Rhodes College has officially claimed the inaugural Battle of the Bluffs Trophy, earning bragging rights in the first year of the all-sports rivalry competition between Rhodes College and the University of the South (Sewanee).

Introduced prior to the 2025-26 academic year, the Battle of the Bluffs expanded one of the South's oldest collegiate rivalries beyond the historic Orgill Cup football game to include every varsity sport. Throughout the year, Lynx and Tigers 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 become the first institution 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."

The Battle of the Bluffs was established to recognize the year-long competition between Rhodes and Sewanee across all varsity sports. The rivalry traces its roots back to 1899, when the two institutions first met on the football field. More than 125 years later, the competition has evolved into a department-wide challenge that showcases the success of every student-athlete and every program.

Points throughout the year were awarded for head-to-head regular season victories, conference tournament wins over the rival institution, higher finishes at the Southern Athletic Association Championships in track & field and golf, and bonus points for conference championships.

The addition of the all-sports trophy has further strengthened one of the oldest rivalries in the South while creating opportunities for every Lynx team to contribute toward a common goal.

With the inaugural trophy now residing in Memphis, Rhodes looks forward to defending its title during the 2026-27 athletic season as another chapter of the Battle of the Bluffs rivalry begins.

As AD Duncan always says, "Beat Sewanee".