URI football opens playoffs on Saturday vs. Central Conn. What to know

SOUTH KINGSTOWN – The matchup might be the only thing that’s the same.

So much has changed since the University of Rhode Island battled Central Connecticut State in last year’s FCS playoffs. The Rams outlasted the Blue Devils in a thriller and will have another chance to reach the Round of 16 in a 12 p.m. kick Saturday afternoon.

URI is a back-to-back Coastal Athletic Association champion this time around instead of a program shaking free from a 39-year drought. The Rams expect Devin Farrell (toe) to be available at quarterback after sitting out the last meeting due to a right hand injury. This will also be a final chapter at Meade Stadium before the venue closes for a significant renovation in 2026.

“There’s more of a feeling of responsibility to all the people who follow and support us to be able to present a good product and to present a winning product,” URI coach Jim Fleming said. “We’ll carry that with us as we go into the playoffs.”

History made at Meade

Last weekend brought a celebration not seen in Kingston since 1985. Fleming and his players lifted an undisputed CAA crown at the center of their turf field, matching the unbeaten run the old Yankee Conference champions put together during that magical fall. URI is only missing a deep journey into December to stand alongside that program golden age.

“It was a fabulous day,” Fleming said. “You’re undefeated. You’re at home. You get a chance to raise the trophy in front of family, friends and all the Rhody faithful.”

Rams moving out next season

The Rams will call Centreville Bank Stadium home next year while demolishing the grandstand opposite the Ryan Center and starting what will eventually be a $42 million facelift. New seating, a press box, suites, locker rooms and more will be added to bring their long-time home into the 21st century. State government budgeted capital improvements for athletics throughout the campus, and football is at the center of them.

“Our state is looking at us,” Fleming said. “Our government is invested heavily in our program. There’s a lot of interest in Rhode Island football now that might not have been that way 12 years ago.”

Brown loss was a 'wakeup call'

URI (10-2) hit something of a reset button after a Governor’s Cup loss to Brown in October. The Rams suffered a 28-21 upset in Pawtucket and surrendered the trophy for the first time in the 2020s. Frequent turnovers and penalties hindered URI in the first half of the season, something Fleming and his staff wanted to correct down the stretch.

“Truthfully, however you gauge your team, we’re playing better ball at the end of this year than we were playing at the end of last year,” Fleming said. “It just seems like we’re on an upward trend as we head into the playoffs, which is comforting.”

Fleming said his players deserve a healthy share of credit for making those changes. Farrell, wide receiver Marquis Buchanan, outside linebacker AJ Peña – they're all decorated veterans who returned this season to do more than lose in the second round at Mercer. All three have landed on watch lists for national awards, and Peña took home CAA Defensive Player of the Year honors to accompany Fleming’s selection as CAA Coach of the Year.

“When we stubbed our toe against Brown that was a devastating loss, because it’s Brown,” Fleming said of the in-state rivalry. “That didn’t affect us in the conference, but I think it was a wakeup call for our guys. They really took control of the team at that point in time.”

Central Conn. will be a challenge

The Blue Devils (8-4) enter with their own share of accolades – Northeast Conference champions, their league’s Offensive Player, Defensive Player and Coach of the Year. Elijah Howard rushed for 101 yards in last year’s 21-17 defeat here, Jack Stoll has emerged as a force at linebacker and Adam Lechtenberg leads a program that has been a consistent contender in recent seasons.

“They play hard as heck,” Fleming said. “They’ve got talent at quarterback (Brady Olson). The running back is a real pain – he went for over 100 against us last year. The defense, they run around and strike.”

UC Davis (8-3) awaits in the next round, the last of eight teams who received an opening bye. The Aggies claimed the No. 8 seed in the field despite not winning the Big Sky championship and falling twice late in the year. The ninth-seeded Rams will use whatever chip is necessary on their collective shoulders, and that starts this weekend.

“We had a tremendously talented conference top to bottom,” Fleming said. “Couldn’t be more proud to represent this conference on a national stage.”

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This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: URI football opens FCS playoffs on Saturday vs. Central Conn. State