Rice delays football practices due to COVID-19

The Rice Owls announced that football practices are being delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

In a prepared statement, the university explained that training sessions aren't set to open until late September: 

The Owls would have needed to begin their preseason practice schedule this weekend in advance of opening the season in early October. However, current conditions related to the infection rate in Houston and the need for highly reliable and very rapid testing results in the competitive athletics context forced a delay in a decision to move forward.

School officials say that, based on some recent reports, more rapid and reliable testing may become available in the very near future. In the coming weeks, they will continue exploring new rapid testing capabilities and additional mitigation measures, and they will continue to monitor the progress of pandemic reduction efforts in Houston and across the country. They will also work with Conference USA on any adjustments to the Owls schedule. A final decision on the start of practice will be made later in September.

In early August, Conference USA declared that member schools could play a football season that includes eight conference games and four non-league matchups. Rice is scheduled to start the campaign versus Marshall on Oct. 3.