How to watch Texas football vs. Rice: TV, live stream, game time, and pick
Texas football is hoping to bounce back this weekend from a humbling and underwhelming showing from a Sep. 11 40-21 loss to head coach Sam Pittman and the Arkansas Razorbacks on the road. New head coach Steve Sarkisian seems to be keeping an emphasis on looking forward this week instead of thinking too much about this bad road loss to the Razorbacks last weekend.
This game also will see redshirt junior quarterback Casey Thompson get the first start of his college career. Thompson does have a good amount of snaps in game action under his belt from the last two seasons, and a lot of practice reps. But this will be the first time that Thompson actually starts in his four years with the Longhorns so far.
The matchup for the Longhorns this weekend will be the final one of the non-conference schedule during the regular season. Texas gets the Rice Owls out of the Conference-USA for the first time since the 2019 season.
Texas currently has a 14-game winning streak in this series with Rice, dating all the way back to 1995. The all-time series between these two teams also favors Texas with a record of 73-21-1.
Sark and the Longhorns are coming off that bad 19-point loss to Arkansas, with a record 1-1. The lone win on the season so far for Texas came over the No. 23 ranked Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns back on Sep. 4 in the season opener.
Meanwhile, Rice comes into this game with a record of 0-2 following a tough 44-7 loss to the Houston Cougars last weekend. Rice also lost in their regular season opener on the road back on Sep. 4 to Arkansas.
Entering this game, Texas is a pretty heavy favorite over Rice, by a margin of 26-points in the spread more than 24 hours ahead of kickoff. The over/under for this game is also set at 52.5 points. And the ESPN matchup predictor (based on the Football Power Index) gives Texas more than a 97 percent chance to beat Rice at home.
Here’s a look at the live stream, kick off time, pick for the game, and more as Texas takes on Rice in the final non-conference game of the regular season.
How to watch/live stream Texas football vs. Louisiana
Texas and Rice kick off at 7 p.m. CT at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin on Sep. 18. Here’s more on the live streaming/TV channel information for this weekend’s matchup vs. Rice.
TV: Longhorn Network
Live Stream: FuboTV
Radio/Audio Stream: Longhorn Radio Network
This will be one of the games for Texas that is broadcasted on the Longhorn Network this season. And if your television package features the Longhorn Network, it is available to stream on FuboTV. The audio stream/radio broadcast will also be available via the Longhorn Radio Network.
Injured Texas football players
There are two key injuries of note for the Longhorns against the Owls. The first has to do with the redshirt freshman wide receiver Troy Omeire, who’s still dealing a knee injury that he’s working his way back from.
Omeire still has yet to make his debut with the Longhorns. It will be nice to get Omeire back in the mix for the Longhorns, whenever he is able to make his debut as a key outside receiver.
Texas will also be missing sophomore cornerback Jahdae Barron against Rice. Sark mentioned in media availability this week that Barron could miss at least two or three weeks for the Longhorns.
With Barron out, Texas will likely see corners like senior Darion Dunn and sophomore Kitan Crawford play bigger roles against Rice, and maybe in more of the coming weeks.
Picking Texas football vs. Rice
Texas needs a confidence boost from this meeting with Rice before Big 12 play begins. And the offense should have a boost of energy with Thompson getting the start after a poor performance from sophomore quarterback Hudson Card on the road last weekend.
Thompson played really well for Texas in the Alamo Bowl win over the Colorado Buffaloes last season. His drive efficiency is very good and is something we should see come to the forefront against Rice this weekend.
Next. 3 key recruits to flip from USC. dark
Watch out for Thompson and the Longhorns to respond in a big way coming off the bad loss to Arkansas last weekend. Texas should be able to blow this spread out of the water with a quick start in this game.