2021 Week 1 Preview: Rice Owls @ Arkansas Razorbacks

Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images Game Notes

Time and Date: Saturday, September 4 at 2:00 p.m. ET

Network: ESPN+

Location: Razorback Stadium — Fayetteville, AR

Spread: Arkansas (-19.5)

ESPN FPI: Arkansas has 94.6% chance to win

All-time series: Arkansas leads, 35-29-3

Last meeting: Arkansas 20, Rice 0 — November 23, 1991

Setting the scene

It’s been three decades since the former Southwest Conference rivals settled it on the field. Both teams have suffered lengthy bowl droughts, but signs of progress are evident in Houston and Fayetteville. Rice and Arkansas each earned a ranked victory last fall and improved their winning percentages from 2019 to 2020. In a rare head coaching battle between former…