PHILADELPHIA – On a journey to extend its three-game winning streak, the University of Pennsylvania football team returns home to Franklin Field under the Friday night lights to host Brown at 7 p.m.
 
The Quakers (5-1, 2-1 Ivy) are ready to play three of their final four games of the season on their home turf, taking on a Bears (3-3, 1-2 Ivy) team reeling following a disappointing outcome at Cornell last weekend, falling 36-14.
 
Friday marks the first night game at Franklin Field since 2021, the first against Brown since 1976 and the first time these two squads are matching up on national television since 2017—a 17-7 victory for the Red and Blue—in Providence.
 
GAME 7 – PENN vs. BROWN
Friday Night Frights presented by Coca-Cola
Friday, October 27, 2023 | 7 p.m.
Franklin Field | Philadelphia, Pa.
Watch on ESPNU, ESPN+ ($)  |  Listen Live (QAN)  |  Live Stats
Penn Game Notes (PDF) | Brown Game Notes (PDF)
 


Recognizing History
Friday will be a special moment for both Penn and Brown as the Quakers' Martin Vaughn W'75 WG'81 and the Bears' Dennis Coleman will be honored as the first two Black quarterbacks to face off against each other in an Ivy League game back in 1973, 50 years later. Vaughn and Coleman will participate in the opening coin toss prior to kickoff on the field.

The Brown Series
It's the 91st meeting between Penn and Brown Friday and surprisingly just the second to be played at night. The two teams will square off under the lights for the first time since Oct. 9, 1976 in Providence, a 7-6 victory for the Quakers. This is also the first time since Oct. 28, 2017 the teams are playing each other on national television. The Red and Blue has a firm handle on the all-time series, leading 63-25-2 and have won seven of the last 10 games. Penn also leads the all-time series at Franklin Field, 43-10-1, looking for a fourth consecutive victory at home since 2016.
 
Last Meeting With Brown
This was a game that Penn would like to forget, falling to Brown on the road last season, 34-31. The loss knocked the Quakers from the ranks of the unbeatens, snapping a six-game win streak to open the year. Brown opened the game with a 24-7 lead at halftime, but Penn battled all the way back to take a 31-27 midway through the fourth quarter. However, the Bears scored with 1:19 left to halt the comeback and seal the victory. Jonathan Mulatu carried the ball 21 times for 154 yards and two touchdowns, while Garrett Morris made 15 tackles (with 10 solos). The highlight play of the day came in the second quarter when Julien Stokes took a 97-yard kickoff return to the house for the team's first kick return TD since 2008.
 
The Quakers' Last Time Out
If you found yourself watching attentively to Penn's game at Yale last weekend, you probably thought to yourself, "Well that was quite the game!" The Quakers outscored the Bulldogs, 10-3, in the second half to come away with a 27-17 win at the Yale Bowl to improve to 2-1 in Ivy play to begin the year. The Quakers led 17-14 at halftime and used a 28-yard field goal from Graham Gotlieb and the first collegiate touchdown for Bryce Myers with 4:26 left in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach for a 10-point victory.
 
Record Breaker!
Sophomore WR Jared Richardson made significant history against Yale on Saturday, setting the new program record for catches in a single game with 17, adding a career-high 191 yards and a touchdown as the Quakers topped the Bulldogs in New Haven. Richardson is averaging 100.2 receiving yards per game, the second-most in the nation, while leading FCS in receptions per game (9.0).
 
Award Winners
Richardson and freshman running back Malachi Hosley were rewarded for their elite-level performances at Yale last weekend, earning Ivy League weekly honors for the second time this season on Monday afternoon. Richardson was named Offensive Player of the Week for the second time after his historic 17-catch, 191-yard afternoon, while Hosley earned his second Rookie of the Week laurel for a career-best 20-carry, 86-yard effort vs. the Bulldogs. The honor comes on the heels of Hosley's recognition to the Jerry Rice Award Watch List last week, awarded to the top freshman player in NCAA FCS football.
 
