CFB

Rhode Island 34, at Merrimack 7

Friday, August 28, 2026 · Final · Championship Subdivision

Championship Subdivision 1 2 3 4 PTS

Rhode Island Rams

5-5 · L1 · #150 (1225 ELO +13)

7 14 6 7 34

Merrimack Warriors

4-6 · L1 · #197 (1060 ELO -13)

7 0 0 0 7

Duane Stadium · North Andover, MA

Rhode Island opens season with 34‑7 victory over Merrimack

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. (Interstat) — Tyler Budge threw for 128 yards and rushed for a touchdown to lead Rhode Island to a 34-7 season-opening win over Merrimack on Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, at Duane Stadium. Budge completed 13 of 29 passes and added 51 yards on five carries. Marquis Buchanan caught six passes for 72 yards and a 16-yard touchdown from Budge in the first quarter. The Rams scored 14 second-quarter points on short touchdown runs by A. McClelland, then added two third-quarter field goals by T. Groff. Moses Meus capped the scoring with a 49-yard interception return for a… Read more...

Top Statlines

AJ Hairston Jr MERR 12/23-145yd
Tyler Budge URI 13/29-128yd 5run-51yd 1td
Cole Meehan MERR 12/17-116yd 7run-16yd

Forecasting

ELO Probability URI 86.7%

Spread MERR -22.5

Projected Score MERR 35 URI 21

Money Line MERR +980/URI -2500

Over/Under 47.5 (Under)