Rams Set for Second Round Clash Against UC Davis

Football
12/3/2025 4:40:00 PM

THE BASICS
No. 9 Rhode Island (10-2, 8-0 CAA) vs. No. 8 UC Davis (8-3 6-2 Big Sky)
Kickoff: Saturday, Dec. 6 – 7 p.m. PT | 10 p.m. ET
Live Stats | Audio: Varsity Network | Video: ESPN2 | Game Notes | Buy Tickets

RHODE ISLAND VS. UC DAVIS – SERIES NOTES

• No. 9 Rhode Island and No. 8 UC Davis meet for the first time on Saturday afternoon in the second round of the 2025 FCS Championship at UC Davis Health Stadium in Davis, California.
• UC Davis (Big Sky) earned an at-large bid to the postseason. No. 2 Montana State won the Big Sky and received the conference’s automatic bid.
• The winner of Saturday’s game faces the winner of No. 1 North Dakota State and unseeded Illinois State next week in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division I Football Championship. 
• Illinois State upset No. 16 Southeastern Louisiana in the opening round of the FCS Championship.
• The Rams are 0-2 all time against current Big Sky member schools. Both games come in NCAA I-AA Playoff games. 
• Rhode Island lost at Idaho State 51-0 on Dec. 4, 1981 in the opening round of the NCAA I-AA Playoff. The Rams fell at Montana State 32-20 on Dec. 8, 1984 in the second round of the NCAA I-AA Playoff.
• Current Rhode Island Football radio analyst Terry Lynch, who is on the team’s trip to UC Davis, was the Rams quarterback against Idaho State in 1981. Lynch was the Rhode Island wide receivers / tight ends coach in 1984 during the team’s loss at Montana State.
• Davis, Calif. is the furthest domestic destination Rhode Island Football has played a game in program history and first time the Rams have played a game in California. Meade Stadium in Kingston, R.I. is 2,990 miles away from UC Davis Health Stadium. It takes roughly 45 hours to drive from stadium to stadium. 
• The Rams furthest trip for a football game is Frankfurt, Germany. Rhode Island played the 1973 Turkey Bowl in Frankfurt on Nov. 22, 1973. Rhode Island defeated Air-Force Europe 34-6 in the game. Rhode Island specialists coach Vince Sinagra was a member of the Rams during that game.
• Rhode Island’s furthest domestic road game prior to Saturday’s match up at UC Davis is at Boise State. Boise State is 2,695 miles away from Meade Stadium.
• The Rams have made two trips to Boise State in program history; once in 1981 under head coach Bob Griffin and another in 1993 under head coach Floyd Keith. Rhode Island lost both match ups.

RAMS DEFEAT CCSU, ADVANCE TO SECOND ROUND

• Rhode Island beat Central Connecticut State 27-19 at Meade Stadium in Kingston, R.I. last Saturday advancing the Rams to the second round of the 2025 FCS Championship.
• The Rams jumped out to a 14-0 lead over the Blue Devils thanks to a pair of first quarter touchdown passes from Devin Farrell.
• Farrell connected with tight end Connor Finer from 28 yards out and then with wide receiver Marquis Buchanan for a 25-yard score.
• Farrell finished the day with career high 365 passing yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. 
• Rhode Island’s win over CCSU was the first postseason game of Farrell’s career. He missed the 2024 postseason with an injury.
• Running back Antwain Littleton, Jr. rushed for a score and kicker Garth White hit two field goals in the game.
• Defensive backs Ayinde Johnson and Andre DePina-Gray each finished with a team-high seven tackles.