Rice and Fresno State meet for the first time since the 2014 Hawaii Bowl in a Week 4 nightcap.
- Time and date: Saturday, September 26 at 10:00 p.m. ET
- Network: The CW Network
- Location: Valley Children’s Stadium — Fresno, CA
- Fresno State (-13.5)
- Over/under: 44.5
- All-time series: Fresno State leads, 6-1
- Last meeting: Rice 30, Fresno State 6 — December 24, 2014 (Hawaii Bowl)
- Current streak: Rice, 1 (2014)
Do you remember where you were on Christmas Eve in 2014? Perhaps the Hawaii Bowl was on a nearby screen, where the Rice Owls handled the Fresno State Bulldogs in 30-6 fashion.
That Christmas Eve marked the Rice’s most recent bowl victory and most recent winning season. The Owls are aiming to revert to those days under second-year head coach Scott Abell. Abell thrived in the non-conference last year, finishing 3-1 with wins over two bowl eligible teams. Rice currently rides a two-game losing streak heading into this Week 4 road matchup at Fresno State.
Meanwhile, Fresno State has taken the opposite trajectory — since that Hawaii Bowl and in the 2026 season. The Bulldogs have been to bowls in five-straight seasons, and this year, they enter this matchup on a two-game winning streak…