Cornell University’s football team secured a 30-20 victory over Bucknell on Saturday, October 18, in Ithaca, New York. This win marks the program’s 660th all-time victory, bringing its historical record to 660-565-34 since 1887. The team also extended its advantage in the “Battle of the ‘Nells” rivalry to 45-16 against Bucknell, with a 35-8 record at home.
The Big Red improved their October record to 317-259-14 and achieved their first comeback win from a deficit of more than a field goal since their 2023 season opener against Yale. When scoring at least 30 points, Cornell now holds a 242-12 record. The team is also 439-42-4 when leading into the fourth quarter.
Cornell’s ground game was strong, with 232 rushing yards against Bucknell. This is the second time this season the team has rushed for over 230 yards, a feat last accomplished twice in one season in 2018. The team had 52 rushing attempts, their most since 2022, and only 22 passing attempts, the fewest since a 2022 win over Dartmouth. The team has managed at least 25 first downs in three of its five games this season.
The Big Red won the turnover battle for the first time this year, with three takeaways to Bucknell’s two. Penalties have decreased over recent games, dropping from an average of 9.5 per game in the first two contests to 4.3 over the last three. Cornell has converted 14 of 18 red zone opportunities this season.
Sophomore running back Jordan Triplett rushed for over 100 yards, becoming the first Cornell player to do so since Ean Pope in 2024. Triplett is also the first to reach that mark in his first collegiate start since 2019. He totaled 141 all-purpose yards, the highest by a Cornell running back since 2024. Freshman John McAuliffe contributed 89 rushing yards, the best by a freshman since 2021, and his 7.4 yards per carry is the highest by a Cornell player with double-digit carries since 2022.
Senior Joey Cheshire recorded eight tackles, bringing his career total to 105 and making him the 145th player in school history to surpass 100 tackles. Fifth-year senior Damon Barnes now has 135 career tackles, ranking him 81st in program history.
Sophomore linebacker Keith Williams Jr. had two interceptions, becoming only the second Cornell linebacker in 25 years to achieve this in one game. His nine tackles are the most by a Cornell player with two interceptions in a game since 1996.
Quarterback Garrett Bass-Sulpizio became just the eighth Cornell player in over four decades to rush for multiple touchdowns and throw for a score in the same game.
Senior wide receiver Doryn Smith had a standout performance with an 85-yard kickoff return total on two attempts, including a 47-yarder, the longest for Cornell since 2022. Smith also led the team with five receptions for 46 yards, bringing his career totals to 86 catches and 963 yards. He is approaching milestones of 100 career receptions and 1,000 career receiving yards.
Junior tight end Ryder Kurtz extended his school record for career touchdown catches by a tight end to seven and is closing in on Cornell records for tight end receiving yards and receptions.
Sophomore defensive lineman Tommy Ducker had four tackles and two quarterback hurries, matching a mark last reached by a Cornell interior lineman in 2016.
Freshman kicker Jonathan Roost, in his first year playing football, has converted both of his field goal attempts and four of five extra points in his first two varsity games.
