The Rice Owls football team is the official football program of Rice University, located in Houston, Texas. The team competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) as a member of Conference USA. The Rice Owls have a rich history in college football, with their first season dating back to 1912. The team has won 8 conference championships and has made 10 bowl game appearances. The team's home games are played at Rice Stadium, which has a seating capacity of 47,000. The Rice Owls are known for their strong defense and have produced several NFL players, including former Pro Bowl linebacker Larry Izzo. The team's mascot is Sammy the Owl, who can be seen cheering on the team at every home game. Overall, the Rice Owls football team is a respected program with a strong tradition of excellence in both academics and athletics.