Correction Appended

A year ago, Yale running back Mike McLeod was the Ivy League player of the year and its only all-American. In a 10-game season, he rushed for 1,619 yards and 23 touchdowns. He played the last five games with a broken right big toe that prevented him from planting and cutting.

This year, as a senior, he could be even better.

“I think I will be, because we’re bringing in a passing game,” McLeod said in a telephone interview. “We’re used to seeing eight or nine men in the box, but I don’t think we’ll see that again.”

The defenses that crowded the line of scrimmage were designed to stop McLeod, a 5-foot-11, 205-pound tailback from New Britain, Conn. He usually foiled them. “I feel I can see the field better than most people,” he said. “I’m not the biggest guy, but I can still bring it up the middle on third-and-short, and I can bust big runs. I think I’m an elusive back who runs angry with deceptive power.”

This season, McLeod hopes to be more involved in a short passing game and return some kickoffs. His future goal is to play pro football.

“If not,” he said, “then the financial world. Hopefully, the economy will improve by the time I graduate. Otherwise, maybe law school.”

But first things first.

“It should be the best we’ve had in four years,” he said. “We’re a lot stronger, a lot more dedicated, and people who didn’t give it their all are all gone.”

In this year’s preseason news media survey, Yale and Harvard finished in a tie for league champion.

A look at all of the teams, in order of predicted finish:

YALE (2007 record: 9-1, 6-1)

A decade ago, the Elis threw 45 or 50 times a game. Now they run, because of Mike McLeod, one of 35 seniors on the team. Jack Siedlecki, entering his 12th season as Yale’s head coach, calls him the best short-yardage runner he has coached and probably the quickest 10-yard runner he has coached. “He doesn’t try to juke you,” Siedlecki said. “It’s just one move and go.” But for McLeod to be most effective, the offense must improve play-action calls to keep defenses guessing.

PLAYERS TO WATCH TB Mike McLeod, LB Bobby Abare, OT Darius Dale, DE Brady Hart, FS Steve Santoro, C Ty Davis, P Tom Mante.

HARVARD (8-2, 7-0)

Last year, the Crimson had the league’s best total defense (274.6 yards a game) and rushing defense (77.5), and that unit should be strong again. So should the front seven for an offense that averaged 407.7 yards a game last season. Chris Pizzotti is 11-1 as the starting quarterback and does not make mistakes. He threw only four interceptions last year. “We have a chance to be good,” Coach Tim Murphy said, “but we’re concerned about depth and the secondary.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH OT James Williams, DT Matt Curtis, LB Glenn Dorris, CB Andrew Berry, TB Cheng Ho, DE Peter Ajayi, LB Eric Schultz.

BROWN (5-5, 4-3)

The Bears’ offense last year averaged 424 yards and 32.1 points a game, the best in the league, and this year’s team could do the same. Michael Dougherty, in his first year as starting quarterback, passed for 3,039 yards and 19 touchdowns. Jim Develin, an excellent pass rusher, leads the defense. As Coach Phil Estes said, “We have experience, we’re a lot better, and we have a chance to contend.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH WR Buddy Farnham, WR Bobby Sewall, TE Colin Cloherty, OT Paul Jasinowski, QB Michael Dougherty, DE Jim Develin.

PENNSYLVANIA (4-6, 3-4)

The defense can be good, especially with its strong cornerbacks. The offensive line is inexperienced. The big question mark is at quarterback, where Robert Irvin starts after missing his freshman season and most of his junior season with an injured passing shoulder. As a sophomore, he passed for 2,128 yards. He’s big and smart and has a strong arm, and if he does well, Coach Al Bagnoli said, “We have a chance to be pretty good.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH S Chris Wynn, LB Jay Colabella, OT Chris Kovalcik, CB Tyson Maugle, TB Michael DiMaggio.

PRINCETON (4-6, 3-4)

The offensive line has four players who have started since their freshman seasons. Brian Anderson, the senior quarterback, has started only one game, last year’s finale (he won). Coach Roger Hughes’s assessment: “I like this team a lot — chemistry, work ethic, unselfishness — but I don’t know how many games we’re going to win.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH P Ryan Coyle, DE Pete Buchignani, QB Brian Anderson, DE Tom Methvin, DT Matt Koch.

CORNELL (5-5, 2-5)

This is Nate Ford’s third year as the starting quarterback, and because of injuries he has yet to finish a season. The offensive and defensive lines were pushed around last year and must improve physically. But there are 33 seniors from Coach Jim Knowles’s first recruiting class. “No more excuses,” he said.

PLAYERS TO WATCH QB Nate Ford, OT Steve Valenta, S Tim Bax, WR Zac Canty, LB Graham Rihn.

DARTMOUTH (3-7, 3-4)

Coach Buddy Teevens said his team would be much improved and more competitive. He cited “more depth, more team speed, more pressure from the defensive line.” He also said athleticism would make up for inexperience. He plans to use two quarterbacks: the junior Alex Jenny and the sophomore Tim McManus, who started at wide receiver last year.

PLAYERS TO WATCH LB Andrew Dete, OT Alex Rapp, TB Milan Williams, DE Charles Bay, S Ian Wilson.

COLUMBIA (1-9, 0-7)

The Lions need to improve everywhere, starting with better blocking and better defense up front against the run. They must also choose a starting quarterback from a group of three: the juniors M. A. Olawale and Shane Kelly and the sophomore Paul Havas. Still, Coach Norries Wilson said, “We have a chance to have a decent team.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH WR Austin Knowlin, LB Alex Gross, P/K Jon Rochell, DE Phillip Mitchell, OT Mike Brune.

Correction: August 31, 2008
The Ivy League outlook in the 2008 College Football Preview last Sunday misstated the nickname for Brown’s team. It is the Bears, not the Bruins.