Life After Jaden Craig: Harvard Football Starts New Era

Harvard football opens its 2026 season against New Hampshire without record-setting QB Jaden Craig. Here's what to know about the new-look Crimson.

Sep 16, 2026 by Ajay Shah

Life After Jaden Craig: Harvard Football Starts New Era

For the first time since its historic run to the FCS playoffs, Harvard Football is back. But the face of the Crimson offense won't be.

Harvard opens the 2026 season against New Hampshire on Saturday, Sept. 19, beginning its pursuit of a fourth consecutive Ivy League championship without record-setting quarterback Jaden Craig.

Craig transferred to TCU after rewriting Harvard's record book and leading the Crimson to their first FCS playoff appearance in 2025.

Now, head coach Andrew Aurich and the Crimson must answer one of the biggest questions in the Ivy League: What does Harvard look like without its most prolific passer in program history?

UPCOMING

2026 Harvard vs New Hampshire

Sat, Sep 19 · 5:00 PM UTC

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Harvard Football Has Some Big Shoes To Fill

Craig didn't leave Cambridge quietly. He left his mark and signed his name in the Crimson history books.

The quarterback finished his Harvard career as the program's all-time leader with 6,074 passing yards and 52 touchdown passes.

His final season was his best. Craig completed 208 passes for a Harvard single-season record 2,869 yards and another program record with 25 touchdown passes in 2025.

He threw just seven interceptions while helping Harvard finish 9-2, win a third consecutive Ivy League championship and earn an at-large berth in the FCS playoffs.

Craig ultimately took his remaining year of eligibility to TCU, leaving the Crimson with an enormous hole behind center.

Is Dante Torres Harvard's Next QB1?

Senior Dante Torres enters the season as the presumed successor to Craig, but Harvard has not officially named him the starting quarterback.

Torres served as Craig's backup in 2025, appearing in seven games and completing 8 of 13 passes for 153 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

That means Harvard could go from one of the most experienced and productive quarterbacks in the FCS to a player who has never started a college game.

And Craig isn't the only piece Harvard needs to replace.

Several All-Ivy players departed from last year's team, including wide receiver Dean Boyd and tight end Ryan Osborne, while offensive linemen Aidan Kilstrom and Derek Osman transferred to Stanford and UCLA, respectively.

Whoever takes the first snap against New Hampshire will be directing an offense that looks considerably different from the one that helped Harvard reach the postseason last year.

Harvard Still Has Plenty Coming Back

Don't mistake change for a rebuild.

The Crimson returns several major contributors and remains one of the favorites to win the Ivy League.

Running back and 2026 team captain Xaviah Bascon headlines the returning group.

Harvard also brings back four All-Ivy standouts:

OL Spencer Doan
DB Damien Henderson
OL Thomas O'Brien
LB Sean Line

There are weapons on offense, too. Wide receiver Brady Blackburn returns after leading Harvard with 732 receiving yards and five touchdowns in 2025.

New Hampshire Gives Harvard An Immediate Test

Harvard won't get much time to ease into its new era. The Crimson hit the road this Saturday, Sept. 19 to take on the New Hampshire Wildcats

New Hampshire reached the FCS playoffs in 2025 after finishing the regular season 8-4, giving the Crimson a postseason-caliber opponent immediately.

History, however, belongs entirely to Harvard.

The Crimson is 8-0 all-time against the Wildcats and won the most recent meeting 28-23 against a nationally ranked UNH team in 2024.

Saturday also brings something new to a series that dates to 1929. Harvard will travel to New Hampshire for the first time.

For a program with championship expectations, it should provide an immediate look at whether Harvard can pick up where it left off.

Craig is gone. A new quarterback is taking over. But the expectations in Cambridge haven't gone anywhere.

Watch the matchup live on FloSports:

UPCOMING

2026 Harvard vs New Hampshire

Sat, Sep 19 · 5:00 PM UTC

WATCH

What Time Does Harvard Football Play New Hampshire?

Harvard and New Hampshire kick off at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, Sept. 19, at Wildcat Stadium in Durham, New Hampshire.

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