The last time a Columbia football team came to Cambridge. Harvard used everybody on the bench and still couldn't keep the score respectable.

But two years is a long time. And when the Crimson opens its Ivy League season against the aerial-minded Lions at 1:30 in the Stadium today, it will be facing a team which since 1969 has given up its claim to the title of "worst college football team in America" to become a league contender.

Columbia should be sky-high today after beating Princeton, 22-20, for the first time since 1945, last Saturday. The Lions has won only two league games in the previous four years.

However, one of those wins was a 28-21 triumph over the Crimson last year in a game that wasn't as close as the score indicate. It marked the first time Columbia had beaten Harvard in seven years.

And that was with 11 sophomores starting on the 22-man squad. They're all back, including the Lions' sensational quarterback Don Jackson, who passed for 223 yards and two touchdowns against to grab Ivy Back-of-the-Week honors.

The Crimson will be facing some strong rushing attacks among the I vies this season, but will probably encounter no better passing team than Columbia. The leagues top two pass receivers of 1970, split end Jesse Parks and tight end Mike Jones, are Jackson's prime targets.

So far this year, the two ends have been specializing in long catches. Parks has 26-2 yards per catch, while Jones is averaging 20.3.

Crimson Coach Joe Restic summed up the defensive imperative for Saturday's game. "It's as simple as this: We have to handle their passing game or we lose the game very badly."

Harvard's battered defensive secondary is in no shape to stop a sophisticated passing game. First and second string corner backs Steve Golden and Wes Shofner are both listed as "doubtful starters" for the Columbia game, although both will suit up. If they are out. Toby Harvey would once again have to man the left side.

Safety Barry Malinowski's injured knee hasn't healed and may keep him out of the game. If Malinowski can't play, Mike Murr will take his place.

Should the Crimson defense be able to stop Columbia's passing attack, will Harvard's offense be able to generate any action on the scoreboard? With Eric Crone out and neither Steve Hall nor Steeve Harrison running at full strength. Restic's wide-open offense will once again be partially crippled.

Even so, Columbia Coach Frank Navarro complained yesterday about his problems in preparing for the Crimson's offense. "We're really confused. We see the Holy Cross films with all that motion, all those sets that we never see in the Ivy League. Then we hear about Northeastern and Harvard's 'Conservative' game. We have to get ready for everything under the sun." Navarro said.

The key to the Crimson's offensive effort this afternoon has to be the performance of Rod Foster. Foster had a miserable afternoon against North-eastern, completing only six out of 14 pass with three interceptions.

"We have to have more balance between our passing and running game this weekend," Restic said yesterday. "Columbia stopped Princeton several times inside the 20 last week. That's where we're going to need the pass.

The return of junior split end Bill Craven, out since the beginning of the season with a pulled hamstring, may give roommate Foster needed passing confidence.

Today's game is pivotal for the Crimson. The non-league season is move and Harvard did not look impressive in either of the first two games. Now, facing a long Ivy schedule, the Crimson must soon get offensively and continue its defensive improvement if it is to have any hopes for the Ivy Crown.

"It's hard to play those first two games because everyone is pointing toward the league season, "Restic said. "As far as I'm concerned our season really begins Saturday."