4 of the Most Memorable Football Games in the Yale-Harvard Rivalry
By: Nick Palazzo
Tags: College, Harvard, Football, Sports, Yale

The storied rivalry between Harvard and Yale dates back to the mid-19th century, when the universities’ crew teams first competed against one another. The rivalry extended to the football field in 1875, and the two teams have since met annually in what is now simply referred to as “The Game.” Yale holds the all-time edge in victories with 68 compared to Harvard’s 60. They have also tied eight times. Here are four of the most memorable of the 136 editions of The Game.

Photo by Anders Krøgh Jørgensen on Unsplash

50–43 Yale Victory (2019)

In 2020, The Game was cancelled due to safety concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, meaning Yale will continue to hold bragging rights for at least another season. The New Haven, Connecticut-based school scored a 50–43 double overtime victory over Harvard in 2019 in a game that might eventually be remembered just as fondly as Harvard’s remarkable comeback in 1968.

Harvard, which entered the game with a win-loss record of 4–5 compared to Yale’s 8–1 record, jumped out to a 15–3 lead and still held a 36–22 lead with just over 4 minutes remaining in regulation. Yale’s Mason Tipton caught a touchdown pass from quarterback Kurt Rawlings to cut Yale’s deficit to seven points with 1:28 remaining. After Yale recovered the ensuing onside kick, JP Shohfi caught a touchdown pass from Rawlings with 18 seconds remaining, and kicker Sam Tuckerman kicked the extra point to tie the game at 36–36.

While Harvard was the first to strike in overtime, Yale responded again with a nine-yard touchdown reception by Caden Herring. Zane Dudek scored the game-winning touchdown in the second overtime, while linebacker Ryan Burke made the game-ending tackle on Harvard’s B.J. Watson, who was one yard short of a first down.

“Stating the obvious, the cruel ending is just so symbolic of the last half of our season,” commented Harvard coach Tim Murphy. “You keep thinking the law of averages is somehow going to work itself out. End of the day, great effort by Yale.”

Harvard Completes Undefeated Season (2001)

The 2001 edition of The Game stands out, as Harvard secured its first undefeated season in 88 years following a 35–23 victory over Yale. It was also Harvard’s first victory over Yale in four seasons despite the fact that it held a fourth-quarter lead in each of the prior three games. This time, however, Harvard was able to secure a win thanks in part to a late touchdown by Carl Morris and a goal-line interception by safety Andy Fried. Quarterback Neil Rose, who was a catalyst for the team’s success in 2001, established school records for career touchdown passes (33) and passing yardage (4,511) in this game.

Other players who excelled on the offensive side of the ball that season included Morris, as well as running backs Josh Staph and Nick Palazzo. Morris was voted Harvard’s most valuable players by his teammates and was among the eight Harvard players selected to the all-Ivy first team. Meanwhile, Murphy was named New England Coach of the Year.

MIT Pranksters (1982)

The 1982 Yale-Harvard game isn’t so much remembered for the result — Harvard scored a 45–7 victory — as it is for an elaborate prank pulled off by a group of MIT students collectively known as the Sudbury Four. While MIT students had previously failed in their attempts to burn the letters “MIT” into the field for Yale-Harvard games in 1948 and 1978, the Sudbury Four pulled off a different stunt in 1982.

These students, who were all members of the DKE fraternity, buried a large weather balloon below the turf at midfield at some point before the game. It emerged from below the ground during the second quarter and inflated until it exploded. The elaborate prank took five years of planning and required dozens of overnight trips to Harvard Stadium. It delayed the game for around 10 minutes and in 2007 was named as the fourth-best college sports prank of all-time by Sports Illustrated.

Harvard’s Incredible Comeback (1968)

Prior to the 2019 Yale-Harvard game, the meeting between the two Ivy League schools in 1968 was unquestionably the greatest game in their storied rivalry. It was also one of Harvard’s greatest triumphs. Yale, which entered the game having won its last 16 games, held a 22–0 lead at halftime. It led 29–13 with only 2 minutes left in the game, but Harvard scored consecutive touchdowns and converted both two-point attempts to tie the game. Since both teams finished the regular season with identical 8–0–1 records, they shared the Ivy League title.

The tie was more or less viewed as a victory for Harvard, and the school’s newspaper declared as much with the headline, “Harvard Beats Yale 29–29.” A documentary of the game with this title was released in 2008. Moreover, author George Howe Colt wrote a book about the game and the significant societal events that occurred in the months prior titled The Game: Harvard, Yale, and America in 1968.