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College football Week 12: Must-see games of the week for die-hard fanatics

By Cephas Evans

EVANSTON, IL - NOVEMBER 03: Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Ian Book (12) rushes for a touchdown in the 4th quarter during a college football game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Northwestern Wildcats on November 03, 2018, at Ryan Field in Evanston, IL. (Photo by Daniel Bartel/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
EVANSTON, IL - NOVEMBER 03: Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Ian Book (12) rushes for a touchdown in the 4th quarter during a college football game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Northwestern Wildcats on November 03, 2018, at Ryan Field in Evanston, IL. (Photo by Daniel Bartel/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT – NOVEMBER 18: Running back Zane Dudek #33 of Yale is tackled by Charlie Walker #41 of Harvard and Tanner Lee #36 of Harvard during the Yale V Harvard, Ivy League Football match at the Yale Bowl. Yale won the game 24-3 to win their first outright league title since 1980. The game was the 134th meeting between Harvard and Yale, a historic rivalry that dates back to 1875. New Haven, Connecticut. 18th November 2017. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images))
NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT – NOVEMBER 18: Running back Zane Dudek #33 of Yale is tackled by Charlie Walker #41 of Harvard and Tanner Lee #36 of Harvard during the Yale V Harvard, Ivy League Football match at the Yale Bowl. Yale won the game 24-3 to win their first outright league title since 1980. The game was the 134th meeting between Harvard and Yale, a historic rivalry that dates back to 1875. New Haven, Connecticut. 18th November 2017. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)) /

Yale vs. Harvard – 12:00 pm – ESPN2

The 135th edition of “The Game” will take place in Boston at Fenway Park. Neither team has a chance to clinch the Ivy League title, but when these two schools take the field, it’s all about bragging rights.

Although these schools typically duke it out academically, they put scholastic achievements aside for one weekend when they face-off on the gridiron. Dating back to 1875, this rivalry has defined Ivy League football, but it has also helped shape intercollegiate athletics. To date, each program ranks in the top-10 of total wins in Division I football history, with a whopping 1,771 combined wins between the two schools. To put that in perspective, the two most victorious SEC programs Alabama and Tennessee fall behind the two with 1,729 combined victories.

While the victories may be impressive, it’s nowhere near the most impressive fact surrounding the game that has molded today’s college football atmosphere. In 1852, Yale invited Harvard to race crews, which became the first ever intercollegiate sporting event.

The schools followed it up by putting on the very first intercollegiate hockey, soccer, and basketball events. In 1890, Yale introduced cheerleading at athletic events leading up to this game. Harvard introduced spring practice in 1889, which is now one of the most important off-season traditions in college football. Also, in 1892, Yale sang “Hold the Fort” during their game against Harvard, which is considered the first public performance of a collegiate fight song.

As you can see, there isn’t a game with much more historical significance and although the teams don’t field top-tier talent, this is a game that any die-hard college football fan will want to watch.

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