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North Kingston, RI — The Central Connecticut football team had an opportunity in the final minute of the game, but a last pass towards the end zone was broken up, and No. 9 Rhode Island prevailed 27-19 in the First Round of the NCAA FCS Playoffs.
The Blue Devils finished the 2025 campaign at 8-5 and as back-to-back NEC Champions. Going 6-1 against fellow NEC foes to capture its league-record eighth conference crown, the program made its first-ever consecutive FCS Playoff appearance this season.
A field goal as time expired in the first-half put the host Rams on top 24-7, but the Blue Devils, who allowed just three second-half points, charged back in the fourth quarter.
Central Connecticut scored three times in the final period, with a 25-yard touchdown pass from senior All-NEC first teamer Brady Olson and a pair of field goals from freshman Jack Hennessey fueled the comeback.
Olson became the first Blue Devil to surpass 3,000 passing yards in a season, throwing for 3,132 yards, the third-most by a quarterback in NEC history. He went 35-of-62 on pass completions, both single-game program records, while racking up 311 yards and two touchdowns.
He shatttered Jacob Dolegala's single-season passing record with a nine-yard pass to Joe Crifasi late in teh second quarter.