Put the burgers on the grill and park the cars for the tailgate because college football is back in town. And Wabash College football is ready to hit the ground running. After losing the Monon Bell game against DePauw University last year, they were left with a sour taste in their mouth that led them to the beginning of this season as they hunt for their revenge.

But fans will not have to wait long to get a sight of rivalry. Since 2014, Wabash College has been battling a foe who happens to share one prominent trait. On September 5 in Little Giant Stadium, Hampden Sydney College, one of the last remaining all male colleges, will make the trek from Virginia to battle it out with the Little Giants.

It was a defensive battle in 2014 2ith what would become known as the Gentlemen’s Classic. HampdenSydney, who had just been in the NCAA playoffs the year prior, came out firing first with their star quarterback Nash Nance slinging it downfield to standout wide receiver Holton Walker. But their momentum did not last long thanks to sophomore Ethan Buresh ’16 came up big, stepping in front of a screen pass for the interception. From then on it was all Wabash, never letting the Tigers lead the game again. The game ended in a 34-21 win for the Little Giants against an impressive opponent, but it would not be the last they saw of the Tigers.

On September 5, 2015, the team travelled down to Prince Edward County, Virginia in a rematch of the Gentleman’s Classic. This one did not promise the same battle as the last matchup did. After a field goal yielding drive, the Tigers were shut down by the Little Giants defense. In a masterclass, the team held Hampden-Sydney to just 86 yards of total offense compared to Wabash’s 406. Four interceptions helped the offense stay out on the field and secure 35 points worth of touchdowns. The rematch ended 35-3 in another Wabash College victory.

From there on, the Gentlemen’s Classic had taken a break, with neither team playing against each other for the next seven years.

That all changed in 2022. With the release of the schedule, it was announced that the Tigers would return to Crawfordsville to take on the Little Giants again in Little Giant Stadium on September 3. And this time, Hampden-Sydney had a win in their sights. In a back and forth where Liam Thompson ’24 recorded a career high of 380 yards through the air, the Tigers appeared to win it. All they needed was a strong defensive stop.

But senior running back Donavan Snyder ’22 had other plans. Down by three points at 45-48, Snyder exploded for a 15-yard run for the go-ahead touchdown with 46 seconds left in the game. It was too little time for the Tigers to make a play, leading to a 52-48 Little Giants victory and third Gentlemen’s Classic title.

Before the beginning of the 2023 season, head coach of the Tigers Marty Favret made a big announcement. Right after announcing his retirement, he revealed that HampdenSydney would open up its campaign at home in Prince Edward Country, Virgina, facing Wabash College in the fourth Gentleman’s Classic.

With 3:11 left on the clock, it looked like the Tigers would finally win their first matchup against the Little Giants, leading 28-21. But a forced fumble by Jake Pasch ’25 turned the tide of the game. Thompson marched the team down the field delivering a touchdown pass to Derek Allen Jr. ’24. Instead of tying the game, the Little Giants attempted the two-point conversion. The play was a reverse to Jacob Riddle ’24 who pulled up in the backfield and hit Thompson with a pass in the endzone to seal the game. The Little Giants won their most recent bout with the Tigers 29-28.

This year the Gentleman’s Classic is back. Although Wabash remains undefeated in the series, an admirable Hampden-Sydney team makes their way from Virginia. Hampden-Sydney ran the rock very well last season with their number one running, Terry Hicks back rushing for over a thousand yards and fourteen touchdowns. With him and their entire offensive line returning, the Little Giants defense is expecting more of the same.

On the other side of the ball, the Tigers have a variety of weapons on defense, most notably Parks Cromwell, who was named to D3football.coms D3 All-American team.

Unfortunately for the Tigers, the combination of opening week and senior day will make the environment in Little Giant Stadium electric and a fire will be lit under the players with it meaning so much to the seniors and everyone else on the team.

“Season openers are not much different other than we have more time to prepare,” said head coach Jake Gilbert ’98. “It is senior day, so we want to take the opportunity to play and get a win. That makes it different.’’

Gilbert plans to make a statement to start the season and get the seniors a win.

“This senior class means a lot to us as a team, so a win for them in this game is huge,” said Nick Witte ‘28, “We’ve put together a week of physical preparation to be sharp and execute under pressure against HSC.”

The Little Giants seem to be on the same page going into the 2026-27 season, and Wabash students and alumni alike are ready for a phenomenal season opener. Wabash prepares its 139th season after a great showing last year going 9-2; they prepare to improve what they built last season.

The Little Giants and Hampden-Sydney Tigers are ready to kick off On September 5 at 12 p.m..