Merrimack College football dropped its 2026 home opener Friday, Aug. 28, as No. 7 Rhode Island pulled away for a 34-7 win at Duane Stadium in North Andover.

The Warriors answered early. After a muffed punt at their own 18-yard line gifted URI a quick touchdown, senior running back Matthias Latham capped an eight-play, 59-yard drive with a two-yard rushing score to tie the game at 7-7 with 5:15 left in the first quarter.

Merrimack did not score again.

URI running back Alex McClelland scored on a five-yard run in the second quarter and added a four-yard touchdown just before halftime to put the Rams up 21-7 at the break. Kicker Ty Groff drilled field goals of 26 and 33 yards in the third quarter, and defensive back Moses Meus sealed it with a 48-yard interception return for a touchdown in the final minute, the Providence Journal reported.

URI forced four turnovers.

Merrimack quarterback AJ Hairston Jr. threw for 145 yards with one interception. Backup Cole Meehan added 116 passing yards but also threw a pick. Wide receiver Bryce Goulet led the Warriors with four catches for 67 yards, while Stephon Patrick hauled in two receptions for 62 yards. On the ground, DeMarcus McElroy carried 10 times for 45 yards to pace a rushing attack that managed just 94 yards on 34 attempts.

Rhode Island's Tyler Budge, a transfer from Georgia Southern starting in place of injured Devin Farrell, threw for 128 yards and ran for 51. He connected with Marquis Buchanan for a 16-yard touchdown less than two minutes into the game after the muffed punt. Buchanan finished with six catches for 72 yards, according to ABC News.

URI coach Jim Fleming called the performance a solid starting point but said his team needs to improve each week.

The loss drops Merrimack to 0-1 in a 2026 schedule loaded with ranked opponents. The Warriors, an FCS independent, face No. 5 Tarleton State, No. 18 Yale and No. 22 Monmouth later this fall, plus FBS foes Delaware and Wake Forest. Athletic director Joe Foley acknowledged the difficulty of competing without a conference home in a May interview on the Jacked Up Podcast, saying "it's really hard to advance in the postseason or even make the postseason in FCS football without being in a league."

Merrimack turns around quickly. The Warriors travel to Delaware Stadium in Newark, Delaware, to face the Blue Hens on Thursday, Sept. 3, with kickoff set for 7 p.m. on ESPN+.