PHILADELPHIA – It's the homestretch of the regular season with the road to an Ivy League title certainly heating up as the University of Pennsylvania football team hosts Cornell Saturday on Homecoming with kickoff set for 1 p.m.
 
The Quakers and Big Red square off in Division I college football's sixth-most played rivalry series with both teams jockeying for position in the Ancient Eight standings.
 
GAME 8 – PENN (5-2, 3-1 Ivy) vs. CORNELL (3-4, 2-2 Ivy)
Homecoming presented by David Auto
Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025 | 1 p.m.
Franklin Field | Philadelphia, Pa.
Watch Live on ESPN+ ($) | Listen Live (QAN) | Live Stats | Tickets
Digital Game Program | Penn Game Notes (PDF)  | Cornell Game Notes (PDF)
 

The Cornell Series
Penn and Cornell are meeting for the 131st time on Saturday in division I college football's sixth-most played rivalry series.
 
The Quakers and Big Red have met each year—with the exception of 2020 for COVID-19—since 1893 with Penn owning the overall record at 78-47-5.
 
Penn has won three consecutive games against Cornell and nine of the last 10.
 
Since the Trustees' Cup was introduced back in 1995, Penn is 21-8 in such games.
 
More Rivalry Notes
We mentioned the Penn-Cornell is the sixth-most played rivalry in division I college football history at 130 meetings.
 
It's the third-most played rivalry in Ivy history, trailing only Yale-Princeton (146) and Harvard-Yale (140).
 
The Quakers and Big Red also trail Minnesota-Wisconsin (134), Richmond-William & Mary (135) and Lehigh-Lafayette (160), the most-played rivalry in college football history.
 
Last Time Against Cornell
Penn scored its most points in the Ivy League era (since 1956) and overall since 1942, taking down Cornell in a 67-49 shootout victory in Ithaca, N.Y.
 
Quarterback Liam O'Brien set a pair of program records, for passing touchdowns in a game (6) and total touchdowns responsible for (7). He threw three of his TD passes to Jared Richardson and finished the day with 341 passing yards, 77 rushing yards, and a score. As a result, O'Brien was named Stats Perform FCS National Offensive Player of the Week and the Ivy League's co-Offensive Player of the Week.
 
The Quakers trailed the Big Red 21-7 before cutting the lead to two points at 28-26 entering the locker room at halftime. It was all Red and Blue from there, as they scored 41 points in the second half. Malachi Hosley carried the ball 27 times for 192 yards and his fourth two-TD effort of the year.
 
Penn gained 627 yards of total offense—tied for the second-most in program history—and the game proved to be the highest-scoring game in Penn history as well, the teams combining for 116 points.
 
The Teams' Last Meeting at Franklin Field
Freshman running back Malachi Hosley put forth one of the most impressive rushing games in program history as Penn topped Cornell Saturday afternoon at Franklin Field, 23-8.
 
Hosley ran 21 times for 261 yards—the most by a Penn freshman and third-most in a single game in program history—and scored two touchdowns. His first TD went for 68 yards and was a mere prelude to his second, a 96-yard run that was the longest offensive play in program history.
 
The Quakers took a 16-0 lead into halftime and only let up a five-yard Big Red TD pass early in the third quarter to earn the conference win and keep the Trustees' Cup in Philadelphia. Logan Nash led the Penn defense with 11 total tackles (eight solos) and a pass breakup, while Joey Slackman had two TFLs and a sack for a loss of eight yards.
 
Another Homecoming Game!
One of the most storied traditions at Penn, the Quakers will take on Cornell in a homecoming football game on Saturday.
 
This will be Penn's 73rd matchup on homecoming dating back to 1952 and interestingly enough, the Quakers are just 31-39-2 on the date.
 
Saturday marks just the fourth-ever matchup with Cornell on homecoming with Penn holding a record of 2-1. Other instances of the rivalry on the day include 2019, 2021, and 2023.
 
Scouting The Big Red
Cornell enters the weekend 3-4 overall and 2-2 in Ivy League play, buoyed by a recent three-game winning streak. The Big Red have been strong at home (3-1) but are still seeking their first road victory (0-3).
 
The Big Red have averaged 362.9 yards of total offense per game while allowing 361.3 yards, with a balanced attack that includes 163.0 rushing yards and 199.9 passing yards per contest.
 
Quarterback Garrett Bass-Sulpizio has paced the offense, completing 59.2 percent of his passes for 1,042 yards and four touchdowns, while adding 263 rushing yards and six scores on the ground. Backup Devin Page (357 passing yards, three TDs) has also seen time under center. Page is a transfer from Penn. Running back Jordan Triplett leads the ground game with 256 yards and three touchdowns in four games, followed by John McAuliffe (160 yards, one TD).
 
In the passing game, Ryder Kurtz (373 yards, four TDs) and Doryn Smith (293 yards, three TDs) have been the top receiving targets.
 
Linebacker Damon Barnes anchors the defense with 52 tackles, while Joey Cheshire (49 tackles, 1.5 TFL) and Keith Williams Jr. (47 tackles, three interceptions) add key production. James Reinbold leads the team in sacks (4.0) and TFLs (5.5 for 28 yards), and Johnny Williamson has seven tackles for loss and an interception return for 27 yards. Cornell's defense has totaled 11 sacks and six interceptions through seven games, limiting opponents to 129.6 rushing yards per game and 231.7 passing yards per game.
 
On special teams, Doryn Smith averages 21.2 yards per kick return, while Brendan Lee has handled all punt returns (5.2 avg). Place-kickers Jonathan Roost and Alan Zhao have combined to make 5-of-6 field goals (83.3 percent) and 10-of-13 PATs.
 
Bad Day To Be a Bear
Penn never trailed and withstood a late Brown rally for a 28–21 victory on Friday at Franklin Field in a contest that aired to a national audience on ESPNU.
 
The Quakers built a 21-7 halftime lead behind rushing touchdowns from Donte West and Sean Williams, Jr. and a receiving score from O'Brien to Bisi Owens, while the defense came up with timely stops and an early interception from Josh Narcisse.
 
Penn totaled 453 yards of offense, including 231 on the ground, with 10 or more carries each for Williams Jr. (13 for 89 yards and a TD), West (12 for 61 and two scores), and O'Brien (10 for 56). O'Brien also completed 18 of 27 passes for 222 yards and a touchdown, connecting six times with Richardson for 104 yards (his fifth 100-yard game this season).
 
Defensively, the Red and Blue tallied 5.0 tackles for loss, paced by Carter Janki's 1.5 sacks.
 
Got The Run Game Going
Penn has relied on its passing game for most of this season and for the most part, it has paid dividends.
 
But the Quakers needed to get their rushing game working in order to beat Brown on Friday night and the backs turned in their best performance of the campaign to date.
 
Penn rushers hauled in 231 yards against the Bears, the highest output since 286 at Cornell in 2024.
 
Three rushers had 10-or-more carries—Williams, Jr. (13 for 89), West (12 for 60), and O'Brien (10-67). Williams (one TD) and West (two TDs) combined for three of the Quakers' four touchdowns on the evening.
 
Yay For JayDray!
Jayden Drayton was recognized for his special effort on special teams last week, named Ivy League Special Teams Player of the Week on Monday.
 
The honor is the first of Drayton's career.
 
After a 54-yard kickoff return, Drayton was instrumental in Penn scoring its fourth touchdown of the night which put the Quakers up 28-14 midway through the third quarter. On defense, Drayton had six total tackles and a pass breakup.
 
Another Player of the Week
Drayton's weekly award makes it eight honors over the first seven weeks of the season for the Quakers.
 
Five different players earned a total of eight weekly awards over the seven-week span with three for Julien Stokes (Special Teams), two for Richardson (Offensive) and one each for O'Brien (Offensive), Walters (Rookie), and Drayton.
 
Following Week 5, Richardson was named Offensive Player of the Week for the second week in a row. Richardson and Stokes are the first Penn duo to win a weekly honor in consecutive weeks in the same season.
The senior wideout has won four career Ivy League weekly awards, tied for third all-time with Chris Flynn '87.
 
J-Rich in the Record Books
Richardson became just the sixth player in program history to eclipse the 2,000 career receiving yard milestone after tallying 157 at Columbia, and is currently marching his way up the record book with 2,289 yards. He's now just 77 from passing Miles Macik '95 for fifth in program history.
 
MOST RECEIVING YARDS IN A CAREER
Penn Program History
1. Justin Watson, 3,777 (2014-17)
2. Rob Milanese, 3,405 (1999-02)
3. Dan Castles, 2,444 (2001-04)
4. Don Clune, 2,419 (1971-73)
5. Miles Macik, 2,365 (1993-95)
6. Jared Richardson, 2,289 (2022-pres.)
7. Conner Scott, 1,762 (2010-14)
 
After becoming the fifth member of Penn's 20-touchdown club against Marist four weekends ago, Richardson added three more to his total against the Lions, and another at Yale. He's now ranked fourth in program history.
 
MOST RECEIVING TOUCHDOWNS IN A CAREER
Penn Program History
1. Justin Watson, 33 (2014-17)
2. Dan Castles, 27 (2001-04)
3. Miles Macik, 26 (1993-95)
4. Jared Richardson, 24 (2022-pres.)
5. Rob Milanese, 21 (1999-02)
t6. Christian Pearson, 17 (2015-18)
t6. Don Clune, 17 (1971-73)
 
Oh, you wanted receptions? Jared's got the grabs, too.
 
MOST RECEPTIONS IN A CAREER
Penn Program History
1. Justin Watson, 286 (2014-17)
2. Rob Milanese, 259 (1999-02)
3. Miles Macik, 200 (1993-95)
4. Dan Castles, 167 (2000-04)
5. Jared Richardson, 166 (2022-pres.)
6. Conner Scott, 151 (2010-14)
 
In The National Rankings
Penn remains locked and loaded in the punt return defense game, allowing -5.5 yards per game this season, good for first in FCS football. On the opposite side of the spectrum, the Quakers rank seventh in punt returns at 16.45 yards per attempt.
 
As a team, Penn ranks sixth in third down conversion percentage (.506), 14th in first downs defense (144), 17th in fourth down conversion percentage defense (.389), 20th in kickoff return yards per attempt (23.71), 20th in tackles for loss allowed (4.29), 21st in winning percentage (.714), and 23rd in passing offense (252.0 ypg).
 
O'Brien ranks ninth nationally in passing yards per game (250.0), 14th in completions per game (20.3), and is 22nd in points responsible for per game (16.3).
 
Richardson remains one of the FCS' best receivers, leading the nation in both receiving yards per game (116.7) and receptions per game (7.57). He's third in touchdowns (9), and sixth in total receiving yards (817). Richardson also ranks 12th in points responsible for per game (16.3 ppg), 20th in all-purpose yards per game (116.7), 20th in scoring (7.7 ppg) and 22nd in total points responsible for (114).
 
Defensively, Lista ranks ninth in solo tackles per game (5.33) while Kadari Machen is 19th in forced fumbles per game (0.29).
 
Follow The Action
Saturday's matchup will be aired live to a regional audience on NBC Sports Philadelphia Plus and streamed on ESPN+. Joe Tordy (play-by-play) and Penn Athletics Hall of Famer Joe Valerio C'91 (analyst) will have the call. Matt Leon (play-by-play) and Hench Murray (analyst) will provide the radio call on the Quaker Audio Network (QAN).
 
For the latest on Penn football, follow @PennFB on X (formerly Twitter), @PennFootball on Instagram, and on the web at PennAthletics.com.