General 9/26/2025 5:05:00 PM

Rhodes and Sewanee Introduce “Battle of the Bluffs” to Celebrate Historic Rivalry

MEMPHIS, Tenn./SEWANEE, Tenn. — Rhodes College and the University of the South are proud to announce the launch of a new all-sports rivalry competition, the Battle of the Bluffs, which will expand upon one of the longest-running rivalries in the South.

"One of the great strengths of Division III athletics is that every student-athlete's efforts matter," said Sewanee Director of Athletics, John Shackelford. "Our students learn through healthy competition, collaborating with others, and dedicating themselves to the pursuit of a goal."

"While Lynx and Sewanee student athletes don't need additional incentives to win games against one another, this is a fun way to measure head-to-head success throughout the year," added Rhodes College Director of Athletics Jim Duncan.

The competition will award points across head-to-head contests between the Lynx and the Tigers, building on 125 years of tradition that began with their first football matchup in 1899, when Rhodes was known as Southwestern Presbyterian University.

Scoring for the Battle of the Bluffs will be as follows:

1 Point Regular Season Victory in Single Round Robin Schedule
0.5 Point for Regular Season Victory in Double-Plus Round Robin Schedule
1 Point for Higher SAA Championship Finish in T+F and Golf
x2 Points for Conference Tournament Victories over each other
1 Bonus Point for Conference Championships

At the conclusion of each academic year, the institution with the highest point total will claim the Battle of the Bluffs Trophy and with it, the year's bragging rights.

A Rivalry Rooted in History

The Rhodes–Sewanee rivalry is among the oldest in the South, with deep ties both athletically and institutionally. The fierce football tradition began in 1899 and has carried on for more than a century, highlighted by the introduction of the Orgill Cup in 1954. Named for Edmund Orgill (1899–1983)—who served as chairman of the Board of Regents at both Southwestern and Sewanee, and later as mayor of Memphis—the trophy remains a point of pride for both programs.

Rhodes won the inaugural Orgill Cup game in 1954, defeating Sewanee 32–19.

A New Chapter

"The Rhodes vs. Sewanee rivalry is one of the best rivalries in all collegiate athletics," said Duncan. "For the past five seasons as Director of Athletics at Rhodes, Lynx student-athletes have remarked on the intensity of the Orgill Cup game, and many wished there was something similar in their sports. The Battle of the Bluffs is an excellent way for all our teams to participate in accumulating points and competing for the cumulative head-to-head trophy each year."

While the Orgill Cup continues to highlight the historic football rivalry, the Battle of the Bluffs expands the competition across all sports, reflecting the strength, pride, and shared history of both institutions.

"The Battle of the Bluffs represents our recognition that the Sewanee-Rhodes in-state rivalry extends to all of our 26 varsity athletic teams," said Shackelford. "This builds on the tradition of the Orgill Cup, while recognizing that hundreds of student-athletes from both schools compete in annual matchups."

The inaugural year of the Battle of the Bluffs begins with the 2025–26 athletic season, adding a new layer of excitement for student-athletes, alumni, and fans alike.

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