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2024 Cornell Big Red football team

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2024 Cornell Big Red football
ConferenceIvy League
Record4–6 (3–4 Ivy)
Head coach
Co-offensive coordinatorMike Hatcher (1st season)
Co-offensive coordinatorSean Reeder (1st season)
Defensive coordinatorJared Backus (11th season)
Home stadiumSchoellkopf Field
Uniform
Seasons
← 2023
2025 →
2024 Ivy League football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
Columbia +   5 2     7 3  
Dartmouth +   5 2     8 2  
No. 17 Harvard +   5 2     8 2  
Cornell   3 4     4 6  
Yale   3 4     6 4  
Brown   2 5     3 7  
Penn   2 5     4 6  
Princeton   2 5     3 7  
  • + – Conference co-champions
Rankings from STATS Poll

The 2024 Cornell Big Red football team represented Cornell University as a member of the Ivy League during the 2024 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The team was led by first-year head coach Dan Swanstrom and played its home games at Schoellkopf Field in Ithaca, New York.

Offseason and preseason

[edit]

Coaching changes

[edit]

In the 2023 season, Cornell finished 3–7 overall and 2–5 in conference play. After the conclusion of the season, Cornell University's athletics director, Nicki Moore, announced that ten-year head coach David Archer would not return for the 2024 season. Defensive coordinator Jared Backus assumed duties as interim head coach, with immediate effect. At Cornell, Archer compiled a record of 29–71, and the team was not able to record a winning season during that span, a streak existing since the 2006 season.[1] On December 7, 2023, Cornell University Athletics announced the hiring of Dan Swanstrom as head coach to succeed Archer.[2]

In January 2024, Swanstrom announced five additions to the coaching staff: Jeff Dittman (of Rensselaer Polytechnic) as special teams coordinator and defensive assistant coach, Eric Franklin (of Penn) as defensive backs and cornerbacks coach and passing game coordinator, Mike Hatcher (of Ithaca College, where he served as an assistant to Swanstrom), Sean Reeder (of Penn) as offensive line coach, and Terry Ursin (of Jesuit High School of New Orleans) as running backs coach.[3] Swanstrom later named Hatcher and Reeder as co-offensive coordinators in September 2024.[4] Unlike in past years, the 2024 Cornell team did not designate player captains prior to the season, instead designating game captains each week during the season.[5]

Ivy League media poll

[edit]

The Ivy League preseason poll was released on August 5, 2024. The Big Red were predicted to finish seventh in the conference.[6]

Media poll
Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place)
1 Yale 114 (6)
2 Harvard 108 (7)
3 Penn 88 (2)
T4 Princeton 80 (1)
T4 Dartmouth 80
6 Brown 56
7 Cornell 26
8 Columbia 24

Schedule

[edit]

The Cornell Big Red's 2024 football schedule consists of five away and five home games. Cornell will host Ivy League opponents Yale, Harvard, Penn, and Dartmouth, and will travel to Brown, Princeton, and Columbia. Cornell's non-conference opponents will be rival Colgate of the Patriot League, Albany of the Coastal Athletic Association Football Conference, and Bucknell, also of the Patriot League. Homecoming will coincide with the Big Red's home opener against Yale on September 28.[7]

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
September 211:00 p.m.at Colgate*ESPN+L 24–412,984
September 282:00 p.m.YaledaggerESPN+W 47–2312,444
October 51:00 p.m.Albany*
  • Schoellkopf Field
  • Ithaca, NY
ESPN+L 10–314,827
October 116:00 p.m.Harvard
  • Schoellkopf Field
  • Ithaca, NY
ESPNUL 20–385,642
October 191:00 p.m.at Bucknell*ESPN+W 34–211,245
October 2612:00 p.m.at BrownESPN+L 21–237,327
November 21:00 p.m.at PrincetonESPN+W 49–357,626
November 91:00 p.m.Penn
  • Schoellkopf Field
  • Ithaca, NY (rivalry)
ESPN+L 49–672,466
November 161:00 p.m.Dartmouth
  • Schoellkopf Field
  • Ithaca, NY (rivalry)
ESPN+W 39–224,212
November 2312:00 p.m.at ColumbiaESPN+L 9–17

[8][9]

Game summaries

[edit]

