Here's another look at the correlation between the run game and Ivy League success, this time from a defensive perspective. What the numbers reveal is that the 2019 Harvard team was a complete outlier over the past decade, winning the rushing defense title but finishing with a 2-5 record. No other Ivy League run defense champion since 2010 has finished with more than two league losses.
Following are the Ivy League run defense champion with yards allowed per game (Ivy record), Dartmouth's yards allowed rushing per game, where that ranked in the Ivies (Big Green's Ivy record), and the Ivy League champions. Got all that?
2019
Run defense champion – Harvard 89.8 (2-5)
Dartmouth – 109.5/ranked 2nd (6-1)
Ivy League champion – Dartmouth/Princeton
2018
Run defense champion – Dartmouth 79.7 (6-1)
Dartmouth – 79.7/ranked 1st (6-1)
Ivy League champion – Princeton
2017
Run defense champion – Yale 73.1 (6-1)
Dartmouth – 93.8/ranked 2nd (5-2)
Ivy League champion – Yale
2016
Run defense champion – Princeton 80.1 (6-1)
Dartmouth – 157.8/ranked 7th (1-6)
Ivy League champion – Princeton, Penn
2015
Run defense champion – Harvard 84.4 (6-1)
Dartmouth – 86.5/ranked 2nd (6-1)
Ivy League champion – Dartmouth, Harvard, Penn
2014
Run defense champion – Harvard 89.5 (7-0)
Dartmouth – 142.4/ranked 4th (6-1)
Ivy League champion – Harvard
2013
Run defense champion – Harvard 97.3 (6-1)
Dartmouth – 141.3/ranked 3rd (5-2)
Ivy League champion – Harvard, Princeton
2012
Run defense champion – Harvard 69.4 (5-2)
Dartmouth – 130.5/ranked 4th (4-3)
Ivy League champion – Penn
2011
Run defense champion – Harvard 89.7 (7-0)
Dartmouth – 197.2/ranked 8th (4-3)
Ivy League champion – Harvard
2010
Run defense champion – Penn 73.1 (7-0)
Dartmouth – 142.7/ranked 5th (3-4)
Ivy League champion – Penn
In summary, the Ivy League rushing defense champions finished:
7-0 – 3 times
6-1 – 5 times
5-2 – 1 times
2-5 – 1 time
