Colgate-Holy Cross | Colgate and Holy Cross meet on Saturday for the Raiders’ home opener at Andy Kerr Stadium. The Crusaders lead the all-time series 45-37-5. Colgate is 16-16-3 all-time against Holy Cross in Hamilton, with its last home win coming in 2018.
Comeback Kids | The last meeting between the two teams featured Colgate’s largest comeback in two decades. The Raiders scored 19 unanswered points to upend the Crusaders 29-28 in Worcester last October, snapping a five-game skid against Holy Cross.
A Day with Dunlap | Colgate is honoring Fred Dunlap ‘50 on Saturday. He will be doing the ceremonial coin toss in addition to a postgame social and dinner at the Colgate Inn. Dunlap was a two-year letterwinner in football and wrestling at Colgate before returning as athletic director and head football coach in 1976. His career record in 12 seasons at the helm was 77-49-3.
Shaban Shines in Debut | Danny Shaban rushed for a career-high 214 yards and two touchdowns to propel Colgate past Fordham, 24-14, last Friday. He became Colgate's first 200-yard rusher since Gavin McCarney (288) and Jordan McCord (203) combined for 491 in a 65-41 shootout win over Lafayette (Nov. 3, 2012).
Best for Last | Colgate outscored Fordham 10-0 in the fourth quarter in last week’s win at Fordham, breaking away from a 14-14 tie to preserve the two-possession victory. Shaban’s 29-yard scamper to the end zone with 1:53 left in regulation sealed the triumph.
On the Offense | Colgate racked up more than 400 yards of total offense six times, matching their best single-season offensive production since 2016. The Raiders picked up where they left off, outgaining Fordham 434-189 in total offense, including 275 rushing yards, last Friday.
Defense Dominates | Colgate’s defense held Fordham’s offense to seven points and 189 yards of total offense. The Raiders held the Rams to zero points on two red zone opportunities and limited Fordham to just 2-for-12 on third down in the 10-point win.
Fancy Fontenot | Tyler Fontenot pinned Fordham inside its own 20-yard-line on all three of his punts in last Friday’s opener, including two inside the 10. His longest punt of 49 yards set the Rams at their five-yard-line in the fourth quarter, setting up the go-ahead score late.
O’Shea Can You See? | O’Shea Faison rushed for 42 yards on nine carries in his Colgate debut last Friday at Fordham. With a longest rush of 11 yards, the first-year out of Sanford, Fla., averaged 4.7 yards per tote.
Captain Raiders | This year’s four captains include two-time honoree and senior linebacker Trooper Price along with first-time captains: senior defensive back Tymir Wynn, senior quarterback Jake Stearney, and senior offensive lineman Sean Haney.
Preseason All-League Raiders | Seniors Winston Moore, Trooper Price, Tymir Wynn, and Luke Vogeler represented the Raiders on the 2026 Patriot League Football Preseason All-League Team. Colgate was picked seventh of 10 teams with 36 points in the preseason poll.
That’s Our Ball | Colgate’s defense led the Patriot League in interceptions (15) last season. Ten different players recorded at least one pick, led by Tymir Wynn, who totaled three. Christian Magliacano, Trooper Price, and Justyn Toler each had two interceptions.
Lucky Number 13 | Colgate considers 13 to be a lucky number. The University celebrates Colgate Day every Friday the 13th. In 1817, 13 men met in the frontier settlement of Hamilton, N.Y., to found the Baptist Education Society of New York. They are said to have backed up their experiment in education with 13 dollars and 13 prayers, which is why 13 is considered a lucky number at Colgate.
With a win the Raiders would…
- …beat Holy Cross at home for the first time since Sept. 1, 2018 (24-17)
- …start the season 2-0 for the first time since the 2018 championship season
- …win back-to-back games against Holy Cross for the first time since 2017-18
- …record their 38th all-time victory against Holy Cross
- …improve to 17-16-3 all-time against Holy Cross at home
- …secure Curt Fitzpatrick’s 87th win as a head coach
