Rhodes College is the winner of the inaugural Battle of the Bluffs Trophy, earning bragging rights in the first year of a new all-sports rivalry competition between the college and the University of the South (Sewanee).
The rivalry traces its roots back to 1899, when the two institutions first met on the football field. In 1954, The Orgill Cup was introduced to award the winner.
Now the Battle of the Bluffs, introduced prior to the 2025-26 academic year, has expanded one of the South’s oldest collegiate rivalries beyond the historic Orgill Cup football game to include every varsity sport.
Throughout the year, student-athletes competed for valuable points in regular season match ups, conference tournament contests, conference championship finishes, and Southern Athletic Association championships. At the conclusion of the 2025-26 athletic season, Rhodes accumulated the highest point total to capture the Battle of the Bluffs Trophy.
"This is a tremendous accomplishment for our department and a testament to the dedication of our student-athletes, coaches, and staff,” said Rhodes College Director of Athletics Jim Duncan. “The Battle of the Bluffs was created to celebrate the intensity and tradition of one of Division III’s great rivalries, and it’s exciting to see our teams come together to earn the inaugural championship. Winning the first Battle of the Bluffs Trophy is something our entire Lynx community can take pride in.”