Ladies and gentlemen, the time has come. From being blown out in Greencastle two seasons prior and losing in heartbreaking fashion during overtime in 2023, the Wabash football team is back for the 130th Monon Bell Classic with nothing but revenge on their minds. The Dannies are as tough as they have ever been, but Wabash has the recipe to spoil the Tigers’ undefeated season. Here are four key features of this year’s Wabash squad that will prove instrumental in orchestrating the Dannies’ downfall. These are the four horsemen of the DePauw-calypse.
Xavier Tyler ’26 and a dominant run game
If Wabash wants to win this year’s Bell Game, success in the run game will be critical in establishing a foothold offensively; it all starts with Xavier Tyler ’26. The Little Giants’ running back has been electric all season, rushing for a conference-leading 1,002 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. Tyler’s excellent field vision, patience at the line of scrimmage and explosive front-end have solidified him as the best running back in the conference this season.
Since Week 1, the Little Giants have been utilizing Tyler’s 5.9 average yards per carry to keep the chains short and give quarterbacks and skill players breathing room. They have moved the ball constantly forward and had incredible success in the run game, especially against quality NCAC opponents. During last week’s matchup against Wittenberg – who is ranked third in the conference in rushing yards allowed per game with 94.8 and has only allowed 2.5 yards per carry all season – gave up 199 rushing yards to Tyler alone.
The Little Giants have proven they are capable of moving the football on the ground against tougher teams, but DePauw’s defensive front seven will be the hardest challenge yet. Giving up only 0.9 yards per carry in the NCAC (yes, less than a yard) and holding opponents to under 30 yards per game, the Tigers are a formidable threat. So, it is all the more important for this year’s Bell Game that Wabash comes out early and establishes a run presence, winning this phase of the contest and setting up the passing game.
Jake Gilbert ’98 and Wabash’s ballhawk secondary
DePauw’s offense has been a tough nut to crack by NCAC defenses all year. They rank first in almost every offensive statistic, including throwing an eye-watering 41 touchdown passes and only two interceptions. For reference, the next highest teams – Wittenberg and Wooster – have only thrown 34 passing touchdowns combined. The Tigers will look to strike through the air early and often on Saturday, unless Wabash can convince them otherwise.
One of the best improvements Associate Head Coach Jake Gilbert ’98 has brought to this year’s Little Giant defense is an emphasis on creating defensive turnovers. Coming off a paltry 2023 season where Wabash only secured seven interceptions and six recovered fumbles, this year’s defensive squad is second in the conference in both categories, with 13 interceptions and seven recovered fumbles. Several of these turnovers have come in clutch moments, including Sam Ringer ’26’s 100-yard fumble return touchdown against non-conference opponent St. Norbert College and Mike Holsclaw ’26’s game-sealing interception in the fourth quarter against Denison only two weeks ago.
To turn the tide of this year’s Bell Game, Wabash will have to make the Tigers cough the ball up, at least once, but hopefully more. Despite being the best team in the conference at not turning the ball over, DePauw has yet to face the best defense in the NCAC, other than themselves. The Little Giants will have chances to make plays in the secondary and deliver bone-crushing hits to jar the ball loose at key moments throughout the contest. Coming up with one or two turnovers could make all the difference when the game clock hits zero.
Brand Campbell ’27 and offensive momentum
One of the major stories of Wabash’s football season thus far has been the injury of senior quarterback Blake White ’25, which occurred in week two at home against Ohio Wesleyan. A torn pectoral and fractured collarbone sidelined White for the rest of the season, leaving room for sophomore Brand Campbell ’27 to take the reins. Campbell has played exceedingly well thus far, leading the Little Giants to a 6-1 record as the starting QB and is currently second in the conference in offensive efficiency with a rating of 187.7.
But the Bell Game requires more than raw talent to succeed. It takes maturity and poise to handle the pressure of commanding the offense in the most popular DIII football game of the year, with rabid fans screaming and the intense expectation of needing to win weighing heavy on the mind. It’s enough to make even the best players crack under pressure, but Campbell will need to remain calm and collected in his first Bell Game start. You can be sure his counterpart will be. DePauw quarterback Nathan McCahill is a fifth-year senior with two Bell wins under his belt as the Tigers’ starting QB. With DePauw’s experience and a seemingly superior offense to work with, the pressure will be on Campbell to start and maintain Wabash’s offensive momentum, keeping the Little Giants in the game for all four quarters. Wabash has struggled at times throughout the season with maintaining this momentum. Against a dangerous DePauw squad, Wabash will have to find its rhythm quickly and keep the pressure on the Dannies to produce points. There will be no room for error come Saturday.
Gavin Ruppert ’26 and constant D-line pressure
One of the most consistently devastating facets of Wabash’s defensive squad this year has been the defensive line and linebacker play. Gavin Ruppert ’26 has been a one-man wrecking crew at middle linebacker, with tackles, pass defenses, interceptions and forced fumbles. The man can do it all. Paired with an eight-man rotating defensive line that relentlessly pressures quarterbacks and comes up with sacks, this Little Giants front seven could be the difference-maker in this year’s Bell Game. DePauw has been excellent this season at keeping McCahill’s pocket clean, giving up only six sacks in nine games. If Wabash’s front seven can pressure McCahill often – throwing him out of rhythm – there is a greater likelihood of him making a mistake and turning the ball over, giving the Little Giants a needed leg up in this contest. Since McCahill hasn’t been pressured much this season, a healthy dose of Jerry McBee ’26 or Jordan Cree ’27 in his face may be enough to turn the tide late in the game, granting Wabash the victory.