Even so, Kanoff’s stats dwarf Smith’s, partly because the freshman hasn’t seen as much playing time. Even still, with 527 yards through the air and two passing touchdowns, Smith barely matches 35 percent of his opponent’s yards.

“I don’t think it’s one of those games where we can expect our defense to hold them to one touchdown, as we have for much of this season,” Murphy said. “We’ve got to score points some offensively, do a good job defensively and somehow win the turnover battle to get a win against Princeton.”

Alongside Smith will be the Crimson’s true offensive juggernaut, junior running back Charlie Booker. In 2017, Booker has rumbled for 496 yards and five touchdowns. His 7.1 average yards per carry marks the fifth-highest in the FCS and second in the Ivy League behind Penn’s Karekin Brooks.

The Tigers’ biggest problem will be shoring up the substantial holes in its defense. Opposing teams have dropped 1,415 passing yards. In Princeton’s one loss this season, death came through the air, as Columbia hung 400 yards.

On the contrary, the Harvard defense has been mostly consistent, and—with exception to the Cornell game—dominant against the run. Overall, the group has held offenses to 14.8 points per game, 200.4 yards through the air, and 92.4 on the ground.

Injuries, however, have ravaged the Crimson front. Linebackers junior Anthony Camargo and sophomore Micah Hughes are out for the season, while sophomore linebacker Bobby Drysdale will also be out for a significant amount of time.

From here on out, all of Harvard’s game are against Ivy League opponents. And while the winner of this game still may not claim part of the division title, it is almost assured that the loser will have no chance.

“It’s going to be an exciting game,” Walker said. “I know we both want it really badly, but Harvard just really has a different hunger that we can’t really explain. We’re ready. I don’t know about Princeton, but we’re ready.”

—Staff writer Cade Palmer can be reached at cade.palmer@thecrimson.com.