Houston Christian at Rice: How to watch, date, time, TV channel

Rice opens its season with a crosstown matchup against Houston Christian.

But Houston Christian (1-0) started its 2026 campaign last Thursday on the road against Southeastern Louisiana, then in the top 20 of the FCS rankings. The Huskies won 34-28 in a big upset, and hope to carry momentum into the matchup with the Owls, who starting their second season under Scott Abell.

Houston Christian at Rice

When:6 p.m. Saturday
Where:Rice Stadium
TV:ESPN+ with Chris Elliott (play-by-play) and LaDarrin McLane (analyst)
Radio:Varsity Network app/RiceOwls.com with JP Heath, Nate Griffin and Luke Mauro.

2026 Houston Christian football schedule 

Aug. 27: beat Southeastern La., 34-28
Sept. 5: at Rice, 6 p.m. (ESPN+)
Sept. 12: vs. Arkansas Baptist, 6 p.m. (ESPN+)
Sept. 19: at Incarnate Word, 6 p.m. (ESPN+)
Sept. 26: at North Texas, 6:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
Oct. 3: vs. Nicholls, 6 p.m. (ESPN+)
Oct. 17: vs. East Texas A&M, 6 p.m. (ESPN+)
Oct. 24: at Lamar, 3 p.m. (ESPN+)
Oct. 31: at Stephen F. Austin, 2 p.m. (ESPN+)
Nov. 7: vs. McNeese, 4 p.m. (ESPN+)
Nov. 14: at Northwestern State, 1 p.m. (ESPN+)
Nov. 21: 
UT Rio Grande Valley, 4 p.m. (ESPN+)

2026 Rice football schedule

Sept. 5: vs. Houston Christian, 6 p.m. (ESPN+)
Sept. 12: at Notre Dame, 2:30 p.m. (NBC)
Sept. 19: vs. Western Michigan, 6 p.m. (ESPN+)
Sept. 26: at Fresno State, 9 p.m. (The CW)
Oct. 3: vs. UTSA, time and TV TBD
Oct. 10: at East Carolina, time and TV TBD
Oct. 17: vs. Tulsa, time and TV TBD
Oct. 24: at Florida Atlantic, time and TV TBD
Nov. 7: at North Texas, time and TV TBD
Nov. 14: vs. Tulane, time and TV TBD
Nov. 19: at Temple, 6:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Nov. 28: vs. Army, time and TV TBD

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This article originally published at Houston Christian at Rice: How to watch, date, time, TV channel.