Today's Contest
Today is the first game of the 2025 season and the first of two non-conference games for Baldwin Wallace University football team as it continues its rivalry with Wittenberg University. BW closed out the 2024 season on a three-game winning streak.  The Yellow Jackets defeated Heidelberg University by a final score of 14-10.  Wittenberg ended the 2024 campaign with a 58-14 victory over Hiram College.

The Series
BW and Wittenberg are meeting for the 44th time on the gridiron and for the second straight season after not playing for 26 years.  The all-time series is tied at 21-21-1. The series began in 1896 with Wittenberg  defeating the Yellow Jackets, 18-0.

1978 NCAA Division III Championship 
BW won its lone NCAA Division III Football Championship in 1978 when it defeated Wittenberg by a final score of 24-10.  The Yellow Jackets capped off an impressive 11-0-1 record.

BW Head Coach Jim Hilvert
Hilvert is in his ninth  season at BW and has a record of 49-23 and Ohio Athletic Conference slate of 42-21. He is 116-42 in his 17th overall season.   Hilvert is 1-0 against Wittenberg.

Wittenberg Head Coach Jim Collins
Collins is in his fourth season at Wittenberg and has a record of 18-12 and a North Coast Athletic Conference mark of 15-9.  He is 153-145 in his 29th overall season.  Collins was the head coach at Capital University for 11 seasons and holds a 53-46 record in the OAC.  He is 5-7 all-time vs. BW, between Capital and Wittenberg.

Last Game vs. Wittenberg --September 7,  2025
BW scored  24  points on 184 yards passing, 58 yards rushing and 242 total yards.  The Yellow Jackets jumped out to an early 14-0 lead after the first quarter. Wittenberg scored 14 points on 203 yards passing, 76 yards rushing and 279 total yards.  The Tigers were only able to score in the second and fourth quarters, with their last score coming with 2:21 remaining.

Scouting the Yellow Jackets
BW finished the 2024 season with an overall  record of 7-3 and a fourth place finish  in the OAC with a mark of 6-3.  The Yellow Jackets averaged 28.9 points-per-game on 224.0 yards passing, 147.1 yards rushing for 371.3 yards of total offense.

BW Leaders
Offensively, junior All-OAC quarterback Charlie Bubonics (Solon) returns as the starting quarterback after a record-setting sophomore season. He set the school's single-season record with 214 completions, breaking a 31-year-old mark. He threw for a career-best 2,146 yards (third in the conference) and 25 touchdowns (second in the conference), and added 64 rushing yards with three scores on the ground. Junior Academic All-OAC running back George Linberger (Barberton/St. Vincent-St. Mary) rushed for 485 yards on 124 carries and scored three touchdowns. He also caught eight passes. Senior All-OAC wide receiver Tim Conwell (Avon) is back as the top receiving threat. He led the team and tied for third in the OAC with eight touchdown receptions, totaled 486 receiving yards (tied for 11th in the conference), and finished with 48 points. Defensively, senior linebacker Dom Tromba (Painesville/Riverside) led the defense in 2024 with 59 total tackles, two fumble recoveries, and 3.5 tackles for loss. 

Scouting the Tigers
Wittenberg finished the 2024 campaign with an overall record of 6-4 and a fourth place finish in the NCAC with a mark of 5-3.  The Tigers averaged 33.5 points-per-contest on 260.5 yards passing, 146.3 yards rushing for  406.8 yards of total offense.

Wittenberg Leaders
Offensively, sophomore Jayden Miller takes over the reigns as the signal caller after appearing in six game a season ago.  Miller completed 97-of-147 passes for 1,596 yards and 17 touchdowns. Sophomore running back Omar Holloway returns as the top back as he rushed for 247 yards on 76 carries with three touchdowns in seven games.  Junior wide out Kade Ray is the top returning target as he reeled in 22 passes for 380 yards with five touchdowns. Defensively,junior linebacker Tyre Smith led the team and was eighth in the NCAC with 81 tackles.

New Look Schedule
In a rare occurrence within the OAC, all member teams will face two non-conference opponents this season. Traditionally, the opening game has served as the sole out-of-league matchup. However, this year, BW will also take on Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology from Indiana in October. This game replaces the previously scheduled contest against John Carroll University, which has since departed the conference.

Bold & Gold and Hall of Fame Game
BW will host its Bold and Gold and Hall of  Fame Game on October 25.  The 2:00 p.m. game against Marietta College will feature the Homecoming Festivities as well as the induction and introduction of the 2025 Class of the Athletics Alumni Association Hall of Fame.