CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - The Crimson returns to Ivy League competition on a short week when it welcomes Cornell to Tim Murphy Field at Harvard Stadium on Friday night. The contest will air live at 7 p.m. ET on ESPNU and is the first of an Ivy-best three games on the Worldwide Leader's national TV schedule.

Quick Hits

- Harvard is 3-0 record after cruising to wins at Stetson, vs. Brown and at Holy Cross. The Crimson has scored 159 points in its first three games, which is its most since putting up 216 in the first three games of the 1887 season (86 at Tufts, 68 at Exeter, 62 vs. MIT).

- Thanks to its undefeated start, Harvard moved up to No. 22 in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll and entered the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll on Monday at No. 25. The Crimson is the only nationally ranked team in the Ivy League and is one of eight unbeaten squads in the country.

- The Crimson, 3-0 for the first time since 2023, is fresh off a convincing 59-24 win at Holy Cross. Harvard scored the first 24 points of the game, scored twice in the final 1:55 of the first half to move ahead 38-3, before pulling a majority of its starters at the start of the third quarter en route to the victory. The 59 points were the most Crusaders had allowed to an FCS program since Lehigh put up 62 in 1999.

- Jaden Craig threw for three touchdowns and 248 yards in one half of work. Brady Blackburn was on the receiving end of one of those TD tosses and added another from Dante Torres, who was 4-for-5 passing for 68 yards. Blackburn finished with a career-high 114 yards receiving and became the first Crimson player this season to catch multiple TDs and eclipse the 100-yard mark.

- Blackburn was responsible for half of Harvard's receiving touchdowns, with Logan Reaska and Tafari Moe also finding paydirt. A season-high nine different receivers caught at least one pass, with seven recording at least two. 

- The Harvard rushing attack was also on full display with seven different players toting the rock and four scoring touchdowns. Jordan Harris ripped off a 75-yard sprint to the endzone and his one TD was matched by Xaviah Bascon, Isaiah Bullock and Maddux Reid.

- The Crimson defense has been nothing short of impressive in the early going. Against Holy Cross alone, it had three interceptions (Xaden Benson, Duke Bradley, Damien Henderson), recovered a fumble (Xavier Agostino), sacked the QB twice (Alec DeGrieck) and blocked a punt (Riley Jenne). The collective unit held the Crusaders to 98 yards rushing and 235 yards passing, with 191 of those passing yards coming after halftime (44 in the first half, just two in the second quarter).

- As one can imagine, Harvard is among the nation's top-10 in several categories. On offense it ranks first in sacks allowed (0); second in completion percentage (.714) and scoring offense (53.0); third in team passing efficiency (199.73); fourth in passing offense (304.7), passing yards per completion (15.23), and tackles for loss allowed (3.00); and seventh in total offense (493.3). On defense it ranks first in first downs defense (36) and red zone defense (.500); second in third-down conversion percentage defense (.237), blocked punts (1), rushing defense (70.0) and team passing efficiency defense (96.82); third in total defense (231.0); fourth in interceptions (7) and scoring defense (12.7); and seventh in blocked kicks (3).

- The little things tend to make a difference and Harvard ranks well in some of those categories. Among FCS teams, the Crimson is first in fewest penalties (8), fewest penalties per game (2.67), fewest penalty yards (70), fewest penalty yards per game (23.33) and time of possession (35:10); second in turnover margin (2.33); and fourth in kickoff return defense (12.80).

- Harvard is 19-4 (.826) over the last three seasons (8-2 in 2023, 8-2 in 2024, 3-0 in 2025). The Crimson ranks second in the FCS in fewest losses during this time period, trailing only to South Dakota State (3). In Division I altogether (FBS and FCS), Harvard is tied for third for fewest losses (Oregon, South Dakota State - 3; Harvard, 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 .739 clip (85-30), 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 (.797; 106-27), Georgia (.766; 95-29) and North Dakota State in road winning percentage since '96.

- Harvard's win at Holy Cross, coupled with West Georgia's loss at Austin Peay and Presbyterian's bye, propelled the Crimson to the top of the active road winning streak list. Harvard has won five straight away from home, with Presbyterian ranking second (4).