College football team draws students with free beer and ice cream before big game

Rice University is doing everything it can to ensure it has a full stadium for its game against No. 22-ranked North Texas on Saturday night.

Rice is offering free 12-ounce beers to students 21 and older at a stand near its stadium, a free voucher for Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, a free T-shirt for the first 500 students and a $15 voucher for two food trucks. All benefits require a student ID.

Rice announced the student benefits in a post on X, which has since been deleted, but News Digital confirmed the promotion is still ongoing.

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Rice Owls defensive back Khary Crump (12) is ejected from a game against the UTSA Roadrunners at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, on October 11, 2025. (John Rivera/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

To further encourage attendance, the residential college with the highest attendance can win a $500 gift card to a local grocery store and a speaker.

The game is great. Rice enters the matchup at 5-5 and, with a win, would be eligible for a bowl game. This is the team’s fourth consecutive home game and they have finished 1-2 in the previous three.

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Rice Owls assistant coach Johnathan Wilson gives encouragement during a game against the UTSA Roadrunners at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, on October 11, 2025. (John Rivera/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The Owls lost to UConn 37-34 in overtime, lost to Memphis 38-14 and beat UAB last week 24-17 to get back to .500. To get an important sixth win of the season, they will have to defeat a 9-1 North Texas team that has won four in a row.

North Texas’ only loss of the season came in October against South Florida, when they lost 63-36. Rice will play South Florida on the road next week.

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Rice Owls quarterback Chase Jenkins (4) passes during a game against the Naval Academy Midshipmen at Navy-Marine Corps Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland, Sept. 27, 2025. (Mark Goldman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Rice hopes a boisterous student section will help propel it to victory over North Texas in its final home game of the season.

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