The University of Rhode Island football team entered the 2026 season looking to three-peat after back-to-back Coastal Athletic Association championships, but injuries have completely derailed the season for the Rams.
In the offseason, it was announced that fifth-year quarterback Devin Farrell and fifth-year wide receiver Marquis Buchanan would return.
Buchanan was an Associated Press All-American in 2025, and Farrell was a Football Championship Subdivision Football Central Third Team All-American.
The Rams were picked to finish first in the CAA’s preseason poll, and it looked like they had the pieces for a third straight conference championship before losing their quarterback. Farrell has yet to play a snap in the 2026 season, as he has been sidelined with a foot injury.
The injury bug has plagued the Rams the vast majority of the season and forced URI head coach Jim Fleming to dig deep in his depth chart.
“A good player that has significant impact, can you expect that guy to replace him completely?” Fleming said. “Maybe you can, maybe you can’t. There’s certain players out on our field that are hard to replace.”
Farrell isn’t the only No. 7 on the team who’s had injury problems; fourth-year linebacker Moses Meus suffered an injury, but is expected to be back on Saturday. Third-year running back Gabe Winowich has only appeared in five games but is also probable for this week.
It’s been a rare sight to see the Rams at full strength so far this season.
“It seems like every week we’re kind of banged up,” Andrew Llaguno, associate athletic director of health and performance, said. “Nearing Wednesday, Thursday, we clean it all up as best we can and get these guys ready to play.”
Third-year quarterback Alex McClelland started the season as the third-string quarterback on the roster but got inserted into the starting role.
He delivered in a big-time spot against Yale University in a 41-23 URI win where he threw for 285 yards and four touchdowns. McClelland was also named CAA Football Offensive Player of the Week.
“He’s continued to develop,” Fleming said. “I think he’s had some really bright spots and he’s had some growing pains at times, but that’s to be expected with a first-time starter.”
The following week, URI lost to the University at Albany, dropping to 5-4 on the season, essentially ending Rhody’s playoff and conference championship hopes.
Rhode Island plays an annual Blue-White game in the spring, but many programs across the country have strayed away from it due to potential injury risk.
On the other hand, some coaches argue that it helps prepare players’ bodies better for the fall. They believe if they don’t practice hard enough, it will create more injuries.
“I think the key thing during spring ball is that we minimize the amount of contact and collision that we do,” Llaguno said.
Despite the injuries, URI was able to pull out an overtime win against the University of Maine, where fifth-year Marquis Buchanan became Rhode Island’s all-time leader in receiving yards with 3,969.
With three conference losses this year and currently sitting eighth in the CAA standings, Rhody’s odds of making the FCS playoffs are essentially zero.
However, there are still three games left on URI’s schedule, and given all the bumps and bruises, if the Rams finish with an 8-4 record, that is nothing for the Rams to hang their heads on.
