The URI football team is No. 22 in the Stats Perform preseason poll
The University of Rhode Island will enter its football season opener as a ranked team.
The Rams checked in at No. 22 in the Stats Perform poll released on Monday morning. URI was one of four teams from the Colonial Athletic Association to crack the national elite.
No. 6 Villanova, No. 19 Delaware and No. 24 Richmond joined the Rams in the top 25. The Wildcats are the CAA favorites and the Blue Hens were picked to finish second. The Spiders are among the annual contenders and are seeking a first FCS playoff berth since 2016.
Five returning all-conference selections and a veteran quarterback in Kasim Hill have URI projected among the best teams in its league. The Rams are coming off a 7-4 finish that left them just shy of a long-awaited place in the postseason. URI opens its 2022 schedule on Sept. 1 against Stony Brook.
William & Mary, CAA newcomer Monmouth and Elon are among the teams from the league receiving votes. The Rams play those three teams in succession during what will be a critical October stretch in their schedule. URI visits the Phoenix on Oct. 15 to kick it off, the rematch of last season’s finale and a chance for the Rams to avenge a painful 43-28 defeat.
More URI football: University of Rhode Island football picked 3rd in league's preseason poll
Dartmouth, Harvard and Princeton are among the Ivy League teams receiving votes. The Big Green, Crimson and Tigers should be among the conference favorites when official voting is released at the league’s virtual media day next Monday. Brown hosts Harvard in its conference opener on Sept. 24 and will attempt to better its 2-8 finish last season.
North Carolina A&T is also among the teams receiving votes, the preseason favorite in the Big South. That’s the new home in 2022 for Bryant, which departed the Northeast Conference at the close of the 2021-22 academic year. The Bulldogs visit the Aggies for their league opener on Oct. 1 and are coming off a 7-4 campaign.
FCS preseason poll: The University of Rhode Island football team is on the national radar
Defending national champion North Dakota State opens the season at No. 1 and received all but two of the 54 first-place votes cast. South Dakota State picked up the other two while checking in at No. 2. Montana, Montana State and Missouri State round out the preseason top five.
bkoch@providencejournal.com
On Twitter: @BillKoch25
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: URI football team ranks No. 22 in the Stats Perform poll
