HANOVER, Ind. - The Panthers and Colonels clash for the fourth consecutive season, with the Blue and Red winning the last meeