2026 schedule
Columbia Lions
2026 season so far
Columbia is 4-2 against the 119th-toughest schedule so far, scoring 25.7 and allowing 29.8 points per game (-4.1 per game).
Columbia plays below the FBS level, so its projections against FBS opponents include the measured gap between divisions.
Next up: vs Yale in Week 9. We project Columbia 23, Yale 32 — Columbia wins 27% of the time.
Projections are statistical estimates for entertainment and analysis only. They are not betting advice and nothing here guarantees any result.
Regular season
10 gamesMarket lines · Source: The Odds API, ESPN, Action Network · Updated Oct 29, 1:26 PM UTC. Shown for information; not an input to our projections.
21+ only where legal. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
- vs
Lafayette Leopards
1-2 · SOS #126
Win 40-34
Week 3
Our number· pregame
Columbia by 4.2
Total 49.6
DraftKings
COLU -3
Total 47.5
Final Columbia by 6. Columbia beat the spread. 74 points — over the 47.5. Our number was closer. Our total was closer.
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Market lines: Columbia -3 (open Columbia -2.5) · O/U 47.5 · ML +136 / -170 · Columbia 60% no-vig · model vs market +1.2 pts, +1 pct pts (Columbia view)
ESPN+ Lawrence A. Wien Stadium - at
Georgetown Hoyas
0-3 · SOS #121
Win 20-17
Week 4
Our number· pregame
Georgetown by 2.1
Total 50.7
DraftKings
COLU -7
Total 46.5
Final Columbia by 3. Georgetown beat the spread. 37 points — under the 46.5. The book was closer. The book's total was closer.
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Market lines: Columbia -7 · O/U 46.5 (open 51.5) · ML -259 / +201 · Georgetown 32% no-vig · model vs market +9.1 pts, +24 pct pts (Georgetown view)
Game-time weather: Light rain, 59°F.Observed during the game · National Weather Service (KDCA)ESPN+ Cooper Field - vs
Princeton Tigers
2-1 · SOS #128
Loss 7-35
Week 5
Our number· pregame
Columbia by 2
Total 44.2
DraftKings
COLU -1.5
Total 42.5
Final Princeton by 28. Princeton beat the spread. 42 points — under the 42.5. The book was closer. The book's total was closer.
21+ only where legal. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Market lines: Columbia -1.5 (open Princeton -1.5) · O/U 42.5 · ML -112 / -111 · Columbia 50% no-vig · model vs market +0.5 pts, +5 pct pts (Columbia view)
Game-time weather: Clear, 69°F.Observed during the game · National Weather Service (KNYC)ESPN+ Lawrence A. Wien Stadium - at
Marist Red Foxes
3-3 · SOS #154
Win 41-28
Week 6
Our number· pregame
Marist by 10.3
Total 42.9
DraftKings
COLU -3.5
Total 43.5
Final Columbia by 13. Columbia beat the spread. 69 points — over the 43.5. The book was closer. The book's total was closer.
21+ only where legal. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Market lines: Columbia -3.5 (open Columbia -1.5) · O/U 43.5 (open 44.5) · ML -185 / +147 · Marist 38% no-vig · model vs market +13.8 pts, +37 pct pts (Marist view)
Game-time weather: Clear, 48°F, Wind calm.Observed during the game · National Weather Service (KPOU)ESPN+ Tenney Stadium at Leonidoff Field - at
Pennsylvania Quakers
2-3 · SOS #97
Win 28-27
Week 7
Our number· pregame
Pennsylvania by 7.2
Total 47
DraftKings
PENN -6.5
Total 46.5
Final Columbia by 1. Columbia beat the spread. 55 points — over the 46.5. The book was closer. Our total was closer.
21+ only where legal. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Market lines: Pennsylvania -6.5 · O/U 46.5 · ML +187 / -239 · Pennsylvania 67% no-vig · model vs market +0.7 pts, +1 pct pts (Pennsylvania view)
Kickoff forecast: Chance rain showers, 65°F, Wind 10 mph SW, 38% rain.Kickoff forecast · National Weather Service, updated Oct 11, 8:43 AM EDT · last stored copyESPNU Franklin Field - vs
Dartmouth Big Green
3-3 · SOS #51
Loss 18-38
Week 8
Our number· pregame
dead even
Total 49.3
Book line
Not posted
Final Dartmouth by 20. 56 points. No book line was saved for this game.
Game-time weather: Clear, 64°F, Wind 3 mph N.Observed during the game · National Weather Service (KTEB)ESPN+ Lawrence A. Wien Stadium - vs
Yale Bulldogs
3-3 · SOS #83
Sat, Oct 31, 4:00 PM
Week 9
Proj 23-32 · 27%
Our number
Yale by 9
Total 55
Book line
Not posted
No book line posted yet.
Kickoff forecast: Sunny, 57°F, Wind 7 mph N, 0% rain.Kickoff forecast · National Weather Service, updated Oct 29, 8:35 AM EDTESPN+ Lawrence A. Wien Stadium - at
Harvard Crimson
6-0 · SOS #100
Sat, Nov 7, 6:00 PM
Week 10
Proj 17-35 · 12%
Our number
Harvard by 18
Total 52
Book line
Not posted
No book line posted yet.
ESPN+ Harvard Stadium - at
Brown Bears
3-3 · SOS #81
Sat, Nov 14, 5:00 PM
Week 11
Proj 21-28 · 31%
Our number
Brown by 7
Total 49
Book line
Not posted
No book line posted yet.
ESPN+ Brown Stadium (RI) - vs
Cornell Big Red
3-3 · SOS #44
Sat, Nov 21, 5:00 PM
Week 12
Proj 26-31 · 36%
Our number
Cornell by 5
Total 57
Book line
Not posted
No book line posted yet.
ESPN+ Lawrence A. Wien Stadium
Times shown in your local time
Columbia Lions stats: basic, advanced and situational
Power rating
-26.5
Adj. offense
13.4
pts vs avg defense
Adj. defense
39.9
pts allowed vs avg offense
Basic stats
Box-score numbers per game.
| Stat | 2026 | FBS rank |
|---|---|---|
| Points per gameEvery point scored, every game. | 25.7 | — |
| Points allowed per gameEvery point conceded, every game. | 29.8 | — |
| Yards per playScrimmage yards divided by scrimmage plays (sacks count as pass plays). | 5.57 | — |
| Yards per play allowedThe same measure for opponents. | 6.48 | — |
| Rushing yards per gameDesigned runs and scrambles. | 144.2 | — |
| Net passing yards per gamePassing yards minus sack yardage. | 284.0 | — |
| Rushing yards allowed per gameOpponents' rushing yards. | 176.8 | — |
| Net passing yards allowed per gameOpponents' net passing yards. | 228.0 | — |
| Turnovers per gameInterceptions thrown and fumbles lost. | 1.50 | — |
| Takeaways per gameInterceptions and fumble recoveries. | 1.33 | — |
| Sacks per gameSacks by this defense. | 1.50 | — |
| Sacks allowed per gameSacks taken by this offense. | 2.17 | — |
Advanced stats
Efficiency from play-by-play, garbage time removed: expected points added (EPA), success rate, explosiveness, havoc, finishing drives, field position and pace.
| Stat | 2026 | FBS rank |
|---|---|---|
| EPA per playExpected points added per snap, garbage time removed. Zero is average; +0.10 is very good. | +0.03 | — |
| EPA per play allowedExpected points the defense gives up per snap. Lower is better. | +0.10 | — |
| Success rateShare of plays that stay on schedule: 50% of the distance on 1st down, 70% on 2nd, all of it on 3rd and 4th. | 41.6% | — |
| Success rate allowedOpponents' success rate. | 40.7% | — |
| Explosive play rateRuns of 12+ yards and passes of 16+ yards, as a share of plays. | 11.1% | — |
| Explosive plays allowedThe same rate for opponents. | 15.6% | — |
| Havoc rateShare of snaps with a tackle for loss, sack, forced fumble, interception or pass break-up. | 11.6% | — |
| Havoc allowedHow often this offense suffers a havoc play. | 14.9% | — |
| Points per scoring opportunityFinishing drives: points per possession that reaches the opponent's 40. | 0.00 | — |
| Points per opportunity allowedHow well the defense holds once opponents cross its 40. | 0.00 | — |
| Average starting field positionWhere this offense's drives begin, on average. | opp 0 | — |
| Opponents' starting field positionWhere opponents' drives begin. | opp 0 | — |
| Offensive plays per game (pace)Scrimmage snaps per game; a tempo measure. | 76.8 | — |
Situational stats
Run vs pass splits, passing downs, third downs and the red zone.
| Stat | 2026 | FBS rank |
|---|---|---|
| Rushing EPA per playExpected points added on runs. | -0.00 | — |
| Passing EPA per playExpected points added on dropbacks, sacks included. | +0.06 | — |
| Rushing EPA allowedRun defense, per play. | +0.07 | — |
| Passing EPA allowedPass defense, per dropback. | +0.12 | — |
| Rushing success rateShare of runs that stay on schedule. | 46.4% | — |
| Passing success rateShare of dropbacks that stay on schedule. | 42.9% | — |
| Run stuff rateRuns stopped at or behind the line. | 17.3% | — |
| Passing-down success rateSuccess on 2nd-and-8+ and 3rd/4th-and-5+. | 36.5% | — |
| Passing-down success allowedHow often opponents escape long-yardage downs. | 28.7% | — |
| Third-down conversion rateThird downs converted by the play itself. | 46.0% | — |
| Third-down rate allowedOpponents' third-down conversions. | 41.0% | — |
| Red-zone touchdown rateDrives reaching the 20 that end in a touchdown. | 0.0% | — |
| Red-zone TD rate allowedOpponents' red-zone touchdown rate. | 0.0% | — |
Power rating = projected margin against an average FBS team on a neutral field, from our opponent-adjusted efficiency model. How it works and how accurate it has been.
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