NEW YORK – (RV) Columbia football (5-2, 3-1) and No. 24/25 Harvard (6-1, 3-1) will battle to remain in first place in the Ivy League standings when the schools meet in Cambridge on Saturday, November 9. Kickoff is slated for 12 p.m. on ESPN+.

OPENING DRIVE
• The Lions moved into a three-way tie for first place in the Ivy League standings with a 13-10 victory over Yale on Friday night and a Dartmouth loss to Harvard the following day.
• First-year Carter McCray was named Ivy League Rookie of the Week after posting three tackles and helping the secondary limit the Bulldogs to 151 passing yards.
• The Lions are receiving nine votes in the latest AFCA Coach's Poll.
• Columbia's defense is No. 6 in FCS in points allowed (16.3). The Lions have allowed the fewest passing yards per game (200.4) in the Ivy League and pace the conference with eight interceptions.
• Individually, Hayden McDonald's four picks and Carter McFadden's 12 passes defended lead the Ancient Eight. Senior Bryson Canty ranks No. 14  in FCS with seven touchdown catches and No. 16 in receiving yards per game (82.3).

YALE LEFTOVERS
• Joey Giorgi rushed for 48 yards to give him 1,795 for his career - moving him up to third on Columbia's all-time rushing list.
• Bryson Canty now has 1,395 career receiving yards, which is No. 10 in program history.
• The Lions snapped a four-game losing streak to the Bulldogs, dating back to 2018.
• Hugo Merry's 43-yard field goal in the fourth quarter was a season-long.
• Columbia's 96-yard scoring drive was its second drive of 95+ yards this season, the first coming at Georgetown on September 28.
• The Lions earned their first-ever home victory on a Friday night.

A COLUMBIA WIN WOULD...
• Give the Lions their best eight-game start to a season since 2017.
• Give Columbia its best five-game start to an Ivy League season since 1961.
• Be the Lions' second win against a ranked opponent this season.
• Be Columbia's second consecutive victory at Harvard Stadium.

SERIES HISTORY
Columbia and Harvard will meet for the 82nd time in a series that dates back to 1877. The Crimson is 64-16-1 all-time against the Lions. The schools have split the last four meetings.

Columbia snapped a 12-game losing streak in Cambridge in 2022 after rallying for a 21-20 victory. Last season, the Crimson earned a 38-24 win at Wien Stadium.

A LOOK BACK...
Harvard used a pair of big plays in the first quarter to take an early lead and held off a late Columbia push in a 38-24 victory for the Crimson at Wien Stadium.

The Lions trailed by 17 at the half and 38-10 in the fourth quarter before a couple of late touchdowns.

Joey Giorgi rushed for 92 yards and had a pair of touchdowns, one rushing and one receiving. Edan Stagg posted seven receptions for 82 yards, and Joe Green was 24-of-40 for 215 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Defensively, Anthony Roussos led the way with a game-high nine tackles.

HARVARD'S STATUS
• Harvard rallied from 10 down in the fourth quarter to earn a 31-27 victory and hand No. 22 Dartmouth its first loss of the season. Cooper Barkate had seven receptions for 124 yards, and Charles DePrima rushed for three touchdowns as the Crimson offense racked up 434 yards of total offense.
• Andrew Aurich is in his first season leading the Crimson. Aurich succeeded Tim Murphy, who had previously served as Harvard's coach for 29 seasons. Aurich previously coached the offensive line, running backs, and tight ends at Rutgers. Before his time at Rutgers, Aurich served as the assistant head coach and offensive coordinator of his alma mater, Princeton. 
• Harvard's offense leads the Ivy League in touchdowns (33), points (240), and points per game (34.3). Jaden Craig is fourth in the nation in passing efficiency (175.5), leading the Ivy League in passing touchdowns (18). Cooper Barkate leads the Ivy League in receiving touchdowns (8), and Charles DePrima is tied for second in rushing touchdowns (5).
• Harvard's defense holds its opponents to the second-fewest points per game in the Ivy League (21.1). Ty Bartrum leads the Ivy League in total tackles (62) and is second in tackles per game (8.9). Jacob Psyk leads the Ivy League in sacks (5.5) and sacks per game (0.79).
• Harvard's kickoff unit is tied for the Ivy League lead in yards per kickoff (60.1) and the league lead in touchbacks (25). Kieran Corr has a perfect field goal percentage and leads the Ivy League in PATs made (29).

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