Harvard Secures Future Games with Montana State, UC Davis

NEW HAVEN, CT - NOVEMBER 18: Harvard Crimson helmet during the game between the Yale Bulldogs and the Harvard Crimson on November 18, 2017 at Yale Bowl in New Haven, CT. (Photo by Williams Paul/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images As the offseason rolls on college football teams continue to shape their future non-conference schedules and it seems as though Harvard is dipping its toes into the Big Sky as part of that process. On Tuesday it was announced that the Crimson had locked up contests against a pair of Big Sky teams, inking contracts with both Montana State and UC Davis.

Harvard will host UC Davis in 2027 and then pay a visit to the Aggies in 2031 as part of a home-and-home agreement. They will also travel to Montana State, last year’s FCS champion, in 2028. These both will be first-time meetings as the Ivy League does not typically venture out of its East coast region when it comes to scheduling non-conference opponents.

With the conference’s recent addition to the FCS playoff field, however, games against high-profile teams will be essential in building postseason resumes. UC Davis has qualified for the postseason in each of the last two seasons, reaching the quarterfinals both times. Montana State has not missed the playoffs since 2017 (excluding the shortened 2021 Spring season) and has played in three of the last five FCS championship games.

No Ivy team has ever played UC Davis on the gridiron and it is history that Aggies head coach Tim Plough is excited to be a part of. “We have always wanted to play an Ivy League opponent and more specifically Harvard,” said Plough. “Our shared commitment to performance on the field and in the classroom has always felt like the makings of a fun matchup.