How to Watch Texas State vs. Rice: Armed Forces Bowl Time, TV Channel, Live Stream – January 2, 2026

Updated Jan. 2, 2026 11:29 a.m. ET

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Brad Jackson and the Texas State Bobcats and the Rice Owls will play in the Armed Forces Bowl on January 2, 2026, with kickoff at 1 p.m. ET, airing on ESPN. You'll want to head to ESPN for the upcoming game between the Bobcats and Owls.

Keep up with college football all season on FOX Sports. Learn more about the Texas State Bobcats and the Rice Owls.

How to Watch Texas State vs. Rice

When: Friday, January 2, 2026 at 1 p.m. ET
Location: Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas
TV Channel: ESPN
Streaming: FOX One + ESPN Bundle

Texas State's 2025 Schedule

Date	Opponent	Score
8/30/2025	vs. Eastern Michigan	W 52-27
9/6/2025	at UTSA	W 43-36
9/13/2025	at Arizona State	L 34-15
9/20/2025	vs. Nicholls State	W 35-3
10/4/2025	at Arkansas State	L 31-30
10/11/2025	vs. Troy	L 48-41
10/18/2025	at Marshall	L 40-37
10/28/2025	vs. James Madison	L 52-20
11/8/2025	at Louisiana	L 42-39
11/15/2025	at Southern Miss	W 41-14
11/22/2025	vs. Louisiana-Monroe	W 31-14
11/29/2025	vs. South Alabama	W 49-26
1/2/2026	vs. Rice	-

Texas State 2025 Stats & Insights

Texas State has the 92nd-ranked defense this season (398.7 yards allowed per game), and has been better on offense, ranking fifth-best with a tally of 475.8 yards per game.
Texas State is averaging 255.3 passing yards per game on offense, which ranks them 36th in the FBS. The defense ranks 84th, surrendering 228.3 passing yards per game.
While the Bobcats rank 25th-worst in the FBS in scoring defense with 30.6 points allowed per game, it's been a different story on the other side of the ball, as they rank 12th-best in the FBS (36.1 points per game).
Offensively, the Bobcats have been a top-25 unit in terms of rushing yards, ranking 11th-best in the FBS by putting up 220.6 per game. They rank 96th on defense (170.3 rushing yards allowed per game).
Texas State ranks 110th in third-down defense this season (43% third-down conversion rate allowed), but has been playing really well on the offensive side of the ball, ranking 14th-best in the FBS with a 47.9% third-down percentage.
With nine forced turnovers (122nd in the FBS) against 16 turnovers committed (63rd in the FBS), the Bobcats' -7 turnover margin ranks 110th in college football.

Texas State 2025 Key Players

Name	Position	Stats
Brad Jackson	QB	3,049 YDS (71.3%) / 18 TD / 7 INT 692 RUSH YDS / 16 RUSH TD / 57.7 RUSH YPG
Lincoln Pare	RB	1,023 YDS / 11 TD / 85.3 YPG / 5.1 YPC 36 REC / 305 REC YDS / 2 REC TD / 25.4 REC YPG
Beau Sparks	WR	80 REC / 1,113 YDS / 9 TD / 92.8 YPG
Chris Dawn Jr.	WR	54 REC / 931 YDS / 2 TD / 84.6 YPG
Treylin Payne	LB	83 TKL / 2 TFL / 2 SACK
Bobby Crosby	DB	56 TKL / 4 TFL / 2 SACK / 1 INT
Kalil Alexander	DL	39 TKL / 7 TFL / 4 SACK
Ryan Nolan	DB	62 TKL / 1 TFL

Rice's 2025 Schedule

Date	Opponent	Score
8/30/2025	at Louisiana	W 14-12
9/6/2025	vs. Houston	L 35-9
9/13/2025	vs. Prairie View A&M	W 38-17
9/18/2025	at Charlotte	W 28-17
9/27/2025	at Navy	L 21-13
10/4/2025	vs. Florida Atlantic	L 27-21
10/11/2025	at UTSA	L 61-13
10/25/2025	vs. UConn	W 37-34
10/31/2025	vs. Memphis	L 38-14
11/8/2025	vs. UAB	W 24-17
11/22/2025	vs. North Texas	L 56-24
11/29/2025	at South Florida	L 52-3
1/2/2026	vs. Texas State	-

Rice 2025 Stats & Insights

Rice has been sputtering offensively, ranking 14th-worst with 311.3 total yards per game. It has been more effective on the other side of the ball, giving up 401.1 total yards per contest (96th-ranked).
In terms of passing, this season has been hard for Rice on both sides of the ball, as it is posting only 97.9 passing yards per game (second-worst) and surrendering 243.8 passing yards per game (25th-worst).
This season has been tough for the Owls on both offense and defense, as they are putting up only 19.8 points per contest (18th-worst) and allowing 32.3 points per game (17th-worst).
The Owls' run offense has been dominant, compiling 213.3 rushing yards per game (13th-best) this season. Defensively, they rank 80th by surrendering 157.3 rushing yards per game.
Rice's defense has been bottom-25 on third down this season, allowing a 45.3% third-down conversion rate, which ranks 12th-worst in the FBS. On offense, it ranks 103rd with a 45.3% third-down rate.
The Owls own a -2 turnover margin this season, which ranks 81st in the FBS.

Rice 2025 Key Players

Name	Position	Stats
Chase Jenkins	QB	1,025 YDS (69.2%) / 9 TD / 2 INT 531 RUSH YDS / 5 RUSH TD / 44.3 RUSH YPG
Quinton Jackson	RB	811 YDS / 6 TD / 67.6 YPG / 4.9 YPC 4 REC / 74 REC YDS / 1 REC TD / 24.7 REC YPG
Aaron Turner	WR	53 REC / 374 YDS / 3 TD / 31.2 YPG
Daelen Alexander	RB	392 YDS / 3 TD / 43.6 YPG / 5.3 YPC
Andrew Awe	LB	68 TKL / 5 TFL / 2.5 SACK
Ty Anthony Morris	LB	48 TKL / 4 TFL / 2.5 SACK
Tony Anyanwu	DL	40 TKL / 3 TFL / 5 SACK
Marcus Williams	DB	48 TKL / 1 TFL