Just because driving from one end of Rhode Island to the other takes up less time than a half of football doesn't mean folks in those parts don't take their fandom seriously.

In fact, "Little Rhody" is home to a pretty big rivalry that is about to hit a huge milestone.

On Oct. 3, Brown University, a private school in the Ivy League, and University of Rhode Island, a public school in the Colonial Athletic Association, will square off for the 100th time. The game will be played at Brown Stadium, most likely under the lights. Governor Gina Raimondo might even make an appearance, which would be quite appropriate considering the name of the trophy.

"It's been going on for a long time," said Brown head coach Phil Estes, who has led the Bears to three Ivy League championships since he arrived at the school in 1998. "We play for the Governor's Cup, so you get something tangible at the end of the game. There aren't many games where you get the chance to play your in-state rival and get something tangible at the end of it."

The Cup is just one of the things that make the rivalry so much fun for Rhode Islanders. The Bears and Rams began playing in 1909. And while Brown has absolutely dominated the series, 71-26-2, Rhode Island won seven out of 10 meetings before the Bears went on their current four-game win streak against URI.

"It's a great rivalry," Rhode Island head coach Jim Fleming said. "It starts with the in-state component – state school versus Ivy League school. Brown is up in Providence; we're down here in Kingston. That in-state component is very valuable to our state, football-wise. The supporters take a very active interest in that game."

The two ties in the series were in 1962 and 1973. There have also been seven years when the game wasn't played (1918, 1923, 1924, 1943, 1944, 1945 and 1992) for various reasons.

Playing against Brown has some extra significance for Rhode Island sophomore tight end Charlie McKeeman. His dad, Jim, played center for the Rams from 1977 to 1980.

"I went to a number of Governor's Cup games growing up," McKeeman said. "It was always a big thing to go to the URI-Brown game and root on your Islanders at either Brown or URI. Every year we'd go, and it was always a good time."

However, even for players who didn't grow up in New England, like Brown senior quarterback Marcus Fuller, it's pretty clear how special the rivalry is to natives of the Ocean State and alums of both universities.

"I'm not exactly from this neck of the woods, so it was something I was introduced to as a senior in high school," said Fuller, who is from Ashland, Ohio. "They were doing a big night game against URI, and I got to check that out. You might get the concession that it's not two big-time programs with Rhode Island being the smallest state in the union, but I came away very impressed with the game and the atmosphere from both sides."

Fleming, who is beginning his second season at URI, has a unique perspective on the Governor's Cup. He was an assistant coach at Brown in 1993.

"Any time you're involved in rivalry games, those games are significant enough that as those games go, so goes your season sometimes," he said. "When I was at Brown, I didn't recognize it as a huge rivalry. But when I got to Rhode Island, I did recognize it as a huge rivalry. There's a lot of pride taken on both sides."

Estes said he believes the close proximity of the two universities adds even more excitement to the rivalry.

"I don't know how much they (players) cross paths, but there's a difference of probably 30 miles between schools," Estes said. "It's interesting to watch these guys and the excitement created with a game like this."

And with the Governor's Cup about to hit the century mark, both programs are even more excited about this year's game. Brown is coming off of a 5-5 (3-4) season, while URI went 1-11 (1-7) in 2014.

"Coach talks to us about it all of the time," McKeeman said. "It's a game we have to win and a game we should win. We're thinking about it every day when we're working out; it's definitely circled on our schedule. It's unbelievable playing in that game. You definitely have a chip on your shoulder going into the game because what's at stake and bragging rights for the next year."