Maybe I'm the last to notice, but Rice is not on the schedule this season. I looked back every year to the SWC days and Rice has been in the schedule at least once every year. So for the first time in 100(?) years, no Ags vs. Owls in baseball.

I hadn't noticed either. I was surprised to learn just now that the history goes back to only 1954. Guessing Rice was late to add baseball?!?

https://riceowls.com/sports/baseball/opponent-history/texas-am/319

EDIT - The last season that the two teams didn't play was 1973.

dabo man said:

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I hadn't noticed either. I was surprised to learn just now that the history goes back to only 1954. Guessing Rice was late to add baseball?!?

https://riceowls.com/sports/baseball/opponent-history/texas-am/319

EDIT - The last season that the two teams didn't play was 1973.

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Wonder what the issue was in 1973? Rained out the entire weekend?

Wasn't 1973 the year they had that dust up with the rice mob during the football game.

Luke The Drifter said:

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Maybe I'm the last to notice, but Rice is not on the schedule this season. I looked back every year to the SWC days and Rice has been in the schedule at least once every year. So for the first time in 100(?) years, no Ags vs. Owls in baseball.

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Yes, we need to keep Rice on the schedule.

One of my favorite road games.

Used to be a huge RPI opportunity each year. I miss that game!

Haven't they been pretty awful recently?

LJF78 said:

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trouble said:

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Haven't they been pretty awful recently?

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Literally one of the worst D1 teams in the country honestly.

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And haven't we been complaining about the lack of quality non-conference games?

trouble said:

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LJF78 said:

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trouble said:

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Haven't they been pretty awful recently?

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Literally one of the worst D1 teams in the country honestly.

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And haven't we been complaining about the lack of quality non-conference games?

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I wouldn't say they've been one of the worst in D1, but they haven't been good. With over 300 teams in division 1 baseball, Rice could still be bad (RPI in the 200s), and there will still be nearly 100 teams worse than them. But they have certainly been bad and have fallen off a cliff since the Wayne Graham days.

And regarding a lack of quality non-conference games, Rice cannot provide that any longer. Rice is 60 in the RPI right now, but TCU (51), Baylor (47), Texas State (38), and UTSA (28) give us better mid-week options. Since Covid, here's where Rice has finished each season in the RPI...

210 - 2025
163 - 2024
167 - 2023
204 - 2022
179 - 2021

That's terrible. The past 5 seasons, Rice would have been a horrible drag on our RPI.

But...there is good news. Rice has upgraded their coaching staff with former Texas head coach David Pierce leading the way. He has strong assistants as well, including Clay Van Hook (former top OU assistant and former UT-A head coach) and Mickey Hoehner (A&M catcher from 2018-2021). Lance Berkman is a "special assistant"...whatever that means.

Who knows if Rice can compete in the NIL world, but at least they have solid coaches leading the way. Their current RPI of 60 shows that. And...for some reason...Rice is not playing Texas this year, either.

For that matter, why don't we play Baylor, TCU, or Tech?

Captain Pablo said:

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For that matter, why don't we play Baylor, TCU, or Tech?

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I know when we left the Big 12 our message was basically, we're not leaving the big 12 to continue to play Big 12 teams. But it has been what 15 years now… no reason not so schedule Baylor for a Tuesday game . IMO this should have happened years ago. Schedule them a home and an away midweek every year.

Captain Pablo said:

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For that matter, why don't we play Baylor, TCU, or Tech?

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Tech is too far away to justify a mid-week game. But no reason not to play BU, TCU, UH, and Rice every year. The other 8 mid-week games can come from a mix of Texas State, UTSA, A&M-CC, Texas Southern, PVAMU, Lamar, SHSU, SFA, UT-A, DBU, and Tarleton.

DBU, rice, UH and Baylor would be my ideal midweek rotations

2027: vs Rice, @ DBU
2028: @ UH, vs Baylor
2029: @ Rice, vs DBU
2030: vs UH, @ Baylor

That would be fun with some nice easy road trips for local fans

TheBonifaceOption said:

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One of my favorite road games.

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My absolute favorite being right down the street... and Reckling is a beautiful stadium that we're lucky to have in the city. The TMC in the background and the central location are great.