Since then, Harvard has gone 59-11 and claimed four more championships while Yale went 37-22. The Crimson has also not lost in The Game since. That’s the kind of long-term impact these matchups can have when the stakes are as high as they will be Saturday.

But throw Harvard’s seven-game winning streak against the Bulldogs in the Charles River; it’s worthless now. If Yale wins Saturday, they will own the rivalry for at least a year.

Regardless of the reality, it will feel like a Crimson collapse and a Blue ascent to however many thousands pack the Stadium if the Elis emerge victorious this weekend. And they very well could.

Harvard enters The Game as a consensus favorite thanks to its unblemished record, No. 14 national ranking, and host status. But Yale has the talent—especially considering Crimson quarterback Conner Hempel remains a game-time decision.

Bulldogs quarterback Morgan Roberts leads the league in passing while running back Tyler Varga leads it in rushing. He has also scored 20 touchdowns in nine games. Both pro prospects, they could be the best two offensive players in the league. And before they compete against each other for Player of the Year honors, they will be on the same side against Harvard.

If the Crimson wins an eighth straight Game, it will cement this stretch as Harvard’s most dominant in the history of The Game.For that to come at the end of an undefeated season would only further ensure this group’s place in Crimson history. Beating back a revived Yale program would only be icing. Doing it with College GameDay on hand would be extra icing.

The Crimson knows this. The team danced on the Penn sideline, celebrating another Ivy title. But then everybody got back to business.

The players know their work is not complete. The job is not done. These Harvard players will always be champions. But Saturday, they have an opportunity to become more.

—Staff writer Jacob D.H. Feldman can be reached at jacob.feldman@thecrimson.com.