1953 Rice Owls football team
American college football season
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The 1953 Rice Owls football team represented Rice Institute as a member of the Southwest Conference (SWC) during the 1953 college football season. Led by 14th-year head coach Jess Neely, the Owls compiled an overall record of 9–2 with a mark of 5–1 in conference play, sharing the SWC title with Texas. Rice was ranked No. 6 in the final polls, which were conducted before bowl season. The Owls were invited to the 1954 Cotton Bowl Classic, played on New Year's Day, where they defeated Southeastern Conference (SEC) champion, Alabama.[1][2] The team played home games at Rice Stadium in Houston.
| 1953 Rice Owls football | |
|---|---|
SWC co-champion Cotton Bowl Classic champion | |
Cotton Bowl Classic, W 28–6 vs. Alabama | |
| Conference | Southwest Conference |
| Ranking | |
| Coaches | No. 6 |
| AP | No. 6 |
| Record | 9–2 (5–1 SWC) |
| Head coach |
|
| Home stadium | Rice Stadium |
Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 19 | No. 15 Florida* | No. 12 | W 20–16 | 55,000 | [3] | |
| October 3 | at Cornell* | No. 14 | W 28–7 | 22,000 | [4] | |
| October 10 | Hardin–Simmons* | No. 11 |
| W 40–0 | 25,000 | [5] |
| October 17 | at SMU | No. 11 | L 7–12 | 50,000 | [6] | |
| October 24 | at Texas | W 18–13 | 48,000 | [7] | ||
| October 31 | No. 19 Kentucky* | No. 12 |
| L 13–19 | 33,000 | [8] |
| November 7 | Arkansas |
| W 47–0 | 32,000 | [9] | |
| November 14 | Texas A&M | No. 16 |
| W 34–7 | 57,500 | [10] |
| November 21 | at TCU | No. 10 | W 19–6 | 20,000 | [11] | |
| November 28 | No. 17 Baylor | No. 8 |
| W 41–19 | 68,000 | [12] |
| January 1 | vs. No. 13 Alabama* | No. 6 |
| W 28–6 | 75,500 | [13] |
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