Rice Stadium’s attendance woes have reached a point where desperation has set in. The numbers tell a grim story of decline at one of college football’s most historically significant venues. The Owls drew just 22,671 fans against UAB, 20,197 against Memphis, 21,122 against UConn, and 22,999 against Florida Atlantic. These figures barely crack the halfway mark of the stadium’s 47,000 capacity. So when Rice announced its promotion for Saturday’s 6:30 p.m. matchup against No. 22 North Texas, it caught everyone’s attention.

Students who are 21 and above will drink free with a valid ID, no questions asked, no limits specified. It’s a Hail Mary play from a program desperately trying to fill seats for what could be its most important game of the season for a chance at bowl eligibility.

Rice is

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