Rice University is set to offer complimentary beer to students during the highly anticipated football game against the nationally ranked University of North Texas this Saturday night. This prime-time matchup is particularly significant for the Owls, as it will be broadcast live on ESPNU.
The event promises to be a thrilling experience, with the game kicking off at 6:30 p.m. at Rice Stadium. Students aged 21 and over will have the opportunity to enjoy free beer along with additional promotions aimed at boosting attendance.
Eric George, the assistant vice president and deputy athletic director at Rice, encouraged student participation through a social media post. He emphasized the appeal of the event, stating, “Rice Students, there’s no reason to miss the [Rice football] game this Saturday! Free shirts, free food, and free beer! Cancel your current plans and join us at Rice Stadium!” This post was shared from the Rice Athletics account, which featured an eye-catching image of beer cups labeled “FREE BEER” in bold letters—a surprising promotion from an institution ranked 17th academically in the nation by U.S. News and World Report.
A representative from Rice athletics confirmed that the free beer initiative remains in place, attracting attention beyond the local community. Kevin Dwan, the deputy athletic director for external affairs and revenue, spoke with The Athletic about the motivation behind the promotion. He noted, “We’re playing on national TV, we’re playing for bowl eligibility, we’re playing a top-25 team in North Texas, and it’s the weekend before Thanksgiving, so a lot of our students are off campus already and heading home. We just want to do what we can to encourage them to stick around and come out to the game.”
The Owls currently hold a record of 5-5 this season and are 2-4 in the American Conference, needing one more victory to qualify for a bowl game. In contrast, North Texas is ranked 22nd nationally by The Associated Press, boasting an impressive overall record of 9-1 and a conference record of 5-1.
Fans can look forward to an exciting evening filled with football and camaraderie as they gather to support their teams.
