PRINCETON, N.J. -- Seven Ivy League football programs opened their 2022 campaigns with wins this weekend with Harvard earning an overtime Friday night win followed up by six other teams on Saturday. This marked the best start to a non-conference slate since 2005, when league opened the season 7-1.
Ivies are no strangers to strong starts on opening weekend. Over the last 17 seasons, Ivy League teams have racked up an 83-53 record in their first games and has posted a .500-or-better opening weekend record in 14 of those seasons – now including the last seven seasons.
Harvard 28, Merrimack 21 (OT)
- Aidan Borguet ran for a pair of touchdowns in the fourth quarter and caught the go-ahead touchdown in overtime
- The Crimson won its 21st straight home opener. Harvard has won 11 straight times in season openers at home.
- Harvard faces Brown in its Ivy League opener next Saturday in Providence.
Princeton 39, Stetson 14
- Trailing 14-7, Princeton scored the final 32 points of the game on Saturday afternoon in Florida.
- Princeton quarterback Blake Stenstrom threw for 256 yards, including two touchdowns.
- The Tiger defense held Stetson to just 12 first downs on the afternoon.
Brown 44, Bryant 38 (2OT)
- Brown scored a late fourth quarter touchdown to send the game into overtime brefore topping in-state rival Bryant in the extra frames.
- Jake Willcox threw for 356 yards and three touchdowns in the win.
- Graham Walker had eight catches for 116 yards and two touchdowns.
- The Bears host Harvard for its Ivy League opener next Saturday in Providence.
Penn 25, Colgate 14
- Trailing 14-3 at halftime, Penn outscored Colgate 22-0 in the second half to grab the season-opening win.
- Aidan Sayin tossed for 289 yards and two touchdowns in the win.
- The Quaker defense held Colgate to 192 yards of total offense and only 11 first downs.
Cornell 28, VMI 22
- Cornell never trailed in the game on its way to a 28-22 win in Virginia.
- The Big Red rush defense held VMI to -2 yards rushing for the game.
- Cornell hosts Yale in its Ivy League opener next Saturday.
Dartmouth 35, Valparaiso 13
- Zack Bair rushed for 169 yards and a touchdown as the Big Green offense put up 393 yards.
- Dartmouth held Valpo to only 74 yards rushing in the game.
- It is Dartmouth's 12th straight season-opening victory — the longest active streak in the FCS.
Columbia 38, Marist 3
- Columbia raced out to a 31-0 halftime lead on its way to a cruise control 38-3 win.
- Joey Giorgi had 103 yards rushing and a touchdown for the Lions.
- Columbia put up 226 yards rushing while the Lion defense held Marist to just 55 yards on the ground.
No. 12 Holy Cross 38, Yale 14
- Yale tied the game at seven three minutes intot the second quarter but Holy Cross rattled off the next 31 points.
- The Crusaders had 573 yards of total offense.
- The Bulldogs head to Ithaca next weekend for their Ivy League opener vs. Cornell.