HANOVER, N.H. – The Columbia football team will continue its Ivy League slate Saturday on the road at Dartmouth. The Lions are looking for back-to-back wins in Hanover after posting a 19-0 win over the Big Green in 2021. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. at Dartmouth's Memorial Field. The game will be streamed through ESPN+. Fans can also listen to the game live on gocolumbialions.com.
 
HEAD-TO-HEAD
• Columbia and Dartmouth meet for the 93rd time Saturday at Memorial Field. Dartmouth enters the contest leading the Ivy League No. 6 in the FCS in third down defense (28.4%), which will prove challenging to the Lions who are last in the Ivy League in third down conversions.
• The Big Green is No. 2 in the FCS in first downs defense, where Columbia is last in the Ivy League in first downs. The Lions will look to get the offense going as Dartmouth is giving up an average of 23.8 points per game. Columbia enters the game averaging 14.6 points per game and is looking for a breakthrough.
• The Lions will look to shut down the Dartmouth rushing attack that is averaging 167 yards per game with a rushing defense that ranks 12th in the nation, giving up just 92.4 yards per game.
• Carter McFadden will be tested on punt returns as the Big Green are allowing just 5.14 yards per return. McFadden enters the game averaging 14.2 yards per return.
 
NOTES TO KNOW
• Columbia leads the nation in red zone defense and scoring defense, allowing just 10.8 points per game.
• On special teams, the Lions lead the nation in kickoff return defense, allowing just 11.7 yards per return.
• Carter McFadden is No. 9 in the country in punt returns, averaging 14.2 yards per return. McFadden is also No. 12 in the nation in kickoff return yards per game with an average of 27.1 yards.
• Aaron Brebnor and Rocco Milia are each averaging 0.4 interceptions per game and are tied for No. 18 in the nation in interceptions per game.
• The Columbia offense has struck fast this season with six of 13 scoring drives last less than three minutes.
• Six players have earned takeaways this season for the defense. Aaron Brebnor and Rocco Milia lead the way with two each.
 
SERIES HISTORY
• The Lions and Big Green meet for the 93rd time Saturday.
• Columbia and Dartmouth have split the last six matchups, 3-3.
• Columbia's last win in the series came at Dartmouth's Memorial Field in 2021 with a 19-0 shutout win.
• Dartmouth leads the series overall, 71-20-1 and is 38-6 at home.
 
SPEEDY SCORING
Columbia has finished six of 13 scoring drives this season under three minutes. Six of Columbia's scoring drives this season have been 50 yards or less. The Lions had two scoring drives under three minutes against Penn. Caden Bell capped off a seven-play, 35-yard drive in 2:53 with a four-yard rushing touchdown. Joey Giorgi then finished off a 10-play, 58-yard drive in 2:36 with a 1-yard touchdown run.
 
FORCING TURNOVERS
Columbia has forced eight turnovers in the past three games, including a season-high four turnovers (three interceptions and one fumble) against Marist. Aaron Brebnor stepped up to register two interceptions in the win over Marist. Columbia had two turnovers on the road at Princeton as Rocco Milia recovered a fumble and Justin Townsend returned an interception two yards for a touchdown. The Lions registered two takeaways at home against Penn as Rocco Milia recorded an interception and Patrick Passalacqua took a fumble recovery.
 
CAN'T GET CARTER
Carter McFadden has been a weapon for Columbia in both punt and kickoff returns. The senior currently leads the Ivy League and ranks No. 9 in the country in punt returns with an average of 14.2 yards per return. He also ranks No. 2 in the Ivy League and No. 12 in the country in kickoff returns with an average of 27.1 yards per return.
 
BILLY BIG FOOT
William Hughes was named Ivy League Special Teams Player of the Week after averaging 46.8 yards on four kicks last week against Marist in windy and rainy conditions. Earlier this season, he was selected to the FedEx Ground FCS National Honor Roll after a strong season opener at Lafayette. Hughes averaged 47.8 yards on four punts and pinned the Leopards inside the 20 three times. He also had three kicks that went beyond 50 yards, including a game-long 56-yarder. Last season, Hughes stepped up as Columbia's starting punter for the final four games and averaged 43.6 yards per attempt on 16 kicks to earn All-Ivy League honors.
 
After five games, Hughes leads the Ivy League and is No. 10 in the country in punting with an average of 43.9 yards per punt. He has boomed seven punts over 50 yards, including his season long 71-yarder against Marist, which is also the fifth-longest in program history. Hughes has the knack for pinning opponents deep with 11 punts inside the 20 this season.
 
HONORING BUDDY TEEVENS
Columbia, along with the other eight Ivy League schools, will honor former Dartmouth head coach Buddy Teevens, who passed away on September 19 following sustaining injuries in a bicycle accident in March. Each institution will wear a decal with his initials on their football helmets this fall in Coach Teevens' honor.
 
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