What Is 2019 Harvard Crimson football team

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2019 Harvard Crimson football team represented Harvard University in the 2019 NCAA Division I FCS season, finishing with a 6–4 overall record and 4–3 in Ivy League play under head coach Tim Murphy.

Key Facts

The 2019 Harvard Crimson football team had a 6–4 overall record
They finished 4–3 in Ivy League conference play
Head coach Tim Murphy led the team in his 28th season
Harvard played home games at Harvard Stadium in Boston
The team outscored opponents 226–190 for the season

Overview

The 2019 Harvard Crimson football team represented Harvard University during the 2019 NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) season. Competing in the Ivy League, the team was led by head coach Tim Murphy, who was in his 28th year at the helm.

Harvard played its home games at Harvard Stadium in Boston, Massachusetts, a historic venue opened in 1903. The team finished the season with a 6–4 overall record and a 4–3 mark in conference play, placing third in the Ivy League standings.

Overall record: The team finished 6–4, showing improvement over the previous season’s 5–5 mark, with notable wins against Brown and Columbia.
Ivy League performance: Harvard went 4–3 in conference games, narrowly missing contention for the league title, which was shared by Dartmouth and Princeton.
Head coach: Tim Murphy, in his 28th season, continued to build on Harvard’s tradition of academic and athletic excellence with disciplined, balanced play.
Home stadium: Harvard Stadium, located in Allston, Boston, hosted all home games and has a seating capacity of approximately 30,000.
Scoring stats: The Crimson scored 226 total points during the season while allowing 190, reflecting a positive point differential and solid defensive performance.

How It Works

The 2019 season followed the standard Ivy League football structure, with teams playing a 10-game schedule consisting of conference and non-conference matchups. Harvard’s program emphasizes student-athlete development, combining rigorous academics with competitive football.

Season structure:The Ivy League does not participate in the FCS playoffs; thus, Harvard’s season concluded after the regular schedule with no postseason.
Recruiting pipeline:Harvard recruits student-athletes who meet high academic standards, balancing athletic talent with intellectual rigor across all positions.
Coaching staff:Tim Murphy led a veteran staff focused on offensive balance and disciplined defense, emphasizing time of possession and field position.
Player eligibility:Ivy League rules prohibit graduate students and redshirts, meaning all players must compete within four academic years.
Game preparation:Weekly practices and film review are aligned with academic calendars, often limiting practice time compared to scholarship FBS programs.
Strength and conditioning:Harvard’s training program emphasizes injury prevention and long-term athlete health, avoiding high-contact drills during the week.

Comparison at a Glance

Harvard’s 2019 performance compared closely with other Ivy League teams in terms of wins, offensive output, and defensive consistency.

Team	Overall Record	Ivy Record	Points For	Points Against
Princeton	8–2	5–2	302	178
Dartmouth	9–1	6–1	299	170
Harvard	6–4	4–3	226	190
Columbia	6–4	4–3	228	195
Yale	3–7	2–5	165	224

The table highlights Harvard’s competitive standing within the league. While Dartmouth and Princeton led the pack, Harvard and Columbia had identical records, though Harvard allowed fewer points overall. The Crimson’s defense ranked among the top three in the Ivy League in points allowed per game.

Why It Matters

The 2019 season underscored Harvard’s continued commitment to excellence in both academics and athletics, maintaining a competitive presence in the Ivy League despite structural limitations.

Academic-athletic balance:Harvard’s model demonstrates that high-level football can coexist with elite academic standards, setting a benchmark for other institutions.
Player development:Many Crimson players go on to successful careers in business, law, or public service, reflecting the program’s long-term impact.
Recruiting influence:A strong season enhances Harvard’s visibility, helping attract top-tier student-athletes from across the country.
Historic rivalry games:Matchups like The Game against Yale remain culturally significant, drawing national attention and alumni engagement.
Program stability:Tim Murphy’s leadership has provided consistency, with Harvard remaining a perennial contender in the Ivy League for decades.
Football tradition:Harvard Stadium and the program’s 140+ year history contribute to a unique legacy in American college sports.

The 2019 Harvard Crimson football team may not have won a championship, but it upheld the university’s tradition of disciplined, competitive football while preparing student-athletes for life beyond the field.