Harvard Football Stuns Colgate With Wild Last-Second Lateral Play

No. 22/20 Harvard pulled off a dramatic 20-17 victory over No. 20/22 Colgate on Saturday, October 3, 2026, courtesy of a chaotic multi-lateral play as time expired. OutKick reported that the win improves Harvard's record to 3-0 on the season, while Colgate fell to 4-2.

How did the final seconds unfold?

Colgate took a 17-14 lead with just 27 seconds remaining in the game when quarterback Jake Stearney connected with wide receiver Matt Fogler on a 13-yard touchdown pass. Stearney finished the game completing 21 of 39 passes for 188 yards and a touchdown, while Fogler hauled in 12 catches for 138 yards and a score, according to OutKick.

Harvard quarterback Charlie Smith then drove his offense down the field to set up a potential long game-tying field goal attempt for kicker Francisco Moscoso. However, a Harvard false start penalty pushed the Crimson out of range, forcing a desperate final-play heave. On the untimed down, Smith threw downfield to tight end Teigan Pelletier. Short of the end zone and surrounded by defenders, Pelletier pitched a lateral back to freshman wide receiver Nate Bailey, who scrambled into the end zone as time expired to secure the 20-17 win.

Who were the standout performers?

Nate Bailey put together a historic performance, finishing with 16 receptions for 197 yards and a touchdown. According to OutKick, Bailey's 16 catches mark the second-most in a single game in Harvard history, sitting five short of Carl Owens and one better than Kyle Juszczyk.

Quarterback Charlie Smith orchestrated the final drive, ending his night with 369 passing yards and two touchdown passes. Head coach Andrew Aurich leads the Crimson squad, while Curt Fitzpatrick serves as the head coach for Colgate.

What historical comparisons were made to the finish?

OutKick and Sporting News noted that the game's final sequence drew comparisons to famous historical lateral plays in football. CluthchPoints specifically referenced Randy Moss's 2003 sequence with the Minnesota Vikings against the Denver Broncos, while Sporting News pointed to Boise State's memorable 2007 Fiesta Bowl finish against Oklahoma.

Sporting News also noted that Harvard is looking to return to the FCS playoffs for a second straight season. The Ivy League rescinded its postseason ban ahead of the 2025 season, allowing Harvard to make the playoffs the previous year—where they fell 52-7 to Villanova in the first round—despite losing its season finale to Yale.

What is not yet known?

The provided source material does not detail specific future scheduled games, pending roster decisions, or further response timelines beyond Harvard's record improving to 3-0. A minor discrepancy also exists in team rankings: Harvard University's official news release lists the matchup as No. 22/20 Harvard defeating No. 20/22 Colgate, while search snippets from OutKick list Harvard simply as No. 22.