Harvard hosts Colgate in Key Non-Conference Game

SYRACUSE, NY - SEPTEMBER 12: Colgate Raiders Quarterback Jake Stearney (15) throws the ball during the second half of the College Football game between the Colgate Raiders and the Syracuse Orange on September 12, 2025, at the JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse, NY. (Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

A month ago few would have guessed that when Harvard welcomed in Colgate for its first October game of the season that it would be as meaningful as it is. The #20 Crimson are 2-0 and perhaps that isn't all that surprising for a team that nearly won the Ivy League and went to the playoffs last year. What might be, though, is that their opponents, the #22 Raiders, are 4-1 and making real moves in the Patriot League. And now, suddenly, this is a ranked matchup that will mold at least some of the narrative around East coast football for the rest of the fall.

Colgate has been one of the pleasant surprises of the season so far. After going just 5-7 last year, the Raiders have almost matched 2025's win total already and are right there in a conference race that most thought was Lehigh's and Lehigh's alone. Between a stifling defense that's holding its opponents to 13 points per contest and a suffocating rushing attack led by one of the country's best backs, Colgate doesn't appear to be going anywhere. It may actually be a two-horse race out in the Patriot League and if they can get by unbeaten Harvard on Saturday night the conversation gets really interesting.

A big reason why the Raiders are sitting with four wins in hand right now is the production of junior running back Danny Shaban. Currently eighth in the FCS in total yards (529), Shaban is the catalyst of the offense. Whether it be his 200-yard performance in the opener against Fordham or his 29 touches last week in the win against Cornell, Shaban is a workhorse and how he fares against Harvard's defense, and more specifically star linebacker Sean Line, will likely determine this outcome.

Shaban averages 5.5 yards per touch and has proven to be one of the more difficult backs in the country to bring down. His ability to bounce off tacklers is something that the Raiders offense leans on heavily. That's precisely where Line will come into play for the Crimson. He wraps up with the best of them and Shaban may find the yards a lot tougher to come by this weekend. Line has 3.5 tackles for loss this season and 8.5 on his career. Strength will meet strength when these two clash.

If Harvard is going to come out with a win, however, it will need a whole lot more than a big day from its senior linebacker. Over the first two games the offense has been lackluster to say the least and a lot of that comes with the fact that they are trying to find a new identity now that longtime quarterback Jaden Craig is gone. It's been sophomore Charlie Smith taking the snaps so far this year and the growing pains have been plentiful. Smith has tossed an interception in each of his first two games and, despite throwing for over 200 yards against Brown last week, took three sacks for -27 yards.

He did still complete 30 of 37 passes in that victory, though, and took strides from the New Hampshire game two weeks ago to last week. He will need to stay on that trajectory because there hasn't been any real semblance of a ground game for the Crimson yet this year. Only Cole Allen has hit the 100-yard mark this year and that doesn't necessarily bode well against a Colgate unit that is giving up 102.6 rush yards per game. Allen and fellow back Xaviah Bascon will have their work cut out for them against the likes of Trooper Prince (45 tackles) and Christian Magliacano (7 TFLs).

The Raiders defense has been one of the best in the nation at not only stuffing the run but also winning the turnover battle. They've taken the ball away 11 times this season and nine of those have been interceptions. Magliacano has been responsible for three of those from his linebacker spot but the DBs are very pick-prone as well. Reece Allan has two while Chase Jarrett, Tymir Wynn and Taytum Johnson each have one as well. That dangerous secondary might have a field day with the inexperienced Smith.

This contest is intriguing for the variety of matchups that will encompass it and for the long-term ripples it may have down the line. It's a key non-conference bout for both teams and the winner here may very well look back on this one as the reason why they end up sneaking into the postseason when all is said and done. It seems early on that the Ivy League will only be getting one team into the bracket this year but to have a shot at another, Harvard needs this one. The Patriot League is absolutely in line for two and that notion gets a lot more promising with a Colgate win. Either way the playoff picture will probably be influenced.

The game will kick off at 7:00 PM (ET) and can be streamed on ESPN+.