3 essential things to know about the 2023 Battle of the Ravine

One of college football’s most unusual rivalries takes place Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023. This year, it is Henderson State’s turn to take the walk over to Cliff Harris Stadium to face Ouachita Baptist in the 96th Battle of the Ravine.

For those unfamiliar with this unique rivalry, that’s no typo. The Reddies will make the trek by foot — across U.S. Highway 67 in Arkadelphia, Arkansas — from their campus to Cliff Harris Stadium, home of the Tigers.

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The walk only takes about 5 minutes. Here’s what you need to know about Saturday’s rivalry. 

1. The Battle of the Ravine is a clash of next-door neighbors

These two teams are as close as it gets. Henderson State’s Carpenter-Haygood Stadium is a driver and 3-iron away from Ouachita Baptist’s Cliff Harris Stadium. Per NCAA.com’s Mike Lopresti, the golf coach has done it, playing shots from one end zone to the other.

If you walk from football field to football field, you won’t even break a sweat. It’s only 3,696 feet or just 0.7 miles depending on your preference of measurement. In fact, if the games are scheduled just right, both teams can probably scout each other without leaving the press box. 

2. Henderson State at Ouachita Baptist is an old-school rivalry

These two certainly know each other very well. Saturday’s meeting will be the 96th Battle of the Ravine. The first game was in 1895, but Henderson State was Arkansas Methodist College back then. The series began as HSU vs. OBU in 1907 and — despite a 12-year hiatus due to prank wars by the schools — the 96 meetings place ninth all-time when it comes to DII football’s most-played rivalries.

DII HISTORY: More on the 11 most-played rivalries in DII football

After 95 meetings, Ouachita Baptist has the slightest advantage. Ouachita has won the last six meetings, including in 2017 when Ouachita snapped the Reddies’ longest road winning streak in DII football history at 31 games at Cliff…