 The Rice Owls play in the Western Division of Conference USA and was coached by David Bailiff until the end of the 2017 season.The Rice Owls finished the 2008 Regular season with a 9-3 overall record (7-1 C-USA)--the first time they won more than seven games in over 40 years—and accepted a bid to play against Western Michigan University in the Texas Bowl on December 30 where they came away with a 38-14 victory for their first bowl victory since 1954.At the end of the 2008 season wide receiver Jarett Dillard was named a 2nd Team All-American by the Football Writers Association, the first Rice Owl selected in 50 years.