While the rest of college football has been playing for a month, the Ivy League waits for its moment. That moment is Saturday, September 19, when all eight programs open the 2026 season on the same afternoon. The Ancient Eight play football the old way: ten games, no warmups, every Saturday mattering. And with the league now sending its champion to the FCS playoffs, these September tune ups carry more weight than ever. Seven games, six road trips, and a full slate of Patriot League and CAA battles that will tell us who is built for the title chase. Every matchup is live on RallyFuel. Tap your pick, earn +20 RallyFuel points per vote, and back the oldest rivalries in the sport.
Harvard Hits the Road
New Hampshire vs Harvard: Saturday, 1:00 PM ET. The Crimson open in Durham against a New Hampshire program with decades of FCS playoff pedigree. This is the toughest opener on the Ivy slate and the best early measuring stick for a Harvard team with championship ambitions. Win in Durham and the rest of the league is on notice.
Yale and Princeton Test the CAA and Beyond
Holy Cross vs Yale: Saturday, 2:00 PM ET. The Bulldogs travel to Worcester to face a Holy Cross program that has owned the Patriot League for years. Two of New England’s proudest football traditions, one afternoon at Fitton Field.
Bryant vs Princeton: Saturday, 1:00 PM ET. The Tigers open in Smithfield against a rising Bryant squad that has climbed fast in the CAA. Princeton’s championship machine gets an early test against a program hungry to prove it belongs.
The Patriot League Gauntlet
The Ivy and the Patriot League renew their September tradition with a full round of crossover battles.
Lehigh vs Dartmouth: Saturday, time TBA. The Big Green head to Goodman Stadium to face a Lehigh program with its own long championship history. Dartmouth has been one of the steadiest winners in FCS, and it starts every year with tests exactly like this one.
Bucknell vs Penn: Saturday, time TBA. The Quakers open in Lewisburg against the Bison, a tune up with teeth before Franklin Field hosts its first game of the fall.
Colgate vs Cornell: Saturday, 1:00 PM ET. The Big Red make the short trip to Colgate in one of the oldest series in upstate New York. Central New York bragging rights are on the line before either team plays a league game.
The Lone Home Game in Manhattan
Columbia vs Lafayette: Saturday, 12:00 PM ET. Seven Ivy openers, and only one is at home. The Lions raise the curtain at Wien Stadium against Lafayette, giving New York City the league’s only opening day home crowd. If you want to see Ivy football in person on day one, Manhattan is the only place to be.
Make Your Picks
Six road trips, one Manhattan home opener, and a full day of Patriot League and CAA crossovers. The Ancient Eight’s opening slate is live right now. Tap into any matchup above, cast your vote for +20 RallyFuel points, drop a comment for your squad, and turn your fandom into direct support for the athletes carrying 150 years of tradition into a new season.
Get your predictions in before kickoff.
