Preview: This will be the first meeting between the Hatters and the Tigers on the gridiron. The programs are scheduled to face off again during the 2022 season at DeLand's Spec Martin Memorial Stadium.
Well Rested: The Hatters go on the road for the first time this year after enjoying a week off last week. Stetson is just 1-5 in games following an off week since restarting the football program in 2013. The lone win came during the 2018 season at Drake, a game the Hatters won in dramatic fashion on the final play.
History: Stetson and Princeton have faced off over the years in three other sports. The Hatters hold a 5-2 all-time series lead in baseball, a 4-1 series lead in softball and the series is tied 1-1 in women's basketball.
Against the Ivy: Stetson is 3-1 all-time against members of the Ivy League with a pair of victories over Brown (2015 and 2016) as well as a win over Columbia in 1910. The only loss came against Dartmouth during the 2017 season.
Welcome Back: Hatters head coach
Brian Young is no stranger to facing the Tigers. During his two seasons as an assistant at Cornell, the Big Red took a pair of games from the Tigers.
Last Time Out: Stetson put up a total of 320 rushing yards in its 49-16 victory over Ave Maria. It was the third highest single game rushing total in the modern era for Stetson. The team record of 353 yards was set against Ave Maria in 2015. The 7.8 yards per carry in the game were the second most for Stetson in the modern era.
Players of the Week: Following the win over Ave Maria the Stetson coaches selected the offensive line as the offensive players of the week. Linebacker
Ethan Hull and safety
Dwight Lawrence were selected the defensive players of the week and punter
Matt Clements was named the special teams player of the week. Dawg safety
Davion Maxwell earned the Big Hit award for the game.
Ball Protection: The Hatters have not turned the ball over in either of its first two games this year. It is just the second time a Stetson team in the modern era has had consecutive games without a turnover. The Hatters are 6-8 in the modern era when they don't turn the ball over.
Stingy Defense: The Hatters held Ave Maria to just 86 rushing yards, which ranks as the 11th fewest in a game in the modern era. Stetson set the new mark in Week 1, holding Warner to minus 13 rush yards. Stetson is currently fifth in FCS in rush defense, a category led by Princeton after the Tigers held Lehigh to no rush yards in their opening game. The Hatters and Tigers are also both in the top five in the nation in total defense.
Running Wild: Stetson sophomore running back
Jalen Leary is already second in career rushing yards in the modern era in just 16 career games. He is 516 yards behind Cole Mazza (2013-16) for the career record for rushing yards.
Looking For a Return: Stetson has played 83 total games since restarting its football program in 2013, but the Hatters are still looking for their first kickoff return for a touchdown. Redshirt freshman
Jamison Brundidge gave it a go against Ave Maria, returning the opening kickoff 65 yards before being pushed out of bounds.
Scouting Princeton: The Tigers played their first game in more than 600 days when they posted a 32-0 victory over Lehigh last week. Princeton rolled up 454 yards of total offense while allowing just 92 yards to the Mountain Hawks. Quarterback Cole Smith accounted for 412 yards through the air, throwing for three touchdowns. Princeton was picked as the preseason favorites to win the Ivy League and the Tigers have nine players back who were named to the 2019 All-Ivy League team.
Coach Young Quotable: "We spent a lot of time over the last two weeks working to clean up in areas where we needed to improve. We focused more work on becoming a better Stetson team. Princeton will be a big challenge for us. It will be our first time in a hostile environment and our first game against a Division I opponent. I am looking forward to seeing how our team reacts to the adversity we will certainly face during this game."
