CFB-FCS: Ivy League Week 7 Release & Preview

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The Ivy League football weekend begins Friday with Columbia hosting Yale at 7 p.m. in a nationally televised game on ESPNU. Saturday’s three-game slate is highlighted by a matchup between with No. 22 Dartmouth (6-0, 3-0 Ivy) and Harvard (5-1, 2-1 Ivy) at 1:30 p.m.

WEEK 7 SCHEDULE

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1

7 p.m.   Yale at Columbia               ESPNU

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2

12 p.m. Penn at Brown   ESPN+

1 p.m.   Cornell at Princeton ESPN+

1:30 p.m. Harvard at #22 Dartmouth ESPN+

CONFERENCE NOTES

QUICK HITS

  • The first weekend of all-Ivy play resulted in wins for Brown, Dartmouth, Harvard and Yale. Through three games of league play, Dartmouth holds a one game advantage in the standings over Brown, Columbia and Harvard.
  • Dartmouth is ranked in both major national FCS polls for the third consecutive week, earning the No. 22 spot in both the AFCA coaches poll and the Stats Perform media poll. The Big Green and No. 2 Montana St. are the only unbeaten teams remaining in the FCS.  Harvard is receiving votes in both polls.
  • This year six of the 12 league games have been decided by one possession with one going to overtime. Each of the previous two seasons, 16 of the 28 league games were decided by one possession. Last year five contests were decided in overtime, which was the most of any FCS conference.
  • Ivies finished non-league play with a record of 16-8, marking the 12th time in the last 14 seasons that the league has posted a winning percentage of .500 or better. Since 2017, Ivies are 119-49 (.708).
  • Four current Ivies were named to the East-West Shrine Bowl 1000: Brown CB Isaiah Reed, Columbia WR Bryson Canty, Penn S Shiloh Means and Princeton WR Connor Hulstein. The league’s four representatives were tied for the fourth most of any FCS conference.
  • Reed was also one of 64 FCS prospects named to the Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List.
  • A pair of Ivies were named to the Jerry Rice Award watch list this: Brown RB Matt Childs and Princeton LB AJ Pigford. The Rice Award honors the FCS freshman player of the year in college football’s Division I subdivision.
  • The league welcomed three “new” head coaches this offseason: Columbia’s Jon Poppe, Cornell’s Dan Swanstrom and Harvard’s Andrew Aurich. All have extensive experience as assistant coaches within the league.
  • Three of the league’s head coaches were Ivy League football players: Brown HC James Perry (Brown, 1996-99), Harvard HC Andrew Aurich (Princeton, 2002-05) and Princeton HC Bob Surace (Princeton, 1987-89).
  • The 2024 Bushnell Cup presentation is set for Dec. 16 at the iconic Rainbow Room at Rockefeller Center in New York City. The event will once again be co-hosted with the National Football Foundation & College Football Hall of Fame (NFF) and sponsored by Bruin Capital. This year’s presentation will be emceed by ESPN’s Rece Davis and will include three finalists (up from two) for both offensive and defensive players of the year.
  • The Ivy League was the only conference across all divisions to have a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy from each institution. Named after former Columbia football team captain and later head coach Bill Campbell, the award recognizes an individual as the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership.
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NCAAFB Editor
Profile: A dedicated college football analyst with a deep understanding of the sport’s tactical complexity, recruiting landscape, and conference‑wide dynamics. This columnist provides comprehensive coverage of the NCAA football season, blending film study, statistical insight, and historical context to explain how programs evolve from Week 1 through bowl season and the College Football Playoff. Background: With extensive experience covering Division I football, the columnist has contributed to national sports outlets, digital platforms, and radio segments focused on coaching trends, roster construction, and player development. A background in sports journalism and analytics supports a disciplined approach to evaluating performance, interpreting data, and tracking long‑term program trajectories across all major conferences. Signature Coverage Areas: Game previews and tactical matchups Film‑based breakdowns of offensive and defensive systems Recruiting analysis, transfer‑portal movement, and roster‑building strategy Coaching philosophies, scheme evolution, and conference‑wide trends Historical context, rivalry features, and postseason analysis Style & Approach: The writing emphasizes clarity, accuracy, and accessibility — translating complex schemes, advanced metrics, and recruiting data into insights that resonate with both long‑time college football fans and new followers of the sport. Each column reflects a commitment to balanced reporting, thoughtful evaluation, and a deep appreciation for the tradition, passion, and unpredictability that define NCAA football.