -- 8:15 p.m. CT

Fourteen games, including seven inside Tudor Fieldhouse, highlight the 2026-27 Rice Men's Basketball non-conference schedule, the program announced Monday afternoon.

"We are excited about the challenges this schedule presents," said Rice Head Coach Rob Lanier. "The opportunity to face teams from the ACC, Sun Belt, MAC, Conference USA, Missouri Valley Conference, and West Coast Conference will allow us to show significant growth as a program."

The season begins at home for the fourth straight year and the fifth time in the last six years when it hosts Dallas Christian on Nov. 2, the first-ever meeting between the schools. Rice then hosts East Texas A&M for the second straight season, on Nov. 5. Last year, the Owls earned a 71-64 victory.

Rice begins a stretch of six of seven games on the road when it travels to Stanford on Nov. 9. It is the second time in the last three years it will face an ACC team, and the first meeting between the teams since 2003.

The Owls head to Nacogdoches for the first time since 2017 to take on Stephen F. Austin on Nov. 14. They are looking to tie the series at 10.

Rice returns home on Nov. 17 to face Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. It is the first meeting against the Islanders since 2013.

Rice heads to Jacksonville, FL, for the Scout Jacksonville Classic, Nov. 22-25, where the Owls will play three games in four days. The schedule and opponents will be released at a later date.

The Owls close out the road swing on Nov. 29 when it travels to Jonesboro, AR, to face Arkansas State. It is the third straight season that the teams will meet, but the first meeting in Jonesboro since the 1991 NIT.

Rice begins December with a three-game homestand, starting with Sam Houston on Dec. 4. It hosts a 35-12 record against the Bearkats, but it is the first meeting since 2020.

The Owls then hosts Nicholls State on Dec. 10, just the second meeting in the series and the first since 1997.

Rice closes the homestand with its School House Mania game against the College of Biblical Studies on Dec. 16.

Three days later, Rice heads to Denver, CO, for its first-ever meeting against Denver (Dec. 19). The non-conference slate concludes on Dec. 22 when it hosts crosstown rival Texas Southern.

Rice returns seven letterwinners from last year's squad, while adding nine newcomers.

Support The HRR

CLICK HERE for more news and info about the Rice Owls men's basketball team.