Yale entered the 2000 season as the defending Ivy League champions, riding a nine-game winning streak. The Elis, one win away from a milestone 800th victory, would have their first chance in the season-opener against Dayton.

Yale 42, Dayton 6

In their bid to become the first collegiate football team to reach 800 wins, the Bulldogs jumped on the Flyers from the start, and never looked back in a 42-6 rout at the Yale Bowl.

Yale accumulated 548 yards of total offense, while holding the Flyers to only 127 yards for the game. The Bulldogs had 28 first downs to Dayton's 10. Yale rushed for 357 yards, and doubled the Flyers time of possession.

The Bulldog attack was led by senior running back Rashad Bartholomew, who recorded 201 yards on 23 carries and scored three touchdowns. He made his presence felt from the opening drive of the game, breaking free from 25 yards out to score the game's first touchdown and set the pace for the afternoon.

Junior quarterback Peter Lee also had a solid debut for the Bulldogs. He passed for 193 yards and two touchdowns. Lee's favorite target during the game was senior receiver Eric Johnson, who recorded 10 receptions for 82 yards and a touchdown.

Cornell 24, Yale 23

Yale suffered a devastating loss in its Ivy opener at Ithaca, losing to the Big Red by one point.

With a few seconds left in the game, senior kicker Mike Murawczyk's game-winning 32-yard field goal attempt sailed wide left and ended the Bulldog's attempt at a last minute comeback.

Yale had a 23-17 lead late in the fourth quarter before Cornell embarked on the game-winning drive. Cornell faced a fourth down and long situation in Yale territory, but Big Red quarterback Ricky Rahne found receiver Joe Splendorio to keep the drive alive. Two plays later, he found Splendorio again, this time in the end zone, to give Cornell the 24-23 lead.

The Bulldogs marched down the field with 45 seconds left and no timeouts, looking to set up the game-winning field goal. Lee drove the Elis deep into Cornell territory, but Murawczyk's missed field goal ended the Bulldog's win streak at 10.

Yale 33, Holy Cross 27

Like the week before, Yale was holding its breath into the last seconds of the game, but this time the outcome was in its favor.

After nearly blowing a 27-6 halftime lead, Yale escaped with the win. Holy Cross quarterback Errick Stewart's Hail Mary as time expired was batted down by the Bulldogs and Yale (2-1, 0-1 Ivy) triumphed 33-27 at the Yale Bowl.

Bartholomew, who recorded 158 yards on 32 rushes, led the Bulldog offense. Lee provided the scoring for Yale, passing for three touchdowns and rushing for another in a span of 20 minutes, while amassing 197 yards through the air.

Yale 24, Dartmouth 14

Yale had been winless in Hanover since 1989, but this year's Dartmouth team paled in comparison to the great Big Green teams of the early 90's.

The Bulldogs (3-1, 1-1 Ivy) were led by Lee, who completed 21-of-34 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns. He drove Yale to the game-winning drive in the middle of the fourth quarter.

Trailing 14-10 and facing a fourth and goal situation at the Big Green five-yard line, Lee waited in the pocket and found Johnson in the end zone to give the Bulldogs the 17-14 lead. The Yale defense kept Dartmouth off the scoreboard for the duration of the game and the Bulldogs snapped their losing streak in Hanover.