Cornell University’s football team will begin a three-game homestand with a matchup against Bucknell University on Saturday, October 18, at Schoellkopf Field in Ithaca, New York. The game is scheduled for 1 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN+.
Cornell enters the contest with an 0-4 overall record and 0-2 in Ivy League play, following a 34-10 loss to Harvard on October 10. Head coach Dan Swanstrom, in his second year at Cornell, holds a 4-10 record with the Big Red and a 36-21 career record. Swanstrom was appointed as The Roger J. Weiss ’61 Head Coach of Cornell Football in December 2023. “Dan Swanstrom was named The Roger J. Weiss ’61 Coach of Cornell Football by Dr. Nicki Moore, the Meakem Smith Director of Athletics and Physical Education in December of 2023. Swanstrom becomes the 28th head coach in school history.”
Last season under Swanstrom, Cornell improved its offensive performance significantly, increasing its average points per game from just over 18 in 2023 to more than 30 in 2024. The team finished third in the Ivy League in total yards per game, passing yards per game, and scoring, and also placed among the top five in rushing. Seven players received All-Ivy honors, including first-team selections Luke Banbury and Jameson Wang. “Swanstrom saw seven players recieve All-Ivy honors in year one, including Seniors Luke Banbury ’25 and Jameson Wang ’25 who were chosen to the All-Ivy League first team. Samuel Musungu and Jack Powers ’25 were selected to the second team, while Damon Barnes, Ryder Kurtz, and Alan Zhao were honorable mentions. Wang was also a finalist for Asa S. Bushnell Cup Offensive Player of the Year and Walter Peyton Awards and Kurtz was an Ap All-American honorable mention.”
Bucknell arrives with a 4-3 overall record and is 1-2 in Patriot League play after a 62-24 loss at Lafayette on October 11. Head coach Dave Cecchini is in his seventh year leading the Bison.
Cornell leads the all-time series against Bucknell 44-16, winning last year’s meeting 34-21 in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. The teams have split their last ten matchups, but Cornell has historically been strong at home against Bucknell with a 34-8 record.
A win on Saturday would give Cornell its first victory of the season and improve its all-time record against Bucknell to 45-16. It would also mark Cornell’s first win since defeating Dartmouth on November 19, 2024.
Bucknell features a strong passing attack led by quarterback Ralph Rucker IV, who has completed 68% of his passes for 1,510 yards and ten touchdowns this season. The Bison have been effective in red zone situations but have struggled defensively, allowing an average of 36.3 points and nearly 489 total yards per game.
Cornell’s defense currently ranks third in the Ivy League and 30th nationally in total defense. In their recent loss to Harvard, they held one of the nation’s top offenses to a season-low 34 points and limited total yardage. Turnovers have been costly for Cornell this season, directly resulting in defensive touchdowns in three out of four games.
Junior tight end Ryder Kurtz leads all Ivy League tight ends with 17 receptions for 222 yards and two touchdowns through four games this season. His six career touchdown catches are the most by a tight end in program history.
Senior wide receiver Doryn Smith is approaching a career milestone with 917 receiving yards; he is set to become the 28th player in school history to surpass 1,000 career receiving yards.
Cornell ranks among national leaders in several defensive categories: they are third nationally in fewest first downs allowed (70 through four games), third in Ivy League red zone defense (opponents score on only 77.8% of trips), and eleventh nationally for fewest penalties (27 flags). Kicker Alan Zhao leads qualified Ivy League kickers with a field goal percentage of 66.7%.
The Ivy League preseason poll picked Harvard as the favorite for the conference title this year, followed by Dartmouth and Yale. Cornell was ranked seventh out of eight teams.
Eight Cornell players were named to Phil Steele’s preseason All-Ivy teams—the most since nine were selected ahead of the 2023 season.
Following Saturday’s game, Cornell will continue its homestand against Brown University on October 25 at Schoellkopf Field.
Schoellkopf Field has been home to Cornell football since it opened in 1915 and is now hosting its 109th season.
The history of Cornell football spans more than 130 seasons, with five national titles and over 650 wins recorded by the program.
