RHODE ISLAND VS. UALBANY - SERIES NOTES

• Rhode Island and UAlbany will meet for the 14th time on Saturday, Oct. 24.
• The Rams own an 8-5 overall record against the Great Danes in program history.
• Rhode Island has taken the last two meetings and four of the last five. 
• Rhode Island is 3-2 when hosting UAlbany. 
• The last time Rhode Island lost to UAlbany in the Ocean State was on Sept. 10, 2016. 
• Saturday will mark Rhode Island's first time battling UAlbany under Great Danes head coach Tom Perkovich.
• Perkovich had spent 2015 through 2025 as head coach at Division III Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, Pa. 
• The Rams traveled to UAlbany last season on Saturday, Oct. 18 and defeated the Great Danes 58-17. 
• It remains the last time Rhode Island's offense scored 50 points in a game. 
• Quarterback Devin Farrell completed a program record 95 percent (19-of-20) of his passes. 
• On the Rams first offensive drive, Farrell missed former wide receiver Greg Gaines III. Farrell then completed his next 19 pass attempts. 
• Farrell finished the game with 333 passing yards, four touchdown passes, and no interceptions. 
• Gaines III led the Rams with six catches for 153 yards and two touchdowns. 
• Former Ram Connor Finer also had two touchdown grabs at UAlbany. 
• Rhode Island's defense enjoyed a historic day including seven sacks, four pass breakups, two interceptions, and two fumble recoveries. 
• A.J. Pena led Rhode Island with four sacks while Case Mankins added two.
• Pena's four sack performance is tied with LaJhon Jones (Oct, 18, 1997 at Brown) for most in a single game in program history. 
• Pena's fourth sack of the day at UAlbany in 2025 pushed his career total to 34.5 making him the program leader in career sacks. 
• Pena finished his Rhode Island career with 38, five more than Frank Ferrara's 33 from 1995 to 1998.

CAA THE REST OF THE WAY

• After back-to-back games against Ivy League opponents, Rhode Island's remaining five games of the 2026 regular season come against CAA Football foes. 
• The Rams enjoy back-to-back conference home games to begin the stretch. 
• Rhode Island hosts UAlbany on Oct. 24 and Maine on Oct. 31. 
• The Rams head to New Hampshire on Nov. 7, return home to host Towson on Nov. 14, and then wrap up the regular season on Nov. 21 at Bryant. 
• Rhode Island played well against non-league FCS opponents in 2026.
• The Rams took victories at Merrimack (FCS Independent) and at Yale (Ivy).
• On Oct. 3, Rhode Island won its annual Governor's Cup matchup with Brown (Ivy).

McCLELLAND NAMED CAA FOOTBALL OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

• Rhode Island quarterback Alex McClelland was named the CAA Football Offensive Player of the Week, the conference announced Monday morning.
• McClelland accounted for 377 yards of total offense in Rhode Island's 41-23 win at No. 25/23 Yale on Saturday. 
• The Barrington, R.I. native had a career day, throwing for 285 yards and four touchdowns while adding 92 yards on the ground.
• All four of McClelland's touchdown passes went for 35 yards or more. 
• The third-year Ram connected with Marquis Buchanan for scores of 79 and 37 yards. 
• He also found Jamall Mensah for a 58-yard touchdown and Sean Byrd for a 35-yard score.
• McClelland helped lead the Rams to their first win over a ranked opponent since defeating No. 19/24 New Hampshire in Durham on Oct. 19, 2024. 
• With five games remaining in the 2026 regular season, McClelland has climbed his way up the depth chart to Rhode Island's QB1 spot. 
• Starter Devin Farrell is still recovering from a lower-body injury and subsequent offseason surgery, which has resulted in a longer-than-expected recovery timeline.
• Rhode Island had initially turned to second-string quarterback Tyler Budge to lead the Rams offense.
• Budge earned the second-string role during training camp and has taken the reigns in Farrell's absence. 
• Head coach Jim Fleming started McClelland in the Rams Governor's Cup meeting with Brown on Oct. 3. 
• He had 83 passing yards, 25 rushing yards, and a 12-yard touchdown run against the Bears.