Hampton didn’t get off to the best start to its Coastal Athletic Association Football slate for 2024, suffering a crushing 49-7 loss last week to a powerful William & Mary squad, but there’s still time to rebound. Just not much.

So far, the teams have only dipped the toes of their cleats into conference waters, but the back half of their 2024 schedules are loaded with meaningful, and likely intense, CAA matchups. This is where playoff berths are earned and dynasties begin. 

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The seven games remaining on Pirates’ schedule are all CAA contests, beginning with a visit Saturday from Rhode Island, which is riding a two-game winning streak, just enjoyed a relaxing week off, and jumped back into the top 25, landing in the No. 25 spot in the latest AFCA FCS Coaches Poll. 

Hampton and Rhode Island will take the field at Armstrong Stadium in Hampton, Virginia, on Saturday at 2 p.m. Eastern. 

Only newcomer Campbell and Maine have played more than one conference game so far this year in the CAA, with Campbell quickly slipping to 0-2, with one of those losses coming against Rhode Island. 

Half of the now-16 teams are 1-0, but there soon will be more separation. Anything more than one loss almost certainly will end a team’s hopes for conference glory or a postseason appearance.

Villanova, UAlbany and Richmond shared the title in 2023, all posting 7-1 records in CAA play. Rhode Island landed in the middle of the then 15-team pack (4-4), and Hampton was a bit lower (3-5). 

It was another instance of Rhode Island being in the conversation, but consistent 4-4 or 5-3 seasons aren’t going to get the job done in the CAA. And nor should that be the case, especially as the conference continues to grow and get stronger.

UAlbany proved to be the strongest team in the 2023 postseason, advancing to the semifinals of the 2023 NCAA Division I FCS Football Championship, where the Great Danes lost to eventual national champion South Dakota State. Delaware joined the three co-champions in the FCS bracket.

Amazingly, despite their proximity, Hampton and Rhode Island have only played each other two other times – 1972 and 2001 – with Rhode Island winning both meetings by a combined score of 83-7 (27-0 and 56-7).

Hampton’s loss to William & Mary last week did come after a string of three consecutive wins, so there have been some positives on the Pirates’ way to a 3-2 record so far in 2024. They’re in pursuit of their first winning season since going 7-3 in 2018.

Rhode Island’s last game was a 28-21 win over Long Island University on Sept. 21, which helped the Rams improve to 3-1 on the season.

How To Watch The Rhode Island Football Vs. Hampton Stream

The Rhode Island Rams vs. the Hampton Pirates football game is streaming live on FloFootball and the FloSports app.

Highlights, replays and breaking news will be available on both platforms. 

AFCA NCAA FCS Football Rankings In Week 6

As of Sept. 30, 2024

1. South Dakota St. (3-1)
2. North Dakota St. (4-1)
3. Montana St. (5-0)
4. South Dakota (3-1)
5. Villanova (4-1)
6. North Dakota (4-1)
7. Central Arkansas (4-1)
8. UC Davis (4-1)
9. Montana (4-1)
10. William & Mary (4-1)
11. Mercer (5-0)
12. Idaho (3-2)
13. Southeast Missouri St. (4-1)
14. Tarleton St. (4-1)
15. UIW (2-2)
16. New Hampshire (3-1)
17. ACU (3-2)
18. Northern Iowa (2-2)
19. Illinois St. (3-2)
20. Sacramento St. (2-3)
21. Richmond (3-2)
22. Florida A&M (2-2)
23. Southern Illinois (2-3)
24. McNeese (4-2)
25. Rhode Island (3-1)

Others Receiving Votes: Stony Brook, 28; Missouri St., 27; Lafayette, 24; East Tennessee St., 22; Northern Arizona, 22; Chattanooga, 21; Monmouth (N.J.), 18; Lamar, 17; North Carolina Central, 13; Duquesne, 12; Butler, 9; Dartmouth, 5; Jackson St., 4; Western Carolina, 4; Brown, 3; Drake, 3; Murray St., 3; Nicholls, 3; Bucknell, 2; Dayton, 2; Weber St., 2; Wofford, 2; Alabama A&M, 1; UAlbany, 1.

CAA Week 6 Schedule

All Times Eastern

Friday, Oct. 4

• UNH at Harvard - 7 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 6

• Bryant at Brown - Noon
• UAlbany at Cornell - 1 p.m.
• Delaware at Monmouth - 1 p.m.
• Rhode Island at Hampton - 2 p.m.
• N.C. AT&T at Richmond - 2 p.m.
• Villanova at Stony Brook - 3:30 p.m.
• North Carolina Central at Campbell - 4 p.m.
• William and Mary at Towson - 6 p.m.

Other FCS Games On FloFootball This Week

Saturday, Oct. 5

All Times Eastern

Morehead State vs. Butler, 1 p.m.

Archived Footage On FloFootball

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