NEW YORK - The Columbia football team will look to end 2022 on a high note when it welcomes Cornell to Northern Manhattan Saturday, November 19 for Senior Day. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. Both teams come into the contest with identical 5-4 records and are 2-4 in Ivy League play.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

1. Columbia will look to secure its fourth winning season in the past five years with a win over Cornell Saturday.

2. The Lions tied a program record with its fourth road victory of the season at Brown last weekend.

3. Scott Valentas repeated as Ivy League Defensive Player of the Week after posting 13 tackles, two interceptions and three pass breakups against the Bears.

4. If Columbia can hold Cornell to 118 or fewer yards on the ground it will set a new program record.

THE MATCHUP
Columbia and Cornell will put a close on the 2022 season. Both teams sit at 5-4 overall and 2-4 in Ivy League play heading into the matchup. The Big Red lead the all-time series 66-39-3. Columbia is 3-2 in the last five meetings with each contest being decided by 10 or fewer points. The Lions took last year's meeting, 34-26, in Ithaca.

COLUMBIA'S STATUS
The Lions are coming off a thrilling 31-24 overtime win at Brown. Columbia built a 21-0 lead in the second quarter before the Bears mounted a comeback and converted a game-tying field goal as time expired in regulation. In overtime, the Lions went ahead for good on a Marcus Libman four-yard touchdown grab and the defense made the score stand up with a stop to seal the win.

CORNELL'S STATUS
The Big Red are coming off a 17-13 victory over Dartmouth in its home finale. Cornell held the ball for 37:52 in the triumph and Davon Kiser returned a kickoff 91 yards for a score. Like the Lions, Cornell has played well on the road, going 3-1 in away contest thus far.  The Big Red's win clinched just the fifth .500 season for the program since 2000.

HONORING THE SENIORS
Columbia will honor the 32 members of its seniors in its pre-game ceremony. Columbia's class of 2023 includes Caden Bell, Cameron Burt, Conner Collins, Drew Davis, Dom Dodson, Andrew Donovan, Jack Ertz, Alex Felkins, Ryan Hamilton, Will Hamilton, Jackson Heath, JJ Jenkins, Matt Klenk, Parker Lefton, Cole Mattieson, Hugh McLean, TJ McGarry, Zach Minch, Mitch Moyer, Luke Painton, Railan Peace, Andrew Pruske, Jayden Rolle, David Sawyer, Thomas Thibault and Scott Valentas. Depending on individual circumstances, several of these student-athletes could return to the Lions for the 2022 season. They have been a part of 15 victories in their three seasons with Columbia.

The "super senior" group includes student-athletes that began their careers during the 2018 campaign. They are: Fara'ad McCombs, Stew Newblatt, Ryan Young, Ernest Robertson, Mike Fluegel, Jackson Heath, Parker Lefton, Zach Minch and Conner Collins. The group has won 21 total victories and 12 Ivy League wins from 2018-21.

EMPIRE STATE BOWL
Columbia and Cornell compete against each other annually in the Empire State Bowl. The winner takes home the Empire Cup. The rivalry took on the name Empire State Bowl in 2010, emblematic for Ivy League football supremacy in New York State. The two schools have competed on the gridiron since 1889. Since the trophy was introduced, Cornell holds a 6-5 lead in the series.

ROAD WARRIORS
Columbia's win over Brown tied a program record for most road victories in a season. This marks the fifth time the Lions have accomplished and the first since 2017.

TAKE IT AWAY
The Lions' four interceptions at Brown last week were the most in a game since they did so against Harvard on November 4, 2017.

RUSH DEFENSE KEEPS ROARING ... THE NATION HEARS IT
The Columbia rushing defense has been solid all year, holding teams to under 50 yards rushing in three out of their nine games this year. The solid run defense places them fifth in the country in rushing yards allowed, allowing only 93.8 yards per game over the season. If the Lions hold Cornell under 118 rushing yards Saturday, they will set a program record for fewest rushing yards allowed in a season.

GREAT SCOTT!
Senior linebacker Scott Valentas earned Ivy League Defensive Player of the Week honors the last two weeks. Last week at Brown, he compiled 13 tackles, had two interceptions and three pass breakups. Valentas has picked up double-figure tackle totals in his last five contests. The native of Wichita, Kansas, leads the squad with 85 takedowns, which puts him third in the Ivy League. Valentas has either led or finished second on the team in tackles in each of his seasons with the Lions.

BILLY BIG FOOT
Junior William Hughes has stepped in the starting punter role the past three games and has made a huge impact. He is averaging 44.4 yards per kick, with three inside the 20 and five of 50 or more yards.

THIRD DOWN AND ROARING
Columbia has been one of the best teams in the nation on third downs, both defensively and offensively. The Lions are limiting opponents to a 32.6 percent conversion rate, tops in the league and No. 13 in the NCAA. Offensively, Columbia is converting at 45.7 percent, second in the league and 21st in the nation.

CAPTAINS' CORNER PODCAST
Season four of the Columbia Football podcast returned this fall, featuring captains Mitch Moyer, Stew Newblatt, Scott Valentas and Ryan Young. The guys and co-hosts Aliyah Funschelle and Kyle Mattracion give fans an inside look at the program. New episodes premiere on Wednesdays on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Search for Columbia Athletics and subscribe today!

FOLLOW THE LIONS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
For the latest on the Columbia football team, follow @CULionsFB on Twitter and Instagram, on Facebook and on the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.