Rice University Athletics

Rice competes in NCAA Division I, where athletic scholarships and serious competition define the landscape. The Owls field teams in 12 varsity sports with 382 total athletes, meaning about 8.4% of students compete at the varsity level. Rice distributes over $18.2 million in athletic scholarships across its programs. The university competes in the American Athletic Conference after leaving Conference USA in 2013. Baseball is Rice's crown jewel, with the Owls capturing the 2003 College World Series championship and consistently ranking among the nation's top programs. The team plays at Reckling Park, one of college baseball's top facilities. Rice maintains a crosstown rivalry with the University of Houston Cougars, though the athletic cultures differ given Houston's larger enrollment and different conference affiliation.