CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - No. 17/14 (coaches/media) Harvard opens the second half of its regular season on Saturday when it faces Ivy League tri-leader Princeton in The Garden State. The Crimson and Tigers, along with Penn, sit atop the conference standings at 2-0.

Quick Hits

- Harvard comes into the road contest having won all five of its games, including last week's 31-7 home decision over in-state foe Merrimack. The Crimson is one of eight unbeaten teams in the FCS (8-0 Tarleton State; 7-0 Lehigh, Montana, North Dakota State, Presbyterian, South Dakota State, Tennessee Tech; 5-0 Harvard).

- The Crimson moved up in both FCS top-25 polls, jumping to No. 14 in the Stats Perform rankings and No. 17 in the AFCA Coaches Poll. The four-spot jump in the media poll has Harvard with its best ranking since the 2015 campaign. The three-position climb in the coaches poll matches the program's highest ranking since 2023. The Crimson, meanwhile, is the only nationally ranked Ivy team. Penn, however, is garnering consideration in both polls and Dartmouth is receiving votes in the AFCA poll.

- Harvard has lit up the scoreboard this season (4th nationally in scoring offense - 44.8 ppg), but it has been its defense that has impressed. The Crimson ranks second nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 11.0 points per outing, and second in total defense (238.6). North Dakota State ranks first in both categories at 10.0 and 229.0, respectively. The unit was on full display Saturday vs. Merrimack when it gave up just seven points for a third time this season (at Stetson, vs. Brown, vs. Merrimack). 

- Other defense-related notes include: Held three straight opponents scoreless in the first quarter (accomplished four times in five games this season)... Has picked off at least one pass in every game this season (Last: Xaden Benson vs. Merrimack)... Ranks first nationally in red zone defense (.600), team passing efficiency defense (90.50) and first downs defense (70)... Ranks third nationally in defensive TDs (3)... Ranks fourth nationally in turnover margin (1.60) and blocked punts (2)... Ranks fifth in rushing defense (93.0)... Ranks sixth nationally in interceptions (9)... Ranks ninth nationally in blcoked kicks (3)... Ranks 10th nationally in third-down converstion percentage defense (.303)

- Offensively, Harvard is led by Phil Steele Midseason Fourth-Team All-America quarterback Jaden Craig (305 yards passing, 1 TD vs. Merrimack). The signal caller has spread the ball around expertly this season, but was locked in vs. Merrimack on tight ends Ryan Osborne and Seamus Gilmartin, and wide receiver Brady Blackburn. Osborne had four receptions for a career-high 91 yards and a touchdown, while Gilmartin had a personal-best seven catches for 53 yards. Blackburn, meanwhile, had four grabs for 110 yards, marking his third straight game with at least 100 yards receiving (career-high 114 at Holy Cross, 101 vs. Cornell, 110 vs. Merrimack). It should also be noted that Cam Henry caught two balls for 51 yards vs. the Warriors.

- DJ Gordon put the Merrimack game out of reach when he fought his way into the endzone in the third quarter of a 13-7 game. The sophomore broke through the line of scrimmage and was on his way to paydirt only to have a Warriors player latch onto his facemask at the nine-yard line. Not to be denied, Gordon carried the ball and Nate Palanica Jr. across the goal line for the score. Gordon later added a 19-yard TD run and ultimately finished with a game- and career-high 104 yards rushing. He became the first Harvard player this season to eclipse the 100-yard-rushing mark.

- In addition to ranking fourth nationally in scoring offense, the Crimson offensive unit is tops in the nation in tackles for loss allowed (2.60), seventh in passing offense (291.2) and time of possession (33:29), eighth in team passing efficiency (169.27), and ninth in total offense (475.0).

- Jaden Craig enters this week's action just three touchdowns away from matching Neil Rose '03 for most career passing touchdowns (41). The senior has 38 career TD tosses in just 22 career games. What is impressive is that Craig did not see action as a first-year and only attempted 97 passes in seven games as a sophomore (first four games of career: 0-1 passing vs. St. Thomas, 0-0 at Holy Cross, 0-1 vs. Cornell, 2-8 vs. Dartmouth, all with zero touchdowns). This season, meanwhile, Craig only played in the first halves of two games due to team-wide production/scoring (at Stetson, at Holy Cross). Craig also has 4,520 career passing yards (4th at Harvard), with Rose sitting atop the leaderboard at 5,549.

- Harvard is 21-4 (.840) over the last three seasons (8-2 in 2023, 8-2 in 2024, 5-0 in 2025). The Crimson ranks second in the FCS in fewest losses during this time period, trailing only South Dakota State (3). In Division I altogether (FBS and FCS), Harvard is tied for second for fewest losses (South Dakota State - 3; Harvard, Oregon, Ohio State - 4).

- The Crimson has been one of the best road teams in the FCS the last two-decades-plus. Since 1996, Harvard sits behind only North Dakota State in road winning percentage. NDSU has won at a .741 clip (86-30), while the Crimson has emerged victorious 94 times in 132 tries (.712; 94-38). Among all Division I teams, Harvard is behind only Ohio State (.800; 108-27), Georgia (.768; 96-29) and North Dakota State in road winning percentage since '96.

- Harvard has won five straight away from home, which is tied with Presbyterian and Tennessee Tech for tops in the country. Tarleton State and North Dakota State rank tied for fourth at four.