KINGSTON, R.I. - Ahead of the 2025 campaign, the Rhode Island football team was ranked ninth in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll.

The Rams, who were also the No. 9 team in the country in the outlet's final 2024 poll, are coming off an 11-3 year that saw the program win its first-ever CAA Football title. 

Rhody accrued 928 points in the poll and was one of four CAA Football teams represented. Villanova came in at No. 13, followed by Monmouth at No. 22 and Stony Brook at No. 24. New Hampshire received 22 votes. 

URI will begin its season opposite Campbell on Friday, Aug. 29 under the lights at Meade Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. 

Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll (Preseason)
** 2024 record in parentheses ** 
1. North Dakota State (14-2, 7-1 MVFC)
Points: 1,398 (54 of 56 first-place votes); Final 2024 Ranking: 1; 2025 Season Opener: Aug. 30 at The Citadel
2. Montana State (15-1, 8-0 Big Sky)
Points: 1,335 (1); Final 2024 Ranking: 2; 2025 Season Opener: Aug. 30 at Oregon
3. South Dakota State (12-3, 7-1 MVFC)
Points: 1,266; Final 2024 Ranking: 3; 2025 Season Opener: Aug. 30 vs. Sacramento State
4. South Dakota (11-3, 7-1 MVFC)
Points: 1,227 (1); Final 2024 Ranking: 4; 2025 Season Opener: Aug. 30 at Iowa State
5. UIW (11-3, 7-0 Southland)
Points: 1,138; Final 2024 Ranking: 6; 2025 Season Opener: Aug. 23 at Nicholls
6. Illinois State (10-4, 6-2 MVFC)
Points: 1,015; Final 2024 Ranking: 11; 2025 Season Opener: Aug. 30 at Oklahoma
7. Montana (9-5, 5-3 Big Sky)
Points: 1,004; Final 2024 Ranking: 10; 2025 Season Opener: Sept. 6 vs. Central Washington
8. UC Davis (11-3, 7-1 Big Sky)
Points: 938; Final 2024 Ranking: 5; 2025 Season Opener: Aug. 23 vs. Mercer (in Montgomery, Alabama)
9. Rhode Island (11-3, 7-1 CAA)
Points: 928; Final 2024 Ranking: 9; 2025 Season Opener: Aug. 29 vs. Campbell
10. Tarleton State (10-4, 6-2 UAC)
Points: 912; Final 2024 Ranking: 13; 2025 Season Opener: Aug. 23 at Portland State
11. Mercer (11-3, 7-1 SoCon)
Points: 824; Final 2024 Ranking: 8; 2025 Season Opener: Aug. 23 vs. UC Davis (in Montgomery, Alabama)
12. Idaho (10-4, 6-2 Big Sky)
Points: 747; Final 2024 Ranking: 7; 2025 Season Opener: Aug. 30 at Washington State
13. Villanova (10-4, 6-2 CAA)
Points: 737; Final 2024 Ranking: 12; 2025 Season Opener: Sept. 6 vs. Colgate
14. Lehigh (9-4, 5-1 Patriot)
Points: 493; Final 2024 Ranking: 20; 2025 Season Opener: Aug. 30 vs. Richmond
15. Sacramento State (3-9, 1-7 Big Sky)
Points: 492; Final 2024 Ranking: NR; 2025 Season Opener: Aug. 30 vs. South Dakota State
16. Abilene Christian (9-5, 7-2 UAC)
Points: 436; Final 2024 Ranking: 14; 2025 Season Opener: Aug. 30 at Tulsa
17. Jackson State (12-2, 8-0 SWAC)
Points: 336; Final 2024 Ranking: 18; 2025 Season Opener: Aug. 30 vs. Hampton
18. Western Carolina (7-5, 6-2 SoCon)
Points: 335; Final 2024 Ranking: NR; 2025 Season Opener: Aug. 30 vs. Gardner-Webb
19. Northern Arizona (8-5, 6-2 Big Sky)
Points: 312; Final 2024 Ranking: 22; 2025 Season Opener: Aug. 30 at Arizona State
20. Southern Illinois (4-8, 2-6 MVFC)
Points: 310; Final 2024 Ranking: NR; 2025 Season Opener: Aug. 30 vs. Thomas More
21. Tennessee Tech (7-5, 6-2 OVC-Big South)
Points: 284; Final 2024 Ranking: NR; 2025 Season Opener: Aug. 30 vs. Cumberland
22. Monmouth (6-6, 4-4 CAA)
Points: 274; Final 2024 Ranking: NR; 2025 Season Opener: Aug. 29 at Colgate
23. Stephen F. Austin (7-5, 4-3 Southland)
Points: 183; Final 2024 Ranking: NR; 2025 Season Opener: Aug. 28 at Houston
24. Stony Brook (8-4, 5-3 CAA)
Points: 181; Final 2024 Ranking: NR; 2025 Season Opener: Aug. 28 at San Diego State
25. Richmond (10-3, 8-0 CAA; now Patriot)
Points: 154; Final 2024 Ranking: 15; 2025 Season Opener: Aug. 30 at Lehigh
 
Others Receiving Votes (schools listed on two or more ballots): Harvard (8-2, 5-2 Ivy), 139; Southeast Missouri (9-4, 6-2 OVC-Big South), 127; Southern Utah (7-5, 6-2 UAC), 123; UT Martin (9-5, 6-2 OVC-Big South), 92; North Dakota (5-7, 2-6 MVFC), 88; Eastern Kentucky (8-5, 6-2 UAC), 80; Chattanooga (7-5, 5-3 SoCon), 69; ETSU (7-5, 5-3 SoCon), 68; South Carolina State (9-3, 5-0 MEAC), 35; New Hampshire (8-5, 6-2 CAA), 22; Tennessee State (9-4, 6-2 OVC-Big South), 21; Southeastern Louisiana (7-5, 6-1 Southland), 19; North Carolina Central (8-3, 4-1 MEAC), 18; Youngstown State (4-8, 2-5 MVFC), 16; Duquesne (8-3, 5-1 NEC), 2