To  keep up with the Big Red attack, Chapple may have to repeat that kind of a success against an improved Cornell defense. Last year, the Big Red surrendered 30 points in seven of its 10 contests. In the last two weeks, Cornell’s opponents have combined to tally just 16 points, though Fordham did score 34 in Week One.

“The thing that’s changed the most about their team is that all of a sudden they are playing strong defense,” Murphy said. “They are a lot better of a defensive football team then they were a year ago, and that makes them very dangerous.”

As a whole, the Big Red is a more well-rounded squad than it was last year and appear to be a threat to Harvard’s defense of the Ivy crown.

“It’s clearly a big game,” Murphy said. “We are probably not going to play a team on our schedule that is.as good on offense, good on special teams, and good on defense as this group.”

—Staff wrtier Jacob D. H. Feldman can be reached at jacobfeldman@college.harvard.edu.

—Staff writer Robert S. Samuels can be reached at robertsamuels@college.harvard.edu.