Sport | Football |
---|---|
First meeting | 1884 Williams, 15–2 |
Latest meeting | November 9, 2024 Williams, 21–0 |
Next meeting | November 8, 2025 |
Statistics | |
Meetings total | 138 |
All-time series | Williams leads, 76–57–5 [1] |
Largest victory | Amherst, 60–0 (1892) |
Longest win streak | Williams, 8 (1987–1994) |
Longest unbeaten streak | Williams, 13 (1987–1999) |
Current win streak | Williams, 1 (2024–present) |
Locations in Massachusetts |
The Biggest Little Game in America is an American college football rivalry featuring the Amherst Mammoths and the Williams Ephs. Both programs play in the Division III New England Small College Athletic Conference. Except for a few hiatuses, the series has been played annually since 1884, making it the most-played Division III rivalry game, and the fourth-most played NCAA game at any level. Williams leads the all-time series 76–57–5. [2]
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The rivalry between Amherst College and Williams College predates the advent of American football, having its roots in the early 19th century with the establishment of Amherst College in 1821. The rivalry was started by the actions of Zephaniah Swift Moore, who served as the president of Williams College at the time. Moore's persistent belief that Williamstown, the location of Williams College, was too remote led to the inception of this competition. Failing to orchestrate the relocation of Williams College, President Moore opted to embark on the formation of a new educational institution in Amherst, MA. In doing so, a faction of professors and students from Williams College joined him in this endeavor, subsequently leading to the establishment of Amherst College. This turn of events created a long-standing rivalry between the two institutions, which has persisted to this day. [3]
This rivalry extends beyond football, and tensions between Amherst College and Williams College have consistently remained high over the years. To further emphasize the significance of this competition, both institutions, in conjunction with Wesleyan University, partake in the "Little Three" series. This series serves as a deliberate nod to the more renowned "Big Three" grouping that traditionally comprises Harvard, Yale, and Princeton.
Notably, the November 10, 2007, contest between Amherst College and Williams College, hosted in Williamstown, achieved recognition as the selected location for ESPN's College GameDay . [4] This particular event holds historical significance as the first instance in which the program visited and highlighted a Division III school. Moreover, in 2003, the Amherst-Williams rivalry earned its place of distinction when it was included in ESPN's Page 2 bracket, celebrating the best college football rivalries. [5]
On November 11, 2017, another memorable chapter was added to the rivalry's annals, as Williams College defeated Amherst in a game held in Williamstown. The victory was secured in overtime culminating in a score of 31–24. This overtime outcome marked only the second occurrence of overtime play in the rivalry.
The first intercollegiate baseball game was played between Amherst and Williams in 1859. In that game, which lasted nearly four hours, Amherst defeated Williams by the score of 73–32. [6]
Amherst victories | Williams victories | Tie games |
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The New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) is an intercollegiate athletic conference that competes in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III comprising sports teams from eleven highly selective liberal arts institutions of higher education in the Northeastern United States. The eleven institutions are Amherst College, Bates College, Bowdoin College, Colby College, Connecticut College, Hamilton College, Middlebury College, Tufts University, Trinity College, Wesleyan University, and Williams College.
The NCAA Division III women's basketball championship is the annual tournament to determine the national champions of women's NCAA Division III collegiate basketball in the United States. It was held annually from 1982, when the NCAA began to sponsor women's sports at all three levels, through 2019. No championship was held in 2020 or 2021 due to COVID-19 issues.
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Weston Field Athletic Complex is a Williams College facility and home of the Williams Ephs football team in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. Although primarily used for American football, the complex also hosts the home fields for the Williams College track & field, lacrosse and field hockey programs. Renovations completed in 2014 include artificial turf surfaces, a new grandstand, an addition for field hockey, a new track, lighting for the fields and a large support building. Weston Field biennially hosts the Williams-Amherst football game, known as The Biggest Little Game in America, the most-played Division III football rivalry game and the only Division III game to have hosted College GameDay.
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The Williams Ephs are the varsity intercollegiate athletic programs of Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts.
The Williams Ephs football program represent Williams College of Williamstown, Massachusetts in the sport of college football. The football team is coached by Mark Raymond, who has held the position since the start of the 2016 season. The team plays at Weston Field on campus. The team has had 16 players named to the Division III All-America Team since 1974. The program began varsity play in 1881. As a NESCAC football team, the program is not permitted to play non-conference games or to participate in the NCAA Tournament.
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