NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Last season saw one of the most competitive Ivy League races in recent memory as the top six teams were separated by just two games. Yale finished 5-2 and shared the Ivy title with Harvard and Dartmouth.
 
If the preseason prognosticators prove correct, 2024 should provide more excitement with the Bulldogs again very much in the hunt for another league crown. Yale, which has won back-to-back Ivy championships, is the favorite in the official Ivy League preseason media poll but by a narrow margin. The Bulldogs received six of the 16 first-place votes and finished with 114 points, six more than second-place Harvard, which got seven first-place votes.
 
Penn (2 first-place votes, 88 points) is picked third, while Princeton (1 first-place vote) and Dartmouth both had 80 points. Brown (56 points), Cornell (26) and Columbia (24) round out the poll.
 
Sixteen media members that cover the league voted in the poll.
 
Yale is looking to win three straight Ivy titles for the first time since 1979-81.
 
In addition to the release of the preseason poll, analyst Phil Steele has announced his preseason all-conference teams, and the Bulldogs are well represented. Kick returner Joey Felton was selected to the first team, while running back Joshua Pitsenberger, tight end Ry Yates, defensive linemen Alvin Gulley, Jr. and Dylan Yang and defensive back Sean Guyton were named to the second team.
 
Yale is coming off another memorable season that saw the Bulldogs win seven of their final eight games to finish with a 7-3 overall record and a 5-2 Ivy mark, including a victory over Harvard in The Game.
 
The 2024 season opens on Sept. 21 at Holy Cross. The Ivy League opener is the following week at Cornell, and the home opener at Yale Bowl, Class of 1954 Field is set for Oct. 5 vs. Central Connecticut.
 
2024 IVY LEAGUE PRESEASON POLL (First Place Votes)
1. Yale – 114 (6)
2. Harvard – 108 (7)
3. Penn – 88 (2)
4. Princeton – 80 (1)
4. Dartmouth –  80
6. Brown – 56
7. Cornell – 26
8. Columbia – 24