Harvard Football announced on May 12 that it will play four first-time opponents in upcoming seasons, including national champion Montana State, NCAA quarterfinalist UC Davis, FCS Playoff regular Wofford, and perennial postseason participant Richmond.
The announcement is significant as it expands Harvard’s football schedule to include several successful programs from across the country. These matchups are expected to provide challenging competition and new experiences for the team.
“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 face UC Davis at home in 2027 and away in 2031. UC Davis finished its 2025 season ranked No. 8 nationally after reaching the NCAA FCS Playoffs quarterfinals with a record of 9-4. In addition, Harvard is scheduled to play Montana State in 2028. Montana State won the NCAA FCS Championship in 2026 and has appeared in three title games over five years with a strong postseason record.
Wofford will visit Cambridge in 2028 after showing improvement under head coach Shawn Watson, ending its last season with a four-game winning streak and a .500 finish. Richmond is set to play at Harvard in 2031 and host them in 2032; Richmond has made three playoff appearances over four years and finished last season with momentum that earned votes in national rankings.
Harvard itself comes off winning its third consecutive Ivy League title and an at-large berth into the NCAA FCS Playoffs, finishing last year at 9-2 overall. Team captain Xaviah Bascon returns alongside All-America candidates Spencer Doan, Damien Henderson, Thomas O’Brien, and Sean Line—all recognized as All-Ivy League selections during their previous campaign.
The Crimson open their next season on September 19 against New Hampshire before returning home on October 3 versus Colgate.
