PROVIDENCE — Twenty-one Brown University seniors are one victory from making football history. If the Bears beat Columbia tomorrow at Brown Stadium, those seniors will win their second Ivy League championship, an unprecedented achievement for Brown players.

“These guys enjoy what they do, and they enjoy just having the opportunity to be the first to have two rings,” coach Phil Estes said.

They key word is opportunity because this is not the Columbia of old. Sure, the 2-7 record is similar, but these Lions boast players such as option quarterback M.A. Olawale, versatile receiver Austin Knowlin and the league-leading tackler, linebacker Alex Gross, who have Estes “sitting here with a pit in my stomach. … They seem to have threats everywhere.”

So does Brown, with quarterback Michael Dougherty, the Ivy League offensive player of the week for his stellar performance at Dartmouth; running back Dereck Knight of Pawtucket, fourth in Ivy rushing; tight end Colin Cloherty, 10th in Ivy receiving; kicker Robert Ranney, first in punting, second in PATs and third in field goals; linebacker Steve Ziogas, 14th in tackles, and lineman David Howard, third in sacks.

Five Rhode Islanders are part of this championship express. Knight, a star at Shea High School five years ago, has rushed for 468 yards and two touchdowns. He missed the last nine games of 2007 with a torn ligament in his big toe after rushing for 208 yards in the season opener against Duquesne.

Sewall, the former Portsmouth star, “is Mr. Everything, and he can get better. He is so versatile and such a competitor. He wants the ball in his hands. He is so confident. He is one of those guys who is a joy to coach.”

Freshman Neal Rooney of Scituate and La Salle Academy is part of the rotation on the defensive line and with special teams and “has done an incredible job and will be as good as we’ve ever had.”

Sophomore John Anderson of Barrington is a defensive lineman who has played in JV games this season, and freshman Nate Lovett of East Providence is another JV player who shows promise as a wide receiver but more promise as a kicker.

Depending on the results in Boston, Ithaca and here, Brown could be champion, co-champion or second. Brown (6-3, 5-1) and Harvard (8-1, 5-1) are tied for first with only tomorrow’s finales to play. If they win, they will share the title. If Brown wins and Harvard loses, Brown is the outright champion. If Harvard wins and Brown loses, Harvard stands alone, and Brown is second. If Brown and Harvard lose and Penn wins at Cornell, then Brown, Harvard, Yale and Penn will share the title with 5-2 league records.

Coincidentally, tomorrow is the 40th anniversary of Harvard’s unforgettable 29-29 “victory” over Yale at Harvard Stadium for the 1968 Ivy League title. Yale featured quarterback Brian Dowling, who had not lost a game he had started since elementary school, and running back Calvin Hill, a future All-Pro with the Dallas Cowboys. Harvard featured a band of overachievers. Both teams were 8-0. Yale dominated most of the game, but Harvard rallied from a 29-13 deficit behind backup quarterback Frank Champi. The Crimson scored 16 points in the last 42 seconds and tied the score on a two-point conversion from Champi to tight end Pete Varney with no time on the clock.

mszostak@projo.com