ITHACA, N.Y. -- Cornell was picked to finish eighth in the 2021 Ivy League Football Preseason Media Poll that was announced today. The Big Red will kick off the new campaign with its sights set on having a much bigger impact on the league standings when NCAA championship qualifier VMI visits Schoellkopf Field on Saturday, Sept. 18 at 2 p.m.

Princeton (113 points, eight first-place votes) was picked to win the league with Yale close behind in second (104 points, six first-place votes). Dartmouth (88 points, one first-place vote) edged Harvard (87 points) to round out the top half of the poll. Penn (61 points), Brown (52 points), Columbia (44 points, one first-place vote) and the Big Red rounded out the field. Two media members from each of the eight schools and one national media member voted.

The Big Red has surpassed its preseason predicted finish in five of the last six seasons, including in 2019 when it was picked to place seventh only to tie for fourth, its first top-half conference finish since 2006.

Cornell opens Ivy League play at Yale on Sept 25 to start a three-game road trip. Other highlights include a Friday night home game under the lights against preseason favorite Princeton on Oct. 29 at 7 p.m.

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2021 Ivy League Football Preseason Poll (First Place Votes)
1. Princeton – 113 (8)
2. Yale – 104 (6)
3. Dartmouth – 88 (1)
4. Harvard – 87
5. Penn – 61
6. Brown – 52
7. Columbia – 44 (1)
8. Cornell – 27