Harvard vs. Yale 2015: Start time, live stream, TV schedule and 3 things to know

Harvard, quietly, has turned into an FCS powerhouse. And while Ivy League rules preclude them from competing for a national championship, there’s something that Crimson players can do that may be equally satisfying; beating Yale.

Yale and Harvard have met 134 times in a rivalry that dates back to 1897 and a game where the forward pass was only the fevered dream of a madman yet to come. The Bulldogs have the all-time edge at 65-58-8, but the momentum has swung hard in Harvard’s favor in recent years. The Crimson have won the last eight games in the series, including a 37-6 beating in 2007, a 45-7 stomping in 2011, and a 34-7 beatdown in 2013.

The stakes are even higher for Harvard this season. They need a win on Saturday to help clinch a share of the 2015 Ivy League title. At 5-1 in conference play, they’re tied for the top spot with Pennsylvania (who beat them 35-25) and Dartmouth (who they beat 14-13). Whoever wins this weekend claims at least a piece of the league championship. If all three teams lose, it will be a three-way tie atop the nation’s most academically renowned conference.

TV: 2:30 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network

Online streaming: NBCSN

Spread: Harvard is favored by 13 points.

1. How will Harvard react after suffering their first loss in over two years last week? The Crimson lost for the first time since October 26, 2013 when they dropped a 35-25 decision to Pennsylvania. In fact, their offense has been out of whack for a few weeks now. After scoring 40 points or more in each of their first six games, they’ve been held to 25 points or fewer in their last three outings. Is Saturday’s rivalry game the spark they need to establish a new base camp in the end zone?

2. Speaking of bouncing back, Yale scored only seven points in a game that turned out to be Columbia’s first Ivy League win since 2012 this Halloween. Instead of packing up and festering in their own shame, the Bulldogs came back firing. They’ve scored 76 total points in the two games since - wins over Brown and Princeton. They’ll need a big performance like those to keep up with the Crimson on Saturday.

3. Cole Toner, Harvard’s left tackle, is gearing up for an NFL career. The Senior Bowl announced this week that the blocker was one of only five FCS players to earn an invitation to the postseason showcase. Expect scouts to be in attendance to see just how clean Toner keeps his quarterback’s backside.