1942 Rice Owls football team

The 1942 Rice Owls football team was an American football team that represented Rice University as a member of the Southwest Conference (SWC) during the 1942 college football season. In its third season under head coach Jess Neely, the team compiled a 7–2–1 record (4–1–1 against SWC opponents) and outscored opponents by a total of 177 to 74.

Rice was ranked at No. 21 (out of 590 college and military teams) in the final rankings under the Litkenhous Difference by Score System for 1942.