Bryant Cannot Be Left Out of College Football's Push to Pawtucket

For the first time, there is college football buzz in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. First, rumors circulated that the University of Rhode Island would play its 2026 home slate at Centreville Bank Stadium, the home of the state’s new United Soccer League One squad, Rhode Island FC, while Meade Stadium undergoes renovation. Then, Brown and Rhode Island announced this year's Governor's Cup game would move to Centreville Bank Stadium. This game is likely a test run before Rhode Island commits to playing its 2026 home slate at the soccer venue.

The Bryant Bulldogs are out of sight, out of mind through this Pawtucket buzz. Even after a move to the preeminent FCS conference in the Northeast, the Coastal Athletic Association, the Bulldogs remain an afterthought. Rhode Island has home games aired on the local MeTV affiliate, while Brown had a pair of games on New England's regional sports network, NESN, last year. Bryant had nothing. The same applies to the Centreville Bank Stadium situation. Bryant is less than 15 miles from Centreville Bank Stadium, but it seems like they are a million miles away.

Bryant should aggressively pursue playing a game at Centreville Bank Stadium to gain ground on Brown and URI’s influence in the Ocean State. But who should the Bulldogs host in Pawtucket?

Next year’s game against Princeton seems ideal. The Tigers are a brand name and rarely play in pro stadiums of any type. Hampton and North Carolina A&T are other options if Bryant and Rhode Island FC officials put enough promotional effort. After all, a predominantly white institution, Harvard, played Howard in the 2022 Truth and Service Classic, albeit to the worst crowd in the classic's history.

Bryant has to play someone at Centreville Bank Stadium, no matter who it is. The Bulldogs risk losing more recruiting battles with Rhode Island and now Brown with the addition of occasional games at Rhode Island's shiniest new sports palace. These games may not even be a matter of exposure but of competitiveness. Thus, Bryant must not be late to the party in Pawtucket.