Harvard Football announced on May 12 that it will face four new opponents in upcoming seasons, including national champion Montana State, NCAA quarterfinalist UC Davis, FCS Playoff regular Wofford, and perennial postseason qualifier Richmond.
The announcement highlights Harvard’s plan to broaden its competitive reach by scheduling games with prominent programs from across the country. These matchups are expected to provide challenging opportunities for student-athletes and raise the profile of Harvard Football.
“We are excited for the opportunity to expand the Harvard Football brand to new parts of the country and continuing to maximize the student-athlete experience for our team,” said Andrew Aurich, The Thomas Stephenson Family Head Coach for Harvard Football.
The Crimson will host UC Davis in 2027 and travel there in 2031. UC Davis finished eighth nationally in both major polls after a strong playoff run in 2025. In 2028, Harvard is set to play Montana State, which won the NCAA FCS Championship that year and has appeared in three title games over five years. Wofford will visit Cambridge in 2028 following recent improvements under head coach Shawn Watson. Richmond is scheduled as a home-and-away opponent for 2031 and 2032 after making three playoff appearances over four years.
Harvard recently captured its third consecutive Ivy League title and earned an at-large bid to the NCAA FCS Playoffs with a final record of 9-2 (6-1 Ivy) during the previous season. The team was ranked twentieth by Stats Perform and twenty-third by AFCA Coaches Polls at season’s end.
Looking ahead, team captain Xaviah Bascon will lead alongside All-America candidates Spencer Doan, Damien Henderson, Thomas O’Brien, and Sean Line—all recognized as All-Ivy League selections last year. The Crimson opens its next campaign on September 19 against New Hampshire before returning home on October 3 versus Colgate.
