Philly Leader

The University of Pennsylvania's football team is preparing for a significant matchup against Harvard University this Saturday. The game, which will take place at Franklin Field in Philadelphia, coincides with both Homecoming and Senior Day. Penn, holding a 4-4 record overall and 2-3 in the Ivy League, is coming off a historic win over Cornell where they scored their highest points since 1942.

Harvard, ranked No. 22/20 nationally, boasts a strong season with a 7-1 record overall and 4-1 in the Ivy League. The Crimson have won six consecutive games following an early-season loss to Cornell. A victory on Saturday could secure them at least a share of the Ivy League title if Dartmouth loses to Cornell.

The history between Penn and Harvard features close contests. Last year, Harvard edged out Penn in three overtimes with a final score of 25-23. This upcoming game marks their 94th meeting, with Harvard leading the series.

Saturday's event also highlights Homecoming traditions at Penn. Since 1952, the Quakers have achieved mixed results during Homecoming games but have seen success in recent years. Additionally, it will be Senior Day for Penn's program as they honor their seniors before kickoff.

Penn quarterback Liam O'Brien has been pivotal recently, earning accolades such as Stats Perform FCS National Offensive Player of the Week after setting records against Cornell last week.

Running back Malachi Hosley approaches a milestone as he nears Penn’s first 1,000-yard rushing season since Karekin Brooks achieved it in 2019.

Wide receiver Jared Richardson continues to excel with his performances this season leading the Quakers in receiving yards and touchdowns.

Defensively, linebacker John Lista ranks high nationally for tackles per game while safety Shiloh Means contributes significantly to pass defense efforts.

On Harvard's side, quarterback Jaden Craig stands out as one of NCAA FCS’s most efficient passers this season while Jacob Psyk leads defensively in sacks per game within the conference.

Fans can follow live coverage via NBC Sports Philadelphia/Boston or ESPN+, with commentary provided by Joe Tordy alongside analyst Joe Valerio C'91 or Matt Leon paired with Hench Murray on Quaker Audio Network (QAN).