The roster’s real depth, though, lies in its defense. The Tigers have been bolstered by the return of 2001 and 2002 leading tackler, All-Ivy linebacker Zak Keasey, from a leave of absence. His 59 tackles, four sacks and two interceptions have anchored the middle of the defense, and his tackles tie him for the team lead with Justin Stull, the Ivy League’s leading tackler last season.

Also returning from ineligibility is 2002 All-Ivy selection Brandon Mueller, chipping in with 32 tackles and 2 interceptions at safety.

Still, the improved Tigers must contend with a juggernaut Crimson team that has opponents around the Ivy League on alert.

“[Harvard’s] offense is nothing like anything we have seen during this season,” Stull said in a press conference earlier this week. “This will be our greatest test of the year and will let us know where we are in the league.”

 Entering this weekend’s contest, the Crimson holds an eight-game winning streak in the all-time series, beating Princeton every year since 1995. That adds to the motivation of a Tigers team with Ivy title aspirations and a personal score to settle with their nemesis.

“You factor in that they haven’t beaten us since 1995 and it makes them all the more dangerous because it’s just killed them to be in that situation,” Murphy said.

A less demanding schedule, maturing players, returning talent and a little bit of luck have united to make these Tigers a tad more terrifying than they seemed a year ago.

Now they face Harvard not as league doormat, but on the cusp of joining the Ivy’s upper echelon.

“It is a situation where you have a team on top and another team that is trying to be on top,” Princeton coach Roger Hughes said earlier this week in a press conference. “[They are] fighting for their right to be there.”