Rhode Island is far from flying under the radar any longer.

After back-to-back CAA titles – last year’s coming in the form of a solo championship – the Rams are the preseason favorite to three-peat as CAA champions.

You can expect to see Jim Fleming’s squad high in the FCS rankings throughout the year as well.

The CAA preseason poll and preseason honors were unveiled on Wednesday morning prior to the first of two virtual Media Days for the conference. Fleming, wide receiver Marquis Buchanan and defensive lineman Case Mankins represented the program.

Quarterback Devin Farrell, Buchanan, wide receiver Aboraa Kwarteng, offensive lineman Tre Alexander, Mankins and linebacker Moses Meus were all voted as preseason All-Conference players. Farrell was selected as the CAA Offensive Player of the Year.

Fleming was asked about embracing the newfound attention and expectations.

“We’ve talked about that before. We’ve gone the full gamut here at URI since I’ve been here,” he said. “Obviously, to start off the years where you’re ranked last and you say ‘that’s not gonna matter.’ You say the same thing being ranked first.

“It’s all a very nice honor. I think it’s a great tribute to the advancement of the program and the respect the other coaches have for us, but this team is a different team and we’ve got a lot to earn. So, we’ll take the ranking and we’ll try to hold onto it, but we’ve got to go out and put a really good football team together.

“I think we’ve had a really good offseason, good summer workouts and I think we have very high expectations of ourselves. Now we just have to work it day by day and get ready to go ahead…first and foremost is beat Merrimack…we’ll see how it ends at the end of the year and hopefully we’re still standing.”

One of the biggest reasons URI has been able to finally reclaim its throne atop the CAA the last two years is the influx of New England guys choosing to stay with the program and turn Kingston into a destination.

Buchanan – an All-American last year who could have gone to the FBS level – and Mankins spoke on the pride they take in making Rhode Island a national contender.

“I love being a New England guy,” said Mankins. “It’s not much times you see New England guys go D1. Well, now you’re seeing a lot of guys, but five, 10 years ago, you weren’t really seeing it. New England football is just…especially high school ball, it’s gritty. A bunch of gritty guys, not always the most athletic, but it’s nice putting New England on the map.”

“For me, being from Rhode Island 30 minutes away, it’s great pride for me to go out there each and every week and each and every day, put my best foot forward and show everyone here that you don’t need to go to the big-time schools to get where you want to go and achieve what you want to achieve,” said Buchanan. “So, that’s why it’s special to me.”

“It’s extremely valuable,” Fleming added. “These two guys are first team, All-Conference guys that can make a big impact, but what it does for us…it’s important to build a program where you can keep people in the area. Your local talent right now is what you need to build your football program around…homegrown products allows you to create a lot of interest in people, to be able to watch them play in college environments, it’s been extremely valuable.”

There’s also an interesting element of the unknown that URI will have to deal with this season as well. With Meade Stadium under construction, the Rams will lose the legitimate home field advantage the packed stadium has provided during the team’s resurgence.

Rhody will have to turn Centerville Bank Stadium into a new kind of home field advantage while also dealing with a little bit of a difference logistically on game days.

“First and foremost, we all talk as coaches sometimes…’who cares? Put the ball down, put it in a parking lot and we’ll play, right?” Fleming said with a smile. “So, we’ve got to carry a little bit of that attitude. But, we’re very fortunate. We’re a little sad leaving our home campus to be able to make sure our students can get out to the games, but our university will make efforts to get them up. It’s only about a 35-minute drive, 40-minute drive up to Pawtucket.

“I think it gives us a great opportunity to play in a first-class facility. The RIFC, Centerville Bank Stadium is really an outstanding venue. We played one game on there last year, a good experience from the environment, but I think there’ll be some challenges. We’ve got to travel on home game days 40-minutes or so, but we look at it as a great opportunity.

“Our hope is that we can be able to uncover a whole bunch of new Rhode Island football fans and start getting the fever and then they’ll be able to get on down to campus next year.”

No matter where the Rams play, with a well-seasoned core of leaders and talent all over the place, Rhode Island’s newfound success should only continue in 2026.