Getty Head Coach Sam Pittman of the Arkansas Razorbacks will face the Rice Owls Week 1.
The Rice Owls will visit Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville on Saturday, September 4 to take on the Arkansas Razorbacks.
The game (2 p.m. ET start time) isn’t on regular TV, but it will stream live on both SEC Network+ (this can be watched on the ESPN app or website if you have a cable package or streaming service that includes SEC Network) and ESPN+.
Here’s a more in-depth rundown of all the ways you can watch Rice vs Arkansas:
Note: Heavy may earn an affiliate commission if you sign up via a link on this page
ESPN+
Every game that is on SEC Network+ (which is different from the regular SEC Network TV channel) is also available on ESPN+:
With ESPN+, you’ll be able to stream hundreds of live college football games during the 2021 season. It also includes dozens of other live sports, every 30-for-30 documentary and additional original content (both video and written) all for $6.99 per month.
Or, if you also want Disney+ and Hulu, you can get all three for $13.99 per month. Separately, the three streaming services would cost a total $20.97 per month, so you’re saving about 33 percent:
Get the ESPN+, Disney+ and Hulu Bundle
Once signed up for ESPN+, you can watch Rice vs Arkansas live on the ESPN app on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Firestick, Apple TV, Chromecast, PlayStation 4 or 5, Xbox One or Series X/S, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), Samsung Smart TV, Oculus Go, iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet.
You can also watch on your computer via ESPN.com.
FuboTV
You can watch SEC Network+ with a subscription to FuboTV. You’ll need the Sports Plus add-on, but you can include the main channel package and any add-ons with your free seven-day trial:
Once signed up for FuboTV, you can watch Rice vs Arkansas live on the ESPN app (not the FuboTV app), which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One or Series X/S, PlayStation 4 or 5, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), various smart TVs, iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet. Or you can watch on your computer via the ESPN website.
You’ll be asked to sign in to a cable provider to watch this way, but you can use your Fubo credentials to do that.
DirecTV Stream
DirecTV Stream has four different channel packages: “Entertainment,” “Choice,” “Ultimate” and “Premier.” You’ll need “Choice” or above to watch SEC Network+, but you can pick any package and any add-on you want with your free five-day trial:
Once signed up for DirecTV Stream, you can watch Rice vs Arkansas live on the ESPN app (not the DirecTV Stream app), which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One or Series X/S, PlayStation 4 or 5, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), various smart TVs, iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet. Or you can watch on your computer via the ESPN website.
You’ll be asked to sign in to a cable provider to watch this way, but you can use your DirecTV Stream credentials (may still be listed as AT&T on the list of cable providers) to do that.
Sling TV
You can watch a live stream of SEC Network+ with a subscription to Sling TV–you’ll need the “Sling Orange + Sports Extra” bundle. This option doesn’t include a free trial, but it’s the cheapest long-term streaming service with SEC Network+, and you can get $10 off your first month:
Once signed up for Sling TV, you can watch Rice vs Arkansas live on the ESPN app (not the Sling TV app), which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One or Series X/S, PlayStation 4 or 5, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), various smart TVs, iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet. Or you can watch on your computer via the ESPN website.
You’ll be asked to sign in to a cable provider to watch this way, but you can use your Sling credentials to do that.
Vidgo
You can watch SEC Network+ with a subscription to Vidgo. It doesn’t come with a free trial, but it’s a good option if you plan on keeping a streaming service long-term:
Once signed up for Vidgo, you can watch Rice vs Arkansas live on the ESPN app (not the Vidgo app), which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One or Series X/S, PlayStation 4 or 5, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), various smart TVs, iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet. Or you can watch on your computer via the ESPN website.
You’ll be asked to sign in to a cable provider to watch this way, but you can use your Vidgo credentials to do that.
Hulu With Live TV
You can watch a live stream of SEC Network+ with a subscription to Hulu With Live TV, which now also includes both ESPN+ and Disney+ as part of their bundle:
Once signed up for Hulu With Live TV, you can watch Rice vs Arkansas live on the ESPN app (not the Hulu app), which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One or Series X/S, PlayStation 4 or 5, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), various smart TVs, iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet. Or you can watch on your computer via the ESPN website.
You’ll be asked to sign in to a cable provider to watch this way, but you can use your Hulu credentials to do that.
Rice vs Arkansas Preview
The Owls finished their shortened 2020 season with a record of 2-3. They scored 23.4 points a game on offense and allowed a very respectable 18.8 points on defense.
Rice has yet to name a starting quarterback, and head coach Mike Bloomgren isn’t planning on naming one. Instead, it’s likely both Wiley Green and Luke McCaffrey will see action in this one. The Owls were the second-best team in the nation in time of possession last season, but they were lacking when it came to explosive plays, so that’s one area they’re hoping to improve upon this year.
“We’re going to keep it under wraps for as long as we can,” Bloomgren said about his team’s starting quarterback. “The people at Arkansas are going to see two quarterbacks this weekend. They’ve earned the right to do it.”
McCaffrey, who is the younger brother of Carolina Panthers running back Christian, transferred over from Nebraska, and while he likely won’t bring many flashy plays with his arm (he averaged just 6.9 yards per pass in his two seasons at Nebraska), he might bring some dynamic energy to the run game, as he also averaged 6.0 yards per rush with the Huskers.
On the other side, Arkansas finished with a 3-7 record last season. They averaged 25.7 points a game on offense and allowed 34.9 points a game to opposing offenses.
Razorbacks quarterback K.J. Jefferson will get the start. Jefferson has played in eight games over his three seasons, and he’ll have a solid receiving corps to throw to in Trey Knox, Warren Thompson, JD White and Ketron Jackson.
“We’re really excited to play a good Rice team,” Razorbacks head coach Sam Pittman said heading into the game. “Coach Bloomgren is an old offensive line coach and they play what I call ‘Bully Ball.’ We have a lot of respect for them. They play extremely hard. They’re very well coached and they’re a veteran football team coming in here. We’re excited to get out in front of our fans, but we know we have a tough challenge this Saturday.”
Arkansas leads the all-time series, 35-29-3, and is 4-1 in the last five games against Rice.