Columbia’s 27 first downs were the most in program history since 1975.

Harvard plans to focus on shutting down the running game and pressuring Lions quarterback Sean Brackett.

“Our defense is about stopping the run first, trying to make them one handed, and getting them to throw the ball,” Lyon said. “We definitely want to make sure we keep [Brackett] contained this week, since he can do a lot of things with his feet.”

With the exception of a 33-6 loss to Princeton in September, the Lions have played close games all season against Ancient Eight opponents.

“Dartmouth needed an 80-yard last-minute drive to beat [Columbia], and Penn squeaked out a win [against the Lions],” Murphy said. “If you think this is going to be an easy game, you’re in big trouble.”

Brackett’s 328 passing yards against the Bulldogs last weekend allowed him to surpass Buffalo Bills quarterback—and former Crimson star—Ryan Fitzpatrick ’05 in all-time total offense, moving him into eighth place on the Ivy League career list.

Brackett completed 70 percent of his passes and threw for two touchdowns, adding a third rushing.

After being tied at the half in last year’s matchup with the Lions, Harvard went on to score 28 unanswered points to win the contest, 35-21. Despite holding a 54-14-1 record in the all-time matchup, Crimson players say that Columbia will not go down easy.

“[Last year] we were—on paper—a much more successful team than they were, and it was hard,” Murphy said. “They may not be as complete of a team as us, but they are good enough to beat you if you don’t take care of the football.”

Harvard currently sits atop the Ivy League standings with Princeton and Penn, but Harvard players say that being back in the hunt doesn’t change the way they are preparing for the game.

“Each and every week I think we have a championship-minded attack when we step out onto the field,” Scales said. “We’re not promised tomorrow, so we go out there with that same mentality every single day.”