THE BASICS
No. 10 Rhode Island (10-2, 7-1 CAA Football) vs. Central Connecticut State (7-5, 5-1 NEC)
Kickoff: Saturday, Nov. 30, 12 p.m. 
Live Stats | Audio: Varsity Network | Video: ESPN+ | Game Notes

RHODE ISLAND VS. CENTRAL CONNECTICUT STATE - SERIES NOTES

• Saturday's game will be the fifth in the history between the Rams and the Blue Devils, which dates back to 2004.
• Since then, Rhode Island has earned a 3-1 advantage over CCSU, which includes a perfect 2-0 mark at Meade Stadium. 
• The last time Rhody played Central Connecticut was in head coach Jim Fleming's inaugural season at the helm back in 2014. CCSU clamed a 38-14 victory on its home field in New Britain.
• URI had outscored the Blue Devils 137-24 in the first three meetings.
• For linebacker Harold Miles III, the game will have a little extra meaning as the senior spent the 2021-23 seasons at Central Connecticut State.
• Miles III appeared in 31 combined games for the Blue Devils, making 131 tackles. This season, he has accumulated 20 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and 1.0 sack with the Rams.
• The Gaithersburg, Md. native also forced and recovered a key fumble during the game at Delaware (Nov. 9).
• Central Connecticut has just one Rhode Island native on its roster in redshirt freshman Cameron Alves. The wide receiver hails from Cranston and has played in all 11 of the team's games.

RAMS IN THE POSTSEASON

• One day after the Rams won a share of the CAA Football title, URI was officially named as part of the 24-team FCS Championship field. 
• Rhody is one of 14 schools to receive an at-large bid to the tournament, marking the program's first postseason appearance since 1985.
• Players, coaches and staff gathered together in the Eleanor M. Carlson Strength & Conditioning Center to watch the FCS Championship Selection Show on ESPNU Sunday.
• The postseason nod is the fourth in program history. Then known as the NCAA Division I-AA Playoff, Rhode Island made the field in 1981, 1984 and 1985. 
• The 1984 team advanced to the national semifinals while the '85 Rams' season ended in the quarterfinals. 
• Rhody is 2-3 all time in the postseason, including a 2-0 record at Meade Stadium. 
• The Rams defeated Richmond 23-17 in the quarterfinal round of 1984 following a first-round bye. The following year, URI knocked off Akron 35-27 at home in the first round.
• Rhode Island was one of four CAA Football member institutions to hear its name called, joined by Richmond, Villanova and UNH.
• The Spiders were awarded the ninth seed, while 'Nova was slotted at No. 11 and the New Hampshire Wildcats came in at No. 16.

A FAMILY AFFAIR

• Redshirt senior linebacker Cole Brockwell and his father, Mark Brockwell share a special connection beyond father and son: both led the Rams to conference titles.
• A URI Hall of Famer, Mark was a three-year standout for the Rams and a key member of the 1984 team that won the Lambert Cup as the top team in the East and advanced to the NCAA I-AA playoffs.
• A First Team All-Yankee Conference at the linebacker position, Mark was an All-New England selection and an honorable mention All-American pick. He finished his career with more than 200 tackles with more than 100 solo stops.
• Mark also got to play alongside his brother Kurt.
• Cole leads the team with 93 tackles and has started all 12 games for the Rams. 
• The Westport, Conn. native has 45 solo stops along with 8.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery. 
• He has been both a game captain and an anchor bearer this season.
• Both he and his dad wore jersey number 39.

HISTORY IN THE MAKING

• With the win against Maine back on Oct. 26, Rhode Island secured its fifth straight winning season.
• This is the first time that the team has strung together five winning campaigns. The program put together four from 1982-85.
• The Rams also made history with their win over the Bryant Bulldogs, reaching seven conference victories for the first time in program history.
• URI had previously recorded six conference wins just two other times in 2001 (6-3 Atlantic 10) and 1995 (6-2 Yankee Conference).
• In wins overall, Rhode Island has reached the number seven just nine times since its inaugural season in 1895. 
• Three of those campaigns have happened under head coach Jim Fleming, who led the Rams to back-to-back 7-4 seasons in 2021 and 2022.
• Rhody's record for regular season victories was nine, which it tied with the 20-17 rout of UAlbany (Nov. 16).
• With 10 wins in 2024, the team has not only set a program record for regular season wins but tied the program record for total wins in a season, first set in 1984 (10-3) and matched in 1985 (10-3).
• Rhode Island reached the eight-win mark after the Monmouth game for the first time since 2001 (8-3).
• Additionally, the defeat of the Great Danes secured URI's first unbeaten season at home (6-0) since 1985.