Leading up to Friday’s game, those punt returners will be practicing frequently, and you can bet they’ll be holding onto that ball pretty damn tightly. Receivers will be working on their routes to give Winters much better looks. The secondary will focus on eliminating breakdowns and the whole defense on improving its tackling.

Because now, the illusions that come with preseason are gone. In its place lies Saturday’s performance, and the areas that need improvement are clear.

But as Murphy said, the team cannot afford a few weeks to get into top shape. Harvard needs to do so with blazing alacrity.

Brown and the rest of the Ivies are stacked this season, overflowing with talent, especially at the quarterback position. The Crimson will face three first-team All-Ivy quarterbacks this season, including one in Brown’s Kyle Newhall-Caballero next week. If Harvard doesn’t sync by Friday, Brown will take advantage.

If the Crimson’s vaunted secondary doesn’t play to its potential, Newhall-Caballero will look like a fat kid in a candy shop.

And going 0-1 in the Ivies before facing either Penn or Yale would make attaining the Ivy League crown much, much tougher.

—Staff writer Robert S. Samuels can be reached at robertsamuels@college.harvard.edu.