College football in Rhode Island kicks off this weekend as the Rhode Island Rams and Bryant Bulldogs open their seasons. Rhode Island will host Campbell University on Friday, Aug. 29, under the lights at Meade Stadium, while Bryant will open at New Mexico State on Saturday, Aug. 30.
Here’s what to know about the season openers for the Rams and Bulldogs:
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URI Rams open with high expectations
Rhode Island went 11-3 last season, including a postseason victory, and is the favorite to repeat as the Coastal Athletic Association champion, as predicted by league coaches and media members. The Rams are also in the national Top 10, according to preseason Football Championship Subdivision polls. Quarterback Devin Farrell is back under center and A.J. Peña is back on the defensive line after a semester away at Memphis.
Head coach Jim Fleming has attracted more premium talent to Kingston in his tenure than any predecessor in recent memory and his staff includes associate head coach and former Bishop Hendricken standout Mike Flanagan.The Rams are opening their 130th football season and will look to extend a nine-game winning streak at Meade Stadium, which is set to undergo renovations after this season.
URI quarterback Devin Farrell, shown in action last season, is back under center for the Rams.
Five players to watch
Devin Farrell (quarterback), Marquis Buchanan (wide receiver), A.J. Peña (linebacker), Brock Bethea (left tackle), Case Mankins (defensive lineman)
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How to watch URI vs. Campbell
The season opener will be streamed on the FloCollege online network.
What’s next for URI?
After Campbell, the Rams will hit the road for the following two weekends — visiting Stony Brook on Sept. 6 and Holy Cross on Sept. 13 — before returning to Meade for a game against Long Island on Sept. 20.
Bryant head coach Chris Merritt communicates with his assistants.
Bryant Bulldogs look for bounce-back season
Bryant faces a stiff road test to open the 2025 season, facing New Mexico State of Conference USA in Las Cruces at 9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 30. After jumping from the Northeast Conference to the Big South to the Ohio Valley Conference-Big South to the Coastal Athletic Association, the Bulldogs are looking for some stability and hope to improve on last year’s 2-10 showing.
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Like URI, the Bulldogs have significant physical changes coming to campus. A new version of Beirne Stadium will feature seats, club spaces and more behind what is traditionally the visiting sideline. That adds to the existing grandstand and strength facility that helped Bryant usher in a new era less than three decades after its program founding in the late 1990s.
Five players to watch
Michael Otty (defensive lineman), Dylan Kedzior (running back), Anthony Perez (offensive lineman), Olatunde Mkparu (defnsive back), Brennan Myer (quarterback)
How to watch Bryant at New Mexico State
The game will be shown on ESPN+.
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What’s next for Bryant?
After New Mexico State, the Bulldogs will be on the road next weekend, as well, with a game on Sept. 6 at Massachusetts before their home opener on Sept. 13 against Bentley.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: University of Rhode Island and Bryant University football seasons open
