NEW YORK – Coming off two straight road contests, Columbia returns home Saturday to host No. 19 Harvard. This will be Columbia's first game against a ranked opponent since 2021 when the Lions knocked off No. 25 Dartmouth, 19-0 on October 22, 2021. Kickoff is set for 12:30 p.m. at Robert K. Kraft Field at Lawrence A. Wien Stadium. The game will be streamed through ESPN+.
 
HEAD-TO-HEAD
• When Harvard rushes for at least 200 yards, it is undefeated this season. Against Dartmouth, it racked up 235 yards, including a career-high 156 by Shane McLaughlin. As a team, the Crimson is averaging 230.3 yards an outing, a figure that is tops in the Ivy League and eighth nationally
• The Harvard defense has had success in taking the ball away this season. The Crimson enter the week ranked third in the nation in turnover margin (1.14) and 15th in interceptions (9). Both numbers also lead the Ivy League.
• Columbia's defense will be in for another test this weekend as the unit continues to rank as one of the best in the nation in several categories. The Lions are No. 2 in red zone defense and No. 4 in scoring defense.
• Columbia has also found success in the area of takeways with a 0.14 turnover margin. Seven players have earned at least one takeway this season.
 
NOTES TO KNOW
• Columbia is No. 2 in the nation in red zone defense and is No. 4 in scoring defense, allowing 15.6 points per game.
• On special teams, the Lions lead the nation in kickoff return defense, allowing just 11.2 yards per return.
• Carter McFadden is No. 10 in the country in punt returns, averaging 12.9 yards per return. McFadden is also No. 33 in the nation in kickoff return yards with an average of 23.6 yards.
• The Columbia offense has struck fast this season with seven of 15 scoring drives lasting less than three minutes.
• Seven players have earned takeaways this season for the defense. Aaron Brebnor and Rocco Milia lead the way with two each.
• Tight end Jack Larsen scored the first touchdown of his career at Yale with a 17-yard reception.
• Cobe Crews picked off a pass in the fourth quarter at Yale for the first takeaway of his career.
• Justin Townsend and Joshua Powell each registered a sack at Yale.
 
SERIES HISTORY
• The Lions and Crimson meet for the 81st time Saturday.
• Columbia has won two of the past three meetings with wins in 2022 and 2019.
• The Lions escaped with a narrow 21-20 win last season at Harvard.
• Harvard leads the series overall, 63-16-1 and is 29-9 in games played in New York.
 
A LOOK BACK..
• Last year, Columbia earned its first win at Harvard since 1995 after coming-from-behind to top the Crimson, 21-20.
• The Lions, who trailed 17-10 at the half, blocked two field goals and Harvard missed a 42-yarder off the left upright with 1:17 on the clock to pick up the victory.
• Caden Bell was 16-of-33 for 190 yards and two touchdowns and Bryson Canty had five catches for 92 yards and a touchdown.
• Bell connected with Luke Painton for a 25-yard touchdown grab, and after an offsides penalty on the extra point try, the Lions opted to go for two. Bell shovel passed it to running back Ryan Young, who pushed through the goal line to give Columbia the 21-20 lead with 9:11 left in the game.
 
YALE LEFTOVERS
• Senior Quarterback Joe Green was 16-of-32 for 120 yards passing at Yale.
• Safety Jayden Marshall led all players with eight tackles after filling in for starter Aaron Brebnor, who was injured in the first quarter.
• Justin Townsend and Joshua Powell each posted sacks at Yale.
• Yale racked up 459 yards, the most allowed by the Lions' defense all season and were 9-of-15 on third down to keep the ball for 37:44 of game time.
 
COLUMBIA AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS
The Lions are 5-62 against ranked teams all-time. However, the last time Columbia faced a ranked foe, it topped No. 25 Dartmouth, 19-0, on October 22, 2021 in front a nationally televised audience. A win over the Crimson would be the first for the program at home since a 16-13 victory over No. 23 Harvard in 2003. Additionally, it would mark the first win over an opponent inside the top-20 since October 7, 1995 after the Lions defeated No. 13 Penn, 24-14.
 
CLIFF MONTGOMERY '34CC INDUCTED INTO ROSE BOWL HALL OF FAME
Legendary Columbia quarterback Cliff Montgomery will join ESPN broadcaster Kirk Herbstreit and former Washington offensive lineman Lincoln Kennedy as part of the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame Class of 2023.
 
Montgomery led Columbia to one of the biggest upsets in Rose Bowl Game history as the Lions upset Stanford, 7-0, in the 1934 edition of The Granddaddy of Them All. Montgomery, an All-American in 1933, was named Player of the Game and went on to play in the first College Football All-Star Game.
 
Following graduation, Montgomery played one season of professional football for the Brooklyn Dodgers. He would serve in the military during World War II as a lieutenant commander in the United States Navy. In 1963, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. Montgomery became a football official and officiated college football for more than 25 years. He passed away in 2005 at the age of 94.
 
SPEEDY SCORING
Columbia has finished seven of 15 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.
 
PASSING THE BALL TO JJ
JJ Jenkins has led the receiving corps with 361 total receiving yards and one touchdown through seven games this season. Jenkins tallied 119 receiving yards against Georgetown for the second 100-yard performance of his career. Last season, Jenkins hauled in seven receptions for 162 yards at Penn.
 
FORCING TURNOVERS
Columbia has forced nine turnovers this season, 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. Cobe Crews registered his first career interception at Yale.
 
TOWNSEND-ING A MESSAGE
Junior defensive lineman Justin Townsend is off to another strong start after an All-Ivy League season in 2022. His 9.5 career sacks rank in the top-15 in program history. Townsend ascended into the top-15 after posting a sack at Yale. At Princeton, the Randolph, New Jersey native, posted a sack to end the first half and recorded a pick-six from two yards out on the Tigers' next play from scrimmage in the third quarter. Townsend was a force in the Lions' opener at Lafayette, registering 1.5 sacks and five tackles. On the season, Townsend has 4.5 tackles for loss this season, including two against Georgetown. Last year, Townsend ended the season ranked third in the Ivy League and 38th in the nation with 0.6 sacks per game and his six sacks in 2022 put him sixth on Columbia's single-season list.
 
THE ROUSSOS WAY
Anthony Roussos leads the charge for the Columbia defense with 64 total tackles this season, including 43 solo tackles. He has also tacked on 8.0 tackles for loss and a sack. Roussos led the way with 12 tackles against Penn and Dartmouth and has double-figure tackles in four games this season. He now leads the Ivy League and ranks No. 11 in the country with an average of 5.7 solo tackles per game.
 
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. 10 in the country in punt returns with an average of 12.9 yards per return. He also ranks No. 1 in the Ivy League and No. 33 in the country in kickoff returns with an average of 23.6 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 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 six games, Hughes leads the Ivy League and is No. 7 in the country in punting with an average of 44.2 yards per punt. He has boomed 11 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 15 punts inside the 20 this season.
 
TICKETS
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