CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Columbia's football fell to an opportunistic No. 24/25 Harvard squad, 26-6, on Saturday. The Lions (5-3, 3-2 Ivy League) kept pace for much of the game but committed threw two interceptions turnovers and could not convert on fourth down on three occasions, which proved costly.
Despite the struggles to find the endzone, the game was a two-possession game headed into the fourth before a pair of Crimson scores.
Senior wideout Marcus Libman posted five catches for 109 yards to lead all players. Defensively, the Lions were anchored by Charlie Newton, who tallied a career-high 14 tackles. Jack Smiechowski and Carter McCray added 10 tackles each.
"We put drives together, but had (some missed opportunities), through drops, interceptions or not converting on fourth down," said Patricia and Shepard Alexander Head Coach of Football Jon Poppe. "There were just a bunch of plays out there that we didn't make, and that's the difference between a close game and 26-6. But credit to Harvard. They made those plays, and it wound up being the key in today's result."
Harvard (7-1, 4-1, Ivy League) opened the game with a 10-point first quarter, including a swift four-play, 80-yard drive capped by a 34-yard touchdown pass from Jaden Craig following the first Columbia interception.
The Crimson extended their lead with a late first-half field goal and added two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter, including an 11-yard pass to Charles DePrima. Columbia's lone touchdown came with under two minutes left on a 2-yard rush by Cole Freeman, which was set up by key grabs by Libman and Bryson Canty.
The Lions will play their final road contest at Brown next Saturday, November 16. Kickoff is slated for 12 p.m. in Providence on ESPN+.
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POSTGAME NOTES
- Libman posted his second career 100-yard receiving game and first since 2022.
- First-year quarterback Caleb Sanchez made his collegiate debut in the fourth quarter, going 3-for-5 with 69 yards.
- Columbia fell to 0-3 when not forcing a turnover.