At Colgate

[edit]
1 234Total
Cornell 10 707 24
Colgate 10 1777 41

The Big Red traveled to Colgate University in Hamilton, New York, for its season opener on Saturday, September 21. The Raiders defeated the Big Red, 41–24. Cornell scored first, concluding the first series of the game and the season with a 32-yard field goal by Alan Zhao. Colgate later tied the game, 3–3, with a 40-yard field goal also in the first quarter. On its next possession, Cornell recorded its first touchdown of the season, a 10-yard pass from Jameson Wang to Samuel Musungu. Colgate again tied the game, concluding first quarter scoring with a 27-yard touchdown pass from Jake Stearney to Brady Hutchison. The Big Red broke the 10–10 tie less than 30 seconds into the second quarter, with a touchdown on a 2-yard pass from Wang to Parker Woodring, to take a 17–10 lead. Cornell would not score again until the fourth quarter, however, and Colgate thereafter scored 24 unanswered points. Touchdown runs of 44 yards and 1 yard by quarterback Michael Brescia, and a 22-yard field goal in the second quarter, gave Colgate a 27–17 halftime lead. The Raiders expanded the lead to 34–17 heading into the fourth quarter, with a 10-yard Winston Moore touchdown run late in the third. The Big Red's final points of the game resulted from a 1-yard touchdown pass from Wang to Johntu Reed with 2:36 remaining. Colgate scored once more to conclude the game, a 6-yard touchdown run to secure the victory for the Raiders.[10][11]

The Raiders outgained the Big Red in total offense, 457 yards to 402 yards. The only turnover of the game was an interception by Cornell defensive back Johnny Williamson. Jameson Wang was successful in 29 of 37 passing attempts, for 313 yards and three touchdowns. Wang also led the Big Red in rushing, accumulating 41 yards in 10 carries. Brendan Lee was the Big Red receiving leader, accumulating 89 yards in four catches.[10]

Yale

[edit]
1 234Total
Yale 7 790 23
Cornell 13 14614 47
  • Date: September 28, 2024
  • Location: Schoellkopf Field, Ithaca, New York
  • Game start: 2:03 p.m. EST
  • Elapsed time: 3:10
  • Game attendance: 12,444
  • Game weather: Cloudy; 72°F; wind 7 mph NW
  • Referee: A. Parrella

Cornell returned home to Schoellkopf Field in Ithaca, New York on Saturday, September 28, for its Ivy League opener and homecoming game against Yale University. The Big Red defeated the Bulldogs, 47–23. Cornell opened scoring, with a 34-yard touchdown pass from Jameson Wang to Brendan Lee in the first quarter. Yale tied the score with an 8-yard touchdown pass of its own later in the first before the Big Red added two field goals to take a 13–7 lead into the second. Alan Zhao kicked both, from 24 and 34 yards. Early in the second quarter Yale took a one-point lead, with a 9-yard touchdown run. Yale did not score again in the first half, however, and Cornell recorded two additional touchdowns on long plays—a 39-yard pass, again from Wang to Lee, and a 37-yard Ean Pope rush—to take a 27–14 lead into halftime.[12][13]

In the second half, the Big Red outscored the Bulldogs 20–9. Yale scored first in the second half, a 24-yard field goal to narrow the deficit to ten points. On its next possession, Cornell scored on a 68-yard touchdown pass from Wang to Ryder Kurtz concluding a three-play, 75-yard drive to expand the lead to seventeen (the point after attempt was unsuccessful). Yale once more closed the gap to ten, with a 1-yard touchdown rush (Yale's point after attempt was also unsuccessful). The touchdown was the last Yale points of the game, however, and Cornell scored two additional touchdowns in the fourth quarter to assume a 47–23 lead and secure Dan Swanstrom's first win as Cornell's head coach, and the first win of the new season. The victory was also Swanstrom's first at the Division I level. With the win over the reigning Ivy League co-champion and pre-season favorite (its second successive win over Yale), Cornell improved to 1–1 on the season, and 1–0 in Ivy League competition.[12][13]

Jameson Wang was successful in 18 of 29 passing attempts, for 278 yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions. Ean Pope was the leading rusher for the Big Red, recording 72 yards and one touchdown on 11 carries. Cornell's leading receiver was Brendan Lee, with 99 yards and two touchdowns on five catches. The Big Red offense outgained the Bulldogs offense, 475 yards to 302 yards. There were four turnovers in the game, three by Yale and one by Cornell.[12]

Albany

[edit]
1 234Total
Albany 3 31015 31
Cornell 0 730 10
  • Date: October 5, 2024
  • Location: Schoellkopf Field, Ithaca, New York
  • Game start: 1:02 p.m. EST
  • Elapsed time: 3:07
  • Game attendance: 4,827
  • Game weather: Sunny; 63°F; wind 7 mph NW
  • Referee: T. Boyd

