If you asked a sports fan of a certain age “who is the worst college football,” one popular answer would probably be the Columbia Lions. After all, Columbia went through a notorious 44 game (and then record-setting) losing streak in the 1980s that garnered national attention.

Having waited 63 years for an Ivy League football title, Columbia had to stand by for another 40 minutes. The Lions had beaten Cornell 17-9 but needed a Harvard loss against Yale to secure a share of first place on the season's final day.

Columbia only can control one piece of the elusive puzzle. But the Lions (6-3 overall, 4-2 conference) have put themselves within touching distance of their first Ivy League football title since 1961.