The Rams will face a stout test against Harvard’s defense, which topped the FCS in several defensive categories last year. Although the Crimson lost stalwarts Zack Hodges ’15 and Obum Obukwelu ’15 upfront, the team returns a deep corps of linebackers and defensive backs.

“We hope to be very fundamentally sound in this game,” defensive back Chris Evans said. “Looking at our second inter-squad scrimmage, we had some things we needed to clean up…. Things have been progressing pretty well this whole preseason.”

Harvard’s efforts received a vote of confidence when the team was placed at No. 25 in the FCS polls heading into the season. The Rams have lost 14 straight games against ranked opponents.

However, one potential wrinkle in Harvard’s plans for dominance is the nature of the playing surface.

Like most other college teams, the Crimson typically practices and competes on artificial turf. But Rhode Island’s Meade Stadium is all grass, posing a challenge of novelty for Harvard players.

In response the Crimson has held sessions on the natural grass at Cumnock Field. This preparation, and all other sessions that Harvard has undergone this preseason, will come to a head at 1pm on Saturday afternoon.

“It’s great to be able to start with game one,” quarterback Scott Hosch said. “We’re just ready to play. We’re ready to get out there in a game scenario and really show the country…what we can do.”