KINGSTON, R.I. - For the second-straight season, Rhode Island Football has received national attention in the preseason polls as the team was slotted 18th in the Athlon Sports Top 25 and 25th in the HERO Sports Top 25.

The Rams, who just missed the 2022 FCS playoffs after going 7-4 a year ago, are one of five CAA Football programs to be tapped by Athlon Sports, joining No. 4 William & Mary, No. 8 New Hampshire, No. 21 Richmond and No. 25 Delaware. Villanova also received votes. On the HERO Sports list, Rhody came in at No. 21 to fall in behind No. 7 William & Mary and No. 14 New Hampshire but ahead of No. 23 Richmond. Both Delaware and Elon were listed as teams that received votes. 

Rhody's recognition comes on the heels of a No. 14 preseason ranking by Athlon in 2022 and is a reflection of the momentum that the program has gained over the last few years. Rhode Island has finished four of its past five campaigns over .500 and will return a slew of CAA All-Conference picks on both sides of the ball in right guard Nick Correia, left tackle Lorenzo Thompson and linebacker Evan Stewart. 

In 2022, the Rams spent nine weeks ranked within the Top 25, reaching as high as No. 14 in the AFCA Coaches Top 25. 

The team will begin the 2023 season with a game at Georgia State on Thursday, Aug. 31. Kickoff against the FBS foe is scheduled for 7 p.m. 

For season ticket information, visit GoRhody.com. 

2023 Athlon Sports Preseason Top 25
1. South Dakota State
2. North Dakota State
3. Montana State
4. William & Mary
5. Holy Cross
6. Furman
7. Idaho
8. New Hampshire
9. Southeast Missouri
10. Montana
11. Southeastern Louisiana
12. UIW
13. Samford
14. UC Davis
15. Sacramento State
16. North Dakota
17. Mercer
18. Rhode Island
19. Weber State
20. Southern Illinois
21. Richmond
22. Central Arkansas
23. UT Martin
24. North Carolina Central
25. Delaware
Receiving Votes: Austin Peay, Florida A&M, Northern Iowa, Villanova, Yale

2023 HERO Sports FCS Preseason Top 25
1. South Dakota State
2. North Dakota State
3. Montana State
4. Holy Cross
T-5. Furman
T-5. Idaho
7. William & Mary
8. Samford
9. Incarnate Word
10. Sacramento State
T-11. Southeastern Missouri
T-11. Weber State
13. North Carolina Central
14. New Hampshire
15. Southeastern Louisiana University
16. Montana
17. North Dakota
18. UC Davis
19. Mercer
20. Jackson State
21. Eastern Kentucky
22. Gardner-Webb
T-23. Richmond
T-23. Youngstown State
25. Rhode Island
Receiving Votes (ordered from most voting points to least): Northern Iowa, Chattanooga, Delaware, Southern Illinois, Austin Peay, Elon, Florida A&M