The football season is a long one, especially when a team plays five games in a six-game span on the road.

The University of Maine, ranked No. 2 in the nation, takes to the road for the fourth time in five weeks today when it renews its Atlantic 10 rivalry with Massachusetts.

Maine (6-0) at Massachusetts (3-2), 1 p.m., McGuirk Stadium, Amherst, Mass. The Black Bears (4-0 in league play) look to remain unbeaten against the Minutemen (1-1 A-10). UMaine has won only three times in 23 meetings at UMass since the rivalry began in 1909.

Coach Jack Cosgrove’s team takes on an improving UMass squad that is coming off a 34-13 victory at Richmond last week.

“They really shut Richmond down,” Cosgrove said. “They’re very athletic on defense. They run very well.”

UMaine, which rode the play of the defense to last Saturday’s victory at James Madison, is looking to achieve more offensive success. That could be tougher as starting tackle Mark Lehner, who injured his right knee and ankle at JMU, is questionable for today’s game.

His absence would mean first-year tackle Ryan Bird must try to pick up the slack as the Bears attempt to re-establish a run attack that was shut down a week ago.

“That’s our bread and butter, and it sets everything else up in our offense,” Cosgrove said. “Our No. 1 concern is to get back to running the football the way we did a couple weeks ago against URI.”

UMaine features the tailback tandem of Marcus Williams, an Amherst native, and Jim Henry. Williams leads the A-10 with 97 yards per game, while Henry is a big-play threat.

Quarterback Jake Eaton has passed for 179 ypg and continues to improve the rapport with a young receiver corps that features Christian Pereira and Ryan Waller.

Linebackers Jeremy Cain (10.8 tackles per game) and Mike Ziccardi (7 sacks) head the UMass unit that has been susceptible to the pass (245 ypg).

The Minutemen will try to solve a UMaine defense that ranks first in the league in scoring defense (10.5 ppg) and is second in the A-10 and eighth in the nation in total defense, allowing 243 ypg. The Bears are No. 1 vs. the pass (139 ypg).

“They’ve got some game-breaker type players in (WR) Adrian Zullo (5 catches per game) and Jeff Krohn, their quarterback (264 ypg, 12 TDs),” Cosgrove said.

UMass also features a solid run game behind R.J. Cobbs (96 ypg) and Raunny Rosario (84 ypg), who both rushed for 100 yards last week. The Bears counter with a stingy defense led by LBs Stephen Cooper (10 tackles per contest) and Rob Kierstead of South Portland (6.5 tpg), along with safety Dave Cusano (6.0 tpg).

Bridgewater State (1-3) at Maine Maritime Acad. (0-4), 1 p.m., Ritchie Field, Castine. The Mariners return home looking for their first win of the season. MMA takes on the Bears, who have struggled despite putting up some decent numbers.

MMA, coming off a lopsided defeat at Nichols, is still trying to establish its offense and tighten up its defense. The young Mariners could pick up some confidence with a victory.

Colby (1-2) at Amherst (3-0), 1 p.m., Amherst, Mass. The White Mules hope to continue the momentum generated by last week’s win over Wesleyan. Colby got its run game on track behind Aaron Stepka, who rushed for 217 yards and three touchdowns.

Amherst enters the game with the NESCAC’s best ground game (225 ypg) and also boasts a solid passing attack. Mike Moran (22 tackles) heads the Colby defense.

Today’s other games: Wesleyan (2-1) at Bates (0-3), Bowdoin (0-3) at Hamilton (0-3).