In the second game of a three-game homestand, on Saturday, October 5, Cornell hosted the University at Albany, SUNY of the CAA. The Albany Great Danes defeated the Big Red, 31–10. Albany recorded the only points of the first quarter, a 37-yard field goal capping its first possession of the game. Cornell was forced to punt on its first two possessions, while the Great Danes missed a field goal on their second possession and kicked an 18-yard field goal to take a 6–0 lead. Cornell took a one-point lead late in the second quarter, scoring a touchdown on a four-yard pass from Jameson Wang to Parker Woodring at the conclusion of an 8-play, 75-yard drive. The Big Red retained its one point lead into hafltime. Cornell again punted on its first possession of the second half. Albany scored quickly in its own first possession of the half, a 52-yard touchdown pass, to retake a 13–7 lead. On its ensuing possession, Cornell's Alan Zhao kicked a 35-yard field goal to narrow the deficit to 13–10. Albany extended the lead back to six on its next possession, however, kicking a 43-yard field goal of its own. The Zhao field goal was the last points for Cornell in the game, and Albany extended its lead to 24–10 on a 16-yard touchdown run and again to 31–10 on an 84-yard touchdown run, both late in the fourth quarter. Cornell's record fell to 1–2 (1–0 Ivy League) as a result of the defeat.[14][15]

The Albany Great Danes recorded 498 yards of offense in total, to the Cornell Big Red's 310. The only turnover of the game was a Cornell fumble resulting from a strip sack of Devin Page late in the fourth quarter, on Cornell's final possession. Jameson Wang completed 22 of 31 passing attempts, for 187 yards and one touchdown. Johntu Reed was the Big Red's leading rusher, carrying three times for 36 yards. Samuel Musungu led the Big Red in receiving, with six catches totalling 87 yards.[14][15]

Harvard

[edit]
1 234Total
Harvard 10 2170 38
Cornell 7 760 20
  • Date: October 11, 2024
  • Location: Schoellkopf Field, Ithaca, New York
  • Game start: 6:03 p.m. EST
  • Elapsed time: 2:54
  • Game attendance: 5,642
  • Game weather: Sunny; 62°F; wind 5 mph SW
  • Referee: C. Hanson

Cornell hosted Ivy League opponent Harvard University in the final match of its initial three game homestand. The Harvard Crimson defeated the Big Red, 38–20. Cornell opened scoring in the match, a 4-yard touchdown pass from Jameson Wang to Ryder Kurtz in its first possession. Later in the first quarter, Harvard narrowed the Big Red's lead to 7–3, with a 28-yard field goal, and took a 10–7 lead with a 21-yard touchdown pass of its own. Cornell retook the lead in the second quarter, with a 10-yard Jameson Wang touchdown run, though the 14–10 lead was the Big Red's last of the game. The Crimson scored three more times in the second quarter: three touchdown passes of 54 yards, 20 yards, and 19 yards to take a 31–14 lead into halftime. Harvard scored the first points of the second half, a two-yard touchdown pass after the Big Red and Crimson exchanged scoreless possessions to begin the third quarter. Cornell recorded the final points of the game, a 5-yard touchdown pass from Wang to Samuel Musungu late in the third quarter, followed by an unsuccessful two-point conversion attempt. Neither team scored again and, with a scoreless fourth quarter, Harvard secured the 38–20 victory over Cornell. The defeat rendered Cornell 1–3 overall, and 1–1 in the Ivy League.[16][17]

The Cornell Big Red totalled 314 yards of offense to the Harvard Crimson's 492. Jameson Wang completed 21 of 30 passing attempts, totalling 153 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions. Wang was also the leading rusher for the Big Red, with 67 yards in 13 carries. Cornell's leading receiver was Samuel Musungu, who caught six passes for 84 yards.[16]

At Bucknell

[edit]
1 234Total
Cornell 21 670 34
Bucknell 0 1407 21

Returning to the road, the Cornell Big Red travelled to Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania on Saturday, October 19. The Big Red defeated the Bison, 34–21.[18][19]

At Brown

[edit]
1 234Total
Cornell 7 0140 21
Brown 0 3713 23

To begin the second half and final stretch of the Ivy League season, the Cornell Big Red travelled to Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island on Saturday, October 26. The Brown Bears defeated Cornell, 23–21.[20][21]

At Princeton

[edit]
1 234Total
Cornell 21 14140 49
Princeton 0 14021 35

Following the defeat against Brown, Cornell travelled to Princeton University in Princeton, New Jersey on Saturday, November 2. The Big Red defeated the Princeton Tigers, 49–35.[22][23]

Penn

[edit]
1 234Total
Penn 7 192021 67
Cornell 21 7714 49
  • Date: November 9, 2024
  • Location: Schoellkopf Field, Ithaca, New York
  • Game start: 1:03 p.m. EST
  • Elapsed time: 3:28
  • Game attendance: 2,466
  • Game weather: Sunny; 47°F; wind 7 mph S
  • Referee: A. Randolph

Cornell returned to Ithaca for the final homestand of the season, facing the University of Pennsylvania on Saturday, November 9. The Penn Quakers defeated the Big Red, 67–49.[24][25]

Roster

[edit]
2024 Cornell Big Red football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
WR 0 Davon Kiser Jr
QB 1 Jameson Wang Sr
RB 2 Gannon Carothers Jr
WR 3 Samuel Musungu So
RB 4 Ean Pope So
WR 5 AJ Holmes Jr
WR 6 Luke Malaga Sr
QB 7 Adam Landry Fr
QB 8 Garrett Bass-Sulpizio So
WR 9 Eddie Marinaro Sr
QB 10 Dylan Hale Sr
QB 11 Cameron Shannon Fr
QB 12 Chad Martini Sr
WR 13 Parker Woodring Jr
QB 14 Devin Page So
WR 15 Kendahl Hearne Fr
WR 17 TJ Hamilton Fr
WR 18 Doryn Smith Jr
WR 21 Matheson Bossick Sr
RB 22 Johntu Reed Jr
RB 24 Robert Tucker III Jr
WR 28 Catcher Dobron So
RB 33 Ricardo Lagares Jr. Fr
RB 41 Eddy Tillman Sr
RB 46 Julian Dahl Jr
TE 49 Nolan Albright So
OL 57 Jackson Bradley Sr
OL 58 Zach Quilici So
OL 60 Kamal Harris Fr
OL 61 Parker Spellacy Jr
OL 64 Dylan Page So
OL 65 Ty Short Jr
OL 66 Evan Nesmith Jr
OL 69 Kevin Ma Jr
OL 70 Keegan Opper Jr
OL 71 Timothy Bruen So
OL 72 Tyler Dunn Fr
OL 74 Matt Pante So
OL 75 Davis Watson Sr
OL 76 Jack Powers Sr
OL 77 Raunak Jauhal Fr
OL 78 Mac Dorward So
OL 79 Joey Polinsky Fr
WR 80 Brendan Lee So
WR 81 Logan Taylor Jr
WR 83 Darius Wise Jr. Fr
WR 84 K'Adrian McLee Fr
WR 85 Sebastian Dobron Jr
TE 86 Ryder Kurtz So
TE 87 Blaine Zoller Fr
TE 88 Matthew Pilc Sr
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
DL 0 Muhammed-Ali Kobo Sr
S 1 Trey Harris Sr
S 2 Johnny Williamson So
S 3 Christian Madison Sr
CB 4 Camari Berry So
S 5 Brayon Crawford So
CB 6 Rick Coleman Jr. Jr
CB 7 Braylon Howard So
S 9 Damon Barnes Sr
S 10 Jeremiah Lewis Jr
S 11 Jackson Fortney Jr
S 13 Tommy MacPherson So
LB 14 Joey Cheshire Jr
CB 16 Mikey Gayle Fr
S 17 Nicholas Dlabach Jr
LB 18 Keith Williams Jr. Fr
S 20 Nomar Tejada So
LB 21 Ben Sahakian Jr
S 22 Rayjohn White So
CB 23 David Aluya Fr
S 24 Rodell Evans III Fr
LB 25 Luke Banbury Sr
CB 26 Michael O'Keefe Sr
CB 27 Tyler Gibson Fr
CB 28 Mamadou Bah Sr
S 29 Kandakai Sherman Jr. Fr
LB 31 Devia'n Parker-Rodgers Jr
LB 32 James Reinbold Jr
LB 33 Sean Cytrynbaum So
LB 34 Nolin Thompson Fr
LB 35 Ogbonna Ugwu-Uche So
LB 36 Daniel Amasha Jr
LB 38 Sean Polinsky Jr
LB 39 Ian Wall So
LB 40 Wilson Selzer Sr
LB 45 Jack Ramsay So
LB 47 Cooper Cameron Fr
DL 48 Hunter Sloan Sr
DL 51 Jason Kirkland So
DL 53 Kastriot Panariti Fr
DL 55 Mason Yacovelli Jr
DL 56 Malachi Edgerly So
DL 90 Gage Homola Fr
DL 91 Brayden Walker So
DL 92 Declan Ochendowski Jr
DL 93 Brendan Chestnut Sr
DL 94 Amon Williams Sr
DL 95 Maxwell Van Fleet Sr
DL 96 Tommy Ducker Fr
DL 97 Ezekiel Evans Sr
DL 98 Cole Bennett Fr
DL 99 Devin Malone Sr
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
K, P 23 Alan Zhao So
K, P 37 Ayden McCarter Sr
LS 41 Gavin Heintschel Sr
P 42 Nathaniel Hillenburg Sr


Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
  • Jared Backus (defensive coordinator / linebackers)
  • Mike Hatcher (co-offensive coordinator / wide receivers)
  • Sean Reeder (co-offensive coordinator / offensive line)
  • Jeff Dittman (special teams coordinator / defensive assistant)
  • Satyen Bhakta (defensive line / recruiting coordinator)
  • Will Blanden (safeties)
  • Andrew Dees (tight ends)
  • Eric Franklin (defensive backs / cornerbacks / pass game coordinator)
  • Terry Ursin (running backs)
  • Jimmy Taylor (student assistant / quarterbacks)
  • Alex Peffley (senior director of player personnel)
  • Mark Ross (director of operations)
  • Julien Deumaga (football operations and content coordinator)
  • Trey Flowers (offensive analyst)
  • Colin Norton (offensive analyst)
  • Connor Hayes (defensive analyst)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

Roster

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Cornell Announces Change in Football Leadership". Cornell University Athletics. November 19, 2023. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  2. ^ Sacco, Mario (December 7, 2023). "Dan Swanstrom named football Head Coach at Cornell". WSYR. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  3. ^ "Swanstrom Announces Five Additions to Staff". Cornell University Athletics. January 9, 2024. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  4. ^ "Swanstrom Names Hatcher, Reeder Co-Offensive Coordinators". Cornell University Athletics. September 3, 2024. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  5. ^ "Football Kicks Off Swanstrom Era at Colgate". Cornell University Athletics. September 18, 2024. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  6. ^ "Yale Voted Preseason Ivy Football Favorite". Ivy League Athletics. August 5, 2024. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
  7. ^ "2024 Cornell Football Schedule". FBSchedules. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
  8. ^ "Cornell Big Red Schedule 2024". ESPN. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  9. ^ "2024 Football Schedule". Cornell University Athletics. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  10. ^ a b "Cornell vs. Colgate (Sep 21, 2024)". ESPN. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  11. ^ "Brescia, Colgate use ground game to stuff Cornell 41-24". Associated Press. September 21, 2024. Retrieved September 22, 2024.
  12. ^ a b c "Yale vs. Cornell (Sep 28, 2024)". ESPN. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  13. ^ a b "Cornell beats Yale 47-23 for coach Dan Swanstrom's first Division I victory". Associated Press. September 28, 2024. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
  14. ^ a b "UAlbany vs. Cornell (Oct 5, 2024)". ESPN. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
  15. ^ a b "Burkett's 52-yard TD pass to Carter, Aden's 84-yard scoring run help Albany beat Cornell 31-10". Associated Press. October 5, 2024. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
  16. ^ a b "Harvard vs. Cornell (Oct 11, 2024)". ESPN. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  17. ^ "Jaden Craig throws for 316 yards and 4 TDs as Harvard beats Cornell 38-20". Associated Press. October 11, 2024. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  18. ^ "Cornell vs. Bucknell (Oct 19, 2024)". ESPN. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
  19. ^ "Wang throws 3 TDs, Banbury adds interception return, Cornell beats Bucknell 34-21". Associated Press. October 19, 2024. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
  20. ^ "Cornell vs. Brown (Oct 26, 2024)". ESPN. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  21. ^ "Maron boots 29-yarder on final play and Brown rallies from 18-point deficit to top Cornell 23-21". Associated Press. October 26, 2024. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  22. ^ "Cornell vs. Princeton (Nov 2, 2024)". ESPN. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
  23. ^ "Cornell jumps to a big lead early, wins 106th meeting with Princeton 49-35". Associated Press. November 2, 2024. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
  24. ^ "Penn vs. Cornell (Nov 9, 2024)". ESPN. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
  25. ^ "Liam O'Brien has 7 total touchdowns in Penn's wild 67-49 win over Cornell". Associated Press. November 9, 2024. Retrieved November 10, 2024.