Where: Alfond Stadium, Orono

When: 1 p.m. Saturday

Streaming: FloCollege

All-time series: Tied, 3-3. The Phoenix have won the last two meetings.

Key stat: The Black Bears average 170.6 rushing yards per game, fourth-best in the Coastal Athletic Association and almost 63 yards better than the 2024 season.

Outlook: Maine comes into its Homecoming game off a bye week with a three-game winning streak but suffered a significant injury in a 20-13 victory at Merrimack on Oct. 11. Running back Nick Laughlin, a Cape Elizabeth native, suffered a season-ending knee injury while scoring a touchdown in the first quarter. Laughlin was averaging 5.3 yards per carry and 18 yards per catch, with three touchdowns. Leading rusher Sincere Baines also was injured in the Merrimack game, but coach Jordan Stevens expects Baines to play against Elon. With Baines and Laughlin out, freshman Rashawn Marshall had the best game of his young career, gaining 146 yards on 19 carries. Maine’s offensive line will be tested by Elon defensive lineman Kahmari Brown, who had 13 tackles, including three sacks, in last week’s 26-21 loss to William and Mary.

Defensively, a key to Maine’s successful run after an 0-4 start is cutting down on explosive plays, Stevens said. Two of Elon’s three touchdowns last week came on plays of 20 or more yards, and the Phoenix have proven they have weapons that can break a big play at any point. Quarterback Landen Clark, a freshman, has 1,630 yards passing and 407 yards rushing, with 17 combined touchdowns. Running backs Jimmyll Williams (490 yards) and TJ Thomas (375 yards) give Elon a strong 1-2 combo. Stevens said Maine junior defensive lineman Chris Bacon continues to improve and will be a key in slowing the Phoenix running attack.

Of note: Maine’s final five games, beginning with Elon, are against CAA competition. Three of the Black Bears’ final five games are at home. … Maine is 2-1 in conference play and enters this weekend in fifth place in the league standings. At 2-2, Elon is one spot behind the Black Bears… While it seems odd considering Maine’s 0-4 start, the Black Bears could still win the conference and earn a spot in the NCAA playoffs if they run the table. Maine has just one game remaining against a team ahead of it in the CAA standings, Nov. 15 at home against first-place Rhode Island (4-0 in the league).