RHODE ISLAND VS. HAMPTON - SERIES NOTES

• Rhode Island and Hampton will meet for the fourth time on Saturday afternoon. It will be the second meeting between the programs as CAA foes. Hampton joined the league in 2022.
• Rhody leads the all time series 3-0 beating the Pirates in 1972, 2001, and 2024,
• The first meeting between the programs was at Meade Stadium on Sept. 10, 1972. Rhode Island won the game 27-0, en route to a 3-0 start in Jack Gregory's second season as Rhody head coach.
• Last year's meeting was a double-overtime victory for the visiting Rams. Rhody trailed 31-17 with 7:02 remaining in the fourth quarter. 
• Devin Farrell found Marquis Buchanan for a 41-yard touchdown with 5:56 left in regulation to pull within a score. Rhode Island's defense forced a three-and-out on the ensuring Hampton drive and gave Farrell and the offense the ball back with 4:09 left in the fourth. 
• The Rhody offense then rattled off a 10-play, 81-yard drive capped off with a two-yard Malik Grant touchdown with 24 seconds left in the quarter to tie the game and force overtime. 
• Rhode Island's Greg Gaines III caught a 12-yard touchdown in the first overtime. Hampton failed to score on its two-point conversion try in second overtime. 
• Farrell's two-yard touchdown run tied the game at 44. He iced the game with a three-yard rush on Rhode Island's two-point try to give the Rams the road win 46-44.

RAMS LOOK FOR FIRST OUTRIGHT LEAGUE TITLE SINCE 1985

• With a win over Hampton on Saturday afternoon, the Rams will clinch their first outright league championship since 1985 and its eighth league title in program history. 
• With a win, Rhode Island will close the regular season 8-0 in CAA Football play. The closest teams to Rhode Island in the CAA Football standings are Villanova and Monmouth. Both the Wildcats and Hawks have one league loss. Villanova plays a non league game against Sacred Heart on Saturday, while Monmouth hosts UAlbany.
• The last time Rhode Island finished the season perfect in conference play was 1985. The Rams finished the season 5-0 against Yankee Conference competition.  
• Last year's 7-1 CAA record was previously Rhode Island best conference record since 1985. 
• In 2024, the Rams earned a share of the CAA title with Richmond. 
• With a win, Rhode Island will earn the CAA's automatic qualifying bid to the NCAA FCS playoffs.
• If Rhode Island loses, and Monmouth loses Rhody and Villanova would finish the season 7-1 against the CAA. 
• Rhode Island and Villanova did not meet during the regular season so there is no head-to-head tiebreaker. The next tiebreaker is record against common opponents (UAlbany, Elon, Hampton, New Hampshire, Stony Brook). Villanova would be 5-0 and Rhode Island would be 4-1. Rhode Island and Villanova would be co-champions and Villanova would receive the automatic bid.
• If Rhode Island loses, and Monmouth wins, then Rhody, Monmouth, and Villanova would all finish 7-1 against the CAA.
• Rhode Island did not meet Monmouth or Villanova during the regular season so there is no head-to-head tiebreaker. The next tiebreaker per the CAA is record against common opponents (UAlbany, Hampton, New Hampshire, Stony Brook). Villanova is 4-0, Monmouth is 3-1 and Rhode Island is 3-1. Monmouth, Rhode Island and Villanova would be tri-champions and Villanova would receive the automatic bid.

RHODE ISLAND HAS DEPTH IN THE RUNNING GAME

• Antwain Littleton, Jr., Brendon Barrow, and Gabe Winowich have provided Rhode Island with exceptional depth at the running back position. 
• Littleton, Jr., Barrow, and Winowich all have had games this season where they have rushed for two rushing touchdowns. 
• Littleton, Jr. and Barrow both rushed for two touchdowns each in last week's win at Maine.
• Littleton, Jr. rushed for 202 yards against the Black Bears. That is tied for the eight most rushing yards in a game in Rhode Island history. 
• Lyle McCombs rushed for 202 yards at Stony Brook on Nov. 15, 2014.
• Against Campbell on Aug. 29, Littleton, Jr. rushed for 85 yards and two scores.
• Barrow had 65 yards and two touchdowns at Maine.
• On Oct. 11 against UNH, Barrow had a career-high 111 yards and two touchdowns. 
• Winowich made his first career start against Bryant on Oct. 25. He rushed for career highs in attempts (13), yards (90), and touchdowns (2). 
• Quarterback Devin Farrell has added three rushing touchdowns this season; one against Long Island on Sept. 20, another against New Hampshire on Oct. 11, and one at Elon on Nov. 8. 
• Terrence Campbell, who is a true freshman, had 39 yards and a rushing score in Rhode Island win at UAlbany.
• Quarterback Alex McClelland had a six-yard touchdown run at Elon.
• Rhode Island's 20 team rushing touchdowns is the fourth-most in the CAA this season.
• Only Monmouth (25), Stony Brook (21), and Elon (21) have more. 
• Rhode Island's rushing offense has been the most diverse in the CAA. 
• Rhode Island's 20 rushing touchdowns come from six different players. Monmouth has had three players rush for touchdowns, while Stony Brook and Elon have each had four players rush for touchdowns.