CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The Harvard football team finished in fourth place in the 2021 Ivy League Preseason Poll, the conference announced today.
 
In a poll of media members who cover the Ivy League, the Crimson garnered 87 points, finishing behind Princeton (113 points; 8 first-place votes), Yale (104; 6) and Dartmouth (88; 1). Penn (61), Brown (52), Columbia (44; 1) and Cornell (27) rounded out the rankings.
 
Harvard returns 35 letterwinners, including eight starters (3 offense, 5 defense), from a 2019 squad that opened the campaign with four wins in its first five outings, but suffered six losses by eight points or less en route to a 4-6 record.
 
Individually, Tim Murphy, The Thomas Stephenson Family Head Coach for Harvard Football, will welcome back All-Ivy League performers Nasir Darnell (DL), Jordan Hill (LB), Aaron Shampklin (RB) and Jon Sot (P), and the 2019 Ivy League Rookie of the Year, Aidan Borguet (RB).  
 
The Crimson is set to open the 2021 season on Saturday, Sept. 18, when it travels to the nation's capital to face Georgetown for a 12:30 p.m. ET kick-off. The following week, Harvard will make its home debut on Friday, Sept. 24, when it plays host to Ivy League foe, Brown, in a 7 p.m. ET game that will air on ESPNU.
 
Harvard season and single-game tickets are on sale through the Harvard Athletics Ticket Office website at tickets.gocrimson.com.

2021 Ivy League Football Preseason Poll (First-Place Votes)

1. Princeton – 113 (8)
2. Yale – 104 (6)
3. Dartmouth – 88 (1)
4. Harvard – 87
5. Penn – 61
6. Brown – 52
7. Columbia – 44 (1)
8. Cornell – 27