Rice and LSU Return to the Gridiron in 2018
released: Jan. 7, 2016
Rice and LSU, two schools whose annual September meeting was a Gulf Coast staple for over 50 years, will return to the gridiron for the first time since 1995 when the Owls and Tigers meet at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge on November 17, 2018.
“We have heard from our fans a desire to see us play more traditional opponents out of conference,” said Joe Karlgaard, Rice Director of Athletics. “LSU certainly fits that description and when offered an opportunity to rekindle the series, I was excited to be able to make it happen.”
Rice and LSU have met a total of 55 times in football, the Owls most extensive series with any team outside of the Southwest Conference. The resumption of the series will come on the 103rd anniversary of the first meeting between the two schools Rice defeated LSU 6-0 at West End Park in Houston on November 17, 1915 and the two tied 7-7 the following year in Baton Rouge.
The two schools met again in 1924 & 25 before beginning a continuous series in 1932 that ran until 1952 and then again from 1955-83 with all games in that stretch being played in September.
LSU holds an overall advantage of 36-14-5 in the series, including wins in the last five meetings. Rice’s last win in the series was a 17-7 win in Houston in 1980.