Last year, football took on Bucknell in an attempt to break a four-game losing streak against non-conference teams and coming off a three-game homestand. Cornell bested the Bison, 34-21 snapping the losing streak.
This year the Red (0-4, 0-2 Ivy) will start its three-game homestand and try to break its season losing streak when it takes on the Bison on Saturday.
The last time the Red had a four game losing streak was in 2022. A win against the Bison would give Cornell its much-needed first win in over 330 days.
Bucknell sits at 4-3 (1-2 Patriot League) and comes into this matchup looking to bounce back after a 24-62 loss to Lafayette. This offensive showing isn’t characteristic for the Bison, who have put up 156 points in their last five games prior to the loss.
The Red’s defense will face off against quarterback Ralph Rucker IV, who last lined up against Cornell’s defense in 2023, where he threw an interception and took two sacks. Rucker transferred from the University of Oklahoma in 2023 and this pre-season was named to the Walter Payton Award Preseason Watch List.
Though he split time with quarterback Michael Hardyway last year, Rucker has been the heart of the offense this season, throwing for 1,510 yards and 10 touchdowns. His favorite targets include wide receivers Sam Milligan and TJ Cadden, who have a combined 70 catches and 1,135 receiving yards this season.
Cornell’s offense hasn’t seen as impressive offensive production as it did last year, averaging just 16.25 points — compared to last year’s 25.25 average — in its first four games.
Quarterback struggles have been the headline for the Red this season, as head coach Dan Swanstrom has gone back and forth on who should take the helm for the Red. Junior quarterbacks Devin Page and Garrett Bass-Sulpizio continue to compete for the position. Page has recorded three passing touchdowns and seven interceptions this season, and Bass-Sulpizio sits at three inceptions and two passing touchdowns after making his first career start last week at Harvard.
The keys to success on the Red’s offensive attack will also lie in senior wide receiver Doryn Smith, who has been a reliable target no matter who is under center for the Red, catching two touchdowns and 208 yards this season. Smith is on track to hit 1,000 career receiving yards, as he currently has recorded 917 in his four years at Cornell. Junior tight end Ryder Kurtz is also a player to watch, with his 17 receptions good for 222 yards and two touchdowns this season.
Defensively, Cornell ranks No. 30 in the Football Championship Subdivision. In the loss against Harvard, the Red was able to keep the Crimson to a season-low of 34 points, including two offensive errors that resulted in turnovers that cost the Red 14 points.
The Red will face off against the Bison at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Schoellkopf Field with coverage of the action available on ESPN+.
Zeinab Faraj is a member of the class of 2028 in the College of Arts and Sciences. She is the features editor on the 143rd Editorial Board and was the assistant sports editor of the 143rd Editorial Board. You can reach her at zfaraj@cornellsun.com.
