Exhibit (i)

November 1, 2002

The RBB Fund, Inc.
Bellevue Park Corporate Center
400 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, Delaware 19809

          Re:  Shares Registered by Post-Effective Amendment No. 80 to
               Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-20827)

Ladies and Gentlemen:

          We have acted as counsel to The RBB Fund, Inc. (the "Company") in
connection with the preparation and filing with the Securities and Exchange
Commission of Post-Effective Amendment No. 80 (the "Amendment") to the Company's
Registration Statement on Form N-1A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the "1933 Act"). The Board of Directors of the Company has authorized the
issuance and sale by the Company of the following classes and numbers of shares
of common stock, $.001 par value per share (collectively, the "Shares"), with
respect to the Company's n/i numeric investors Emerging Growth Fund, the n/i
numeric investors Growth Fund, the n/i numeric investors Mid Cap Fund and the
n/i numeric investors Small Cap Value Fund:

         Portfolio                      Class               Authorized Shares
         ---------                      -----               -----------------

n/i numeric investors                     FF                   50 million
Emerging Growth Fund

n/i numeric investors                     GG                   50 million
Growth Fund

n/i numeric investors                     HH                   50 million
Mid Cap Fund

n/i numeric investors Small              MMM                  100 million
Cap Value Fund

The Amendment seeks to register an indefinite number of the Shares.

          We have reviewed the Company's Certificate of Incorporation, ByLaws,
resolutions of its Board of Directors, and such other legal and factual matters
as we have deemed appropriate. This opinion is based exclusively on the Maryland
General Corporation Law and the federal law of the United States of America.

          Based upon and subject to the foregoing, it is our opinion that the
Shares, when issued for payment as described in the Company's Prospectus
offering the Shares and in



accordance with the Company's Articles of Incorporation for not less than $.001
per share, will be legally issued, fully paid and non-assessable by the Company.

          We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Amendment to the Company's Registration Statement.

                                             Very truly yours,


                                             /s/ DRINKER BIDDLE & REATH LLP
                                             ------------------------------
                                             DRINKER BIDDLE & REATH LLP

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