FCS Playoffs Round 1 Game of the Week – Harvard Crimson @ Villanova Wildcats: How to Watch, Preview, Predictions

Date: Saturday November 29, 2025

Time: 12:00 PM (ET)

TV: ESPN+

The Quick Hits

Harvard football has accomplished a lot of remarkable feats in its 152-year history but one thing it has never done is play in an FCS playoff game. That changes this Saturday when the Crimson (9-1) head to Villanova (9-2) to take on the Wildcats in the first round of the postseason. An agreement from Ivy League university presidents over the past offseason finally gave the conference the green light to participate in the tournament and Harvard is in. The Crimson, who looked like a sure-fire league champion all season, come in as an at-large bid after stumbling in the regular season finale against Yale but could still pose a real threat to ‘Nova this weekend.

The Wildcats, meanwhile, are no stranger to the playoffs at all. Villanova is making its third consecutive appearance in the postseason and 17th overall. After again quietly running through most of their CAA slate, ‘Nova is looking to make another run after bowing out in last year’s second round. Checking in as the 12-seed in the bracket, they’ll be at home as they welcome in their challengers from the Ivy League and, for two teams that don’t see a lot of each other, it should make for an exciting showdown to see who gets to take on Lehigh in a week.

The Coaches

Andrew Aurich has only been Harvard’s head coach for two seasons but what a two seasons it has been. The Crimson have gone 17-3 since the start of 2024 and have taken home a share of the Ivy League title each year. Aurich came to Boston from Rutgers where he served as an offensive assistant, coaching the offensive line, running backs and tight ends from 2020 to 2023. He also had stints at his alma mater Princeton and Bucknell while serving as a defensive assistant in the NFL with Tampa Bay for one season (2012).

For Villanova, head coach Mark Ferrante is now in now in his ninth season leading the Wildcats. Now making his fifth playoff appearance in Philly, Ferrante is one of the winningest coaches in program history with a 66-35 overall record. A win this weekend would give Ferrante his fourth ten-win campaign since taking over and third consecutive. He has coached the Wildcats into the quarterfinals twice and has two CAA championships under his belt.

Harvard Offense vs. Villanova Defense

Harvard’s offense will run through senior quarterback Jaden Craig. Craig has consistently been one of the Ivy League’s best passers in recent years, throwing for 2,722 yards and 24 touchdowns this season. Craig is experienced and poised in the pocket and, while he won’t run the ball a ton, it is something he always has in his back pocket if protection breaks down. Villanova will need to keep that in mind when sending men after the senior signal caller.

Fortunately for the Wildcats, they have one of the best linebackers in the country in the middle of their defense with senior Shane Hartzell. Hartzell knows how to practically live an opponent’s backfield and has been as effective as any player on that unit in getting to the ball carrier behind the line. He has a team-leading 13.5 tackles for loss this year along with eight QB hits and 6.5 sacks. When he and fellow backer Turner Inge pin their ears, it’s usually bad news for quarterbacks.

Craig will need to get rid of the ball quickly and odds are he’ll probably look to receiver Brady Blackburn for help in that department. Blackburn has been Craig’s most looked to target this year with 37 snags, five touchdowns and 705 yards. Tight end Seamus Gilmartin will be another viable option in the passing attack as he also has five scores and averages 13.2 yards per catch.

Villanova’s secondary will need to bottle up these pass catchers and they have just the guys for the job. Both sophomore Zahmir Dawud and redshirt freshman Anthony Hawkins have been excellent on the back end of the Wildcats defense this year, combining for 17 PBUs and a pair of interceptions. Craig does not often make mistakes when airing it out but he also hasn’t seen many defensive backs like the youngsters in Philadelphia. He’ll need to be careful when he does decide to sling it.

Running the ball is also going to be a big part of Harvard’s game plan, though, and running back Xaviah Bascon will be the feature piece. Bascon averages over 21 touches per game for the Crimson offense this year and has seven touchdowns. He’ run for 624 yards and puts up over five per carry. Harvard will likely look to him early and will not stray away unless they absolutely have to. Bascon, too, will need to be a priority for the Villanova defense.

Villanova Offense vs. Harvard Defense

The Wildcats have not one, not two but three guys who can really hurt defenses in the ground game. Davis Avit, Isaiah Ragland and Ja’Briel Mace have made for quite the triple threat coming out of the backfield this year with each rushing for at least 500 yards this year. Both Avit and Mace in particular have been productive, accounting for 1,283 yards and 16 touchdowns between them. Avit, though, has not seen action since early November meaning that Ragland will most likely have an increased role on Saturday. He leads the team with 128 touches this year.

Handing them the ball will be quarterback Pat McQuaide who came over to Philly last offseason from Nicholls. McQuaide has been a nice addition for the Wildcats after they lost Connor Watkins last season to graduation. McQuaide has thrown for 2,343 yards and 19 touchdowns this fall and, even more impressively, only has two interceptions on his 288 pass attempts. He takes tremendous care of the ball and, going against a Crimson defense that has 12 picks this year, that will be key.

Defensive back Damien Henderson is going to be one that McQuaide will have to watch for. The standout junior has been lockdown for Harvard, intercepting two throws and batting away six more. Likewise, Austin-Jake Guillory is also dangerous with eight PBUs and another pick. They will look to shut down ‘Nova wideouts Luke Colella and Lucas Kopecky, a duo that has 1,265 receiving yards and nine touchdowns between them this season.

Harvard linebacker Sean Line and defensive lineman Alex DeGrieck will be the other key players for the defense. DeGrieck has been effective up front, logging six sacks and a forced fumble while Line has 81 total stops, two deflected passes, a pick and 1.5 sacks. Keeping McQuaide’s damage to a minimum will be important and these two will go a long way in making that happen.

Prediction

This has the chance to be the best game of the entire first round and it certainly as the feel of one of those contests that will be decided by who has the ball last. Harvard can ill-afford a repeat performance of last week’s Ivy League championship loss to Yale where they gave up 445 yards and ten third down conversions. The defense will have its hands full with McQuaide and will likely need to win the turnover battle. McQuaide, though, simply does not make mistakes all that often. On the other side, Craig and Blackburn will do enough to keep the Crimson within striking distance and even give them the lead late. McQuaide, however, will rally the troops for a game-winning drive in the closing minutes. Homefield will help send Villanova onto the second round in a thriller.

Score Prediction: Harvard: 26 – Villanova: 30