NEW YORK — Columbia football (1-4, 0-2) is back in action this Friday, October 24, when it takes on Dartmouth (4-1, 1-1), which is receiving votes in the AFCA Coaches Poll, in Hanover, New Hampshire. Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m. on ESPNU, with Eric Frede handling play-by-play and Jack Ford serving as the analyst.

OPENING DRIVE
• Columbia will start a two-game road swing in New England when it faces Dartmouth on Friday night.
• Friday will mark the Lions' second of three appearances on ESPNU.
• The Lions are coming off a 35-21 defeat to Penn on Homecoming last weekend.
• Justin Townsend leads the Ivy League in sacks (4.0) and tackles for loss (8.5). He is tied for fifth in FCS in TFLs per game.

A COLUMBIA WIN WOULD...
• Snap a three-game losing streak.
• Be Columbia's first Ivy League win of the season.
• Give the Lions their first win in Hanover since 2021.

SERIES HISTORY
Columbia and Dartmouth will meet for the 95th time in a series that dates back to 1899. The Big Green are 73-20-1 all-time against the Lions, including three straight victories and winning five of the last six meetings.

Columbia's last victory over Dartmouth was a 19-0 shutout in Hanover on October 22, 2021. The Lions' last home victory over the Big Green was a 9-7 decision on October 22, 2016.

A LOOK BACK...
Dartmouth built an early lead and held off a fourth-quarter surge from Columbia to secure a 24-21 victory. The Big Green jumped to a 24-7 advantage early in the second half. Running back Q Jones led the charge with 182 rushing yards on 19 carries, including a 35-yard touchdown run. D.J. Crowther added another rushing touchdown to extend Dartmouth's lead.

After trailing most of the way, Columbia found momentum late. Cole Freeman led the charge with two touchdown passes to senior wide receiver Bryson Canty, who caught eight passes for 90 yards. The Lions' offense pulled within three points after Canty's 7-yard touchdown reception with 34 seconds remaining, capping a 58-yard drive.

DARTMOUTH'S STATUS
• Dartmouth is coming off a 30-13 victory over Fordham. The Big Green used a 24-point second half to pull away from the Rams and secure the victory. Grayson Saunier threw for 281 yards and two touchdowns, Grayson O'Bara recorded 104 yards and caught a touchdown pass, and Luke Rives recorded his first collegiate receiving touchdown.
• Sammy McCorkle is in his third season leading the Big Green and his 21st season overall at Dartmouth. Dartmouth finished last season with an 8-2 record, going 5-2 in Ivy League Play. The Big Green earned a share of the Ivy League Championship for their second consecutive title. 
• Dartmouth's offense is averaging 422 yards per game. The Big Green's 4.9 yards per carry leads the Ivy League, while D.J. Crowther is second in both rushing touchdowns (7) and yards per game (93.8). Grayson O'Bara is tied for third in receptions (27), and Ky'Dric Fisher leads the Ancient Eight in yards per catch (22.7).
• Dartmouth's defense is allowing over 330 yards per game. Sean Williams is tied for the Ivy League lead in interceptions (3), Zyion Freer-Brown leads the Big Green in total tackles (38), and Thaddeus Gianaris is the Dartmouth leader in tackles-for-loss (5) and sacks (2.5). 
• Owen Zalc has been a force for the Big Green's special teams. Zalc has won back-to-back Ivy League Special Teams Player of the week honors after recording three field goals and three extra points in Dartmouth's win at Fordham. Zalc recorded a career-high twelve points against the Rams, following up a spectacular performance against Yale that included a game-winning field goal.

PENN LEFTOVERS
• The Lions set a season-high with 21 points, but Penn wideout Jared Richardson erupted for 157 yards and three touchdowns, including two in the second half, to give the Quakers a 35-21 win to spoil Columbia's Homecoming.
• The Lions forced three turnovers in the contest, two interceptions and a fumble.
• Caleb Sanchez threw for a career-high 311 yards, going 27-of-47, and added a pair of touchdowns. • Nine different receivers caught a pass in the game.
• Sanchez was named the John Toner Player of the Game, given to Columbia's top player during Homecoming.
• First-year running back Michael Walters and first-year wideout Beckett Robinson scored the first touchdowns of their careers in the win.
• Sophomore Caleb Solomon posted seven tackles, picked up his first interception and forced a fumble.

COLUMBIA/DARTMOUTH CONNECTIONS
• Columbia offensive coordinator Seitu Smith spent the 2018 campaign as an offensive quality control assistant.
• Big Green offensive line coach Keith Clark served in the same role with the Lions from 1991-96, helping Columbia post an 8-2 record in 1996.