Making an Impact
John Lista is certainly making his mark on the Penn defense early on in his career, making a start in each of his last three games at linebacker. The sophomore tallied two sacks in the Quakers' 27-17 win at Yale Saturday and through six games, is tied for the team lead with three (for a loss of seven yards). In addition, Lista ranks fourth in total tackles (28), tied for second in solo tackles (20).
 
That's Our QB1
Aidan Sayin has become quite the quarterback for the Quakers in his three years as the starter. He became the second Penn QB in program history to have a trio of 350-yard passing games in the same season—along with Gavin Hoffman in 2000—when he threw for 364 yards in the win at Yale Saturday. Notably, Sayin joined the 5,000 career passing yards club against the Bulldogs, just the fifth QB in program history to reach the milestone. With 5,047, he's just 58 shy of fourth place (Billy Ragone '13; 5,104).
 
Road Warriors!
Penn is as good as it gets in the Ancient Eight when it comes to performing—and winning—on the road. The Quakers, 4-0 so far in 2023, have now won six straight road games dating back nearly a year. In fact, the six-game streak is Penn's longest since 2002-04 it won 13 consecutive games on the road stretching over all three seasons.
 
Defensively Sound
Penn's defense is as good as advertised. We saw it last season when Jake Heimlicher led the Ivy League in sacks and we're seeing it this season again with the Quakers ranked fourth in the nation in total defense (264.7 ypg), behind only Princeton (257.5) in the Ivy rankings. Associate Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator Bob Benson has done a fantastic job in working with his personnel this year. Lista and Jack Iuliano are currently tied for fourth in the Ancient Eight for sacks with three each, while Joey Slackman is third in TFLs (7.5) and Jack Fairman ranks 10th in tackles per game (6.3).
 
Target Practice
Wide receiver is clearly a strength for the Quakers this season. Catching a majority of the passes are the sophomore trio of Jared Richardson (45), Alex Haight (27) and Bisi Owens (21) with another 21 to junior tight end Bryce Myers. Following his record-breaking performance, Richardson leads the team with 501 yards and four touchdowns, while Haight has 257 yards and Owens with 235. Richardson is the only Penn receiver with more than one TD this season.
 
Top Frosh
Hosley is establishing himself as one of the premier freshmen talents in the country, named to the Jerry Rice Award Watch List two Wednesdays ago. One of 22 FCS players—and the only student-athlete from the Ivy League—to land on the list, the award is given to the national freshman of the year in the NCAA Division I subdivision. He's played a key role in both phases of the offensive game, totaling 49 carries for 211 yards and three touchdowns on the ground, while hauling in 12 catches for 140 yards and a TD through the air.
 
Five-Way Tie For First
The Arizona Diamondbacks may be "Embracing The Chaos" after eliminating the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLCS on Tuesday night, but so are the five teams atop the Ivy League table heading into the final four games of the year. After Harvard fell to Princeton last weekend in Old Nassau, it's a five-way tie for first among the Crimson, Tigers, Penn, Dartmouth and Cornell. The Quakers control their own destiny, playing three of those teams in the final four games.
 
Playing For MG
Sophomore defensive lineman Michael Gavin passed away on Oct. 14 at the age of 20 after battling a rare, incurable form of brain cancer. Despite learning of his diagnosis in June 2022, Gavin decided he wanted to fight the disease as a Penn student-athlete and became a deeply respected member of both the academic and athletic communities. In the 2022-23 academic year, Gavin received the Coach Lake Award, awarded to the player who demonstrates leadership, team spirit and unwavering Penn pride.
 
Follow The Action
Penn and Brown will face off on national television Friday night, aired live on ESPNU with Eric Frede (PxP) and Jack Ford (Analyst) on the call. Radio coverage will also be provided on the Quaker Audio Network with Matt Leon (PxP) and Hench Murray (Analyst) providing commentary.