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The Game (Harvard-Yale)

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description The Game (Harvard-Yale) Overview

The Game is the annual college football contest between Harvard University and Yale University, first played in 1875 and one of the oldest continuing football rivalries in the United States. The match is part of the broader athletic rivalry between the two Ivy League institutions. It is traditionally held in November at alternating home stadiums, Harvard Stadium in Cambridge and the Yale Bowl in New Haven, and concludes each school's regular season.

help The Game (Harvard-Yale) FAQ

Why is the Harvard-Yale football rivalry called The Game?

Harvard and Yale use the deliberately simple title because their annual meeting became the defining contest on both schools' football calendars. The first matchup was played in 1875, during the formative years of American college football.

Where is The Game played?

Hosting normally alternates between Harvard Stadium in Boston and the Yale Bowl in New Haven. Harvard Stadium opened in 1903, while the Yale Bowl opened in 1914 and influenced the design of later bowl-shaped venues.

Did The Game help shape the rules of American football?

The rivalry developed while football was separating from its rugby roots, and both universities were central to those changes. Yale figure Walter Camp promoted foundational rules including the line of scrimmage and the system of downs.

Is Harvard-Yale part of the NCAA postseason?

No, it is a regular-season Ivy League game, typically played at the end of the conference schedule. Ivy League football teams do not participate in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs, which makes this rivalry a particularly important season finale.

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