Lehigh's unbeaten run meets its toughest schedule test at Cornell NY

The biggest gap between these two teams isn't on the scoreboard, it's on the schedule sheet. Lehigh walks in 6-0 with a strength of schedule rank of 96 in FCS, while Cornell NY, at 2-2, has played the 16th-toughest slate in the division. This is a non-conference game for both sides, with Lehigh representing the Patriot League and Cornell NY the Ivy League, so neither record is on the line beyond the win column.

Versus still likes the Mountain Hawks here. Lehigh carries an A+ overall grade with an A defense and an A- offense, ranking 5th in FCS overall and 18th in power nationally within the division pool. The model's own insight notes Lehigh owns the best record in college football and has won nine straight true road games dating back to September 2025, which matters with this one played away from home.

Cornell NY isn't overmatched by grade, carrying a solid B+ overall mark with balanced B grades on both sides of the ball, and its power rating has climbed in each of the last three weeks. Both of its losses have come against teams with winning records, suggesting the Big Red have been competitive against good competition even while sitting 34th in FCS.

Versus projects Lehigh to win 28-23, a 5-point margin that gives Lehigh a 62 percent win probability against Cornell NY's 38. History runs the other way, with Cornell NY leading the series 3-1 and taking the most recent meeting in 2023, but this year's numbers favor the visitors.