PHILADELPHIA – The University of Pennsylvania football team (2-2, 0-1 Ivy League) returns to Franklin Field Friday night to host Columbia (3-1, 0-1 Ivy League) in its second Ivy League contest of the season. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. on ESPNU. Eric Frede (play-by-play) and Jack Ford (color) will be on the call.

The Quakers are coming off a thrilling 24-20 comeback victory over Howard last Saturday, rallying in the fourth quarter to secure their second win of the season. Columbia enters Friday's matchup following a 41-28 road victory over Marist, scoring 20 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to close out its non-conference schedule.

GAME 5 – PENN (2-2, 0-1 Ivy League) vs. Columbia (3-1, 0-1 Ivy League)
Friday, Oct. 16, 2026 | 7 p.m.
Franklin Field | Philadelphia, Pa.
Watch: ESPNU | Watch ESPN
Live Stats: Penn Athletics

THEMES AND PROMOTIONS

• Cancer Awareness Game – Join us as we partner with organizations across campus and in the community to raise awareness for all cancers and recognize those who have battled or are currently battling cancer.
• Rush for Plush – In partnership with Penn Football student-athlete Ryan Mitchell, this game will also feature Rush for Plush. Fans will be encouraged to bring stuffed animals to the game, the Vs. Cancer organization will match up to 250 toys. After Penn scores their first touchdown, fans will be told to throw the stuffed animals onto the field (ala Toast Toss). The stuffed animals will be donated to both the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the Ronald McDonald House.
• Fans will receive a free Penn Football commemorative pennant while supplies last.

HISTORY AGAINST COLUMBIA

• This will be the 105th all-time meeting between Penn and Columbia, with Penn leading the all-time series 78-25-1.
• The Quakers have won six of 10 in the series, including last year's 35-21 takedown in New York. The Lions won the last matchup at Franklin Field, however, taking a 23-17 win Oct. 19, 2024.
• The first ever matchup between the two teams took place in 1878, a tie between the two teams at Franklin Fiel.d
• Penn's longest win streak in the series came from 1997-2016, where it won 20 straight.

SCOUTING THE LIONS

• Columbia enters Friday's matchup with a 3-1 overall record and a 0-1 mark in Ivy League play. The Lions opened the season with overtime victories over Lafayette (40-34) and Georgetown (20-17) before falling to Princeton (35-7) in their Ivy League opener. Columbia bounced back with a 41-28 road win over Marist last Friday.
• The Lions are averaging 27.0 points and 435.0 yards of total offense per game, including 313.5 passing yards and 121.5 rushing yards. Columbia's passing attack ranks among its biggest strengths, with the Lions averaging more than 300 yards through the air per contest.
• Senior quarterback Chase Goodwin has completed 105-of-172 passes for 1,252 yards and eight touchdowns through four games. He threw for 277 yards and three touchdowns in Columbia's victory over Marist.
• Wide receiver Bryce Coleman leads the Lions with 363 receiving yards. Coleman has emerged as a key target in the passing game, including a 31-yard reception on third down that helped set up a scoring opportunity against Marist.
• Hutch Crow has added 105 receiving yards in the Lions' latest outing, including a go-ahead touchdown reception in the fourth quarter against Marist.
• Running back Griffin Johnson leads Columbia with 406 rushing yards through four games. He rushed for 98 yards against Marist and scored a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
• Defensively, the Lions have been opportunistic in creating game-changing plays. Columbia scored on a blocked field-goal return against Marist, while also recording sacks and a fumble recovery returned for a

LAST TIME OUT

• The University of Pennsylvania football team scored 14 fourth quarter points to come from behind and take down the Howard Bison, 24-20, on Saturday afternoon at Franklin Field.
• Trailing 20-10 entering the fourth quarter, Penn (2-2, 0-1 Ivy League) cut the deficit to three on a Philly special wide receiver reverse pass from receiver Isaac Lee to backup quarterback Karson Siqueiros-Lasky. Siqueiros-Lasky replaced starter Miles Teodecki, who left with a knee injury in the second quarter.
• A pair of defensive stops sandwiched a missed field goal for Penn, but with 3:12 left the offense got the ball back. Siqueiros-Lasky led the team down the field in nine plays before tossing a game-winning 13-yard touchdown pass to Isaac Lee to put the home team up 24-20. The Quakers faced fourth and seven from the Howard (2-4, 0-0 MEAC) 49 with 2:00 left and KSL found tight end Jack Donnelly for an 18-yard strike to keep the drive and the game alive.
• Siqueiros-Lasky threw for career-highs in yards (226) and touchdowns (2) on 19-29 passing. He also caught a six yard touchdown pass as well. Ronan Johannson had a career day at wideout, snagging seven passes for 113 yards. Jack Donelly and Isaac Lee had career-bests of 44 yards each and they both had receiving touchdowns.

QUAKER OFFENSE THROUGH FOUR GAMES

• Penn is averaging 316.5 yards of total offense per game, including 209.8 passing yards and 106.8 rushing yards.
• Miles Teodecki has completed 69-of-123 passes for 607 yards and two touchdowns. He also leads Penn in rushing with 166 yards and a touchdown.
• Mason Page leads the Quakers with 19 receptions for 191 yards and a touchdown. He recorded eight catches against both Lehigh and Dartmouth.
• Ronan Johannson has contributed 144 receiving yards on 10 catches, while Isaac Lee has 11 receptions for 108 yards and a touchdown.
• Penn has scored eight offensive touchdowns through four games, including five passing touchdowns and three rushing touchdowns.

NO. 1 RANKED DEFENSE IN THE FCS

• Penn's defense has allowed just 225 yards per game, ranking No. 1 in the country among all FCS teams. It also ranks No. 1 in yards per play allowed (3.95) and fewest yards (900). The next closest defense has given up 1,113 yards.
• Penn also ranks No. 1 nationally in passing defense, giving up just 111.5 yards per game. The next closest team gives up 140.6 yards per game.
• Penn has given up just six total touchdowns this season, a mark that ranks third overall.
• The Quakers allowed just 15.75 points per game through four contests, which ranks third in the Ivy League and fourth nationally.

DARCHE DOING HIS THING

• Zach Darche, a senior linebacker, paces Penn with 42 tackles this season, including 3.0 for loss. He also has a sack.
• Darche was named Ivy League Defensive Player of the Week on Monday after he tallied 12 tackles, 1.5 TFL and a sack on Saturday against Howard.

KARSON KILLS IT IN HIS DEBUT

• Karson Siqueiros-Lasky was named backup quarterback by head coach Rick Santos to start the season. He got his first chance to play on Saturday when he replaced starter Miles Teodecki, who left with a knee injury in the second quarter. KSL threw for career-highs in yards (226) and touchdowns (2) on 19-29 passing. He also caught a six yard touchdown pass as well, leading Penn to a 24-20 comeback win over Howard.
• "I want to give a big shoutout to Karson," Santos said. "I'm so proud of him. When I made the decision to not name him starter, I know that cut him deep to his core. As I mentioned before, his leadership ability, staying connected with his teammates through it all, and to keep preparing for his moment was huge. He had moxy, he hung around in the pocket and ran when he needed to. He was extremely accurate despite a ton of blitzing and pressure from Howard." 

QUAKER FIRSTS

• Penn had some big performances last week against Howard, with many players achieving firsts on their way to victory.
• Siqueiros-Lasky threw the first two touchdowns of his collegiate career, while Jack Donnelly (TE) and Isaac Lee (WR) caught their first scores. Lee also threw his first touchdown on a Philly special type play to KSL.
• Ezra Fearon tallied his first interception of the season and second of his career to seal the game in the fourth quarter.
• Duncan McPherson had his first sacks, tallying 2.0 to lead the defensive line.

THIRD DOWN DEFENSE

• Penn ranks second in the Ivy League in opponent third down defense after four weeks. Opponents are just 12/52 (23.1%) on third down. 
• Penn has allowed just 54 total first downs this season, for an average of 13.5 per game. Those marks are both top in the conference.

UP NEXT
Penn remains at Franklin Field next Friday, Oct. 23, when the Quakers host Yale at 7 p.m. on ESPNU.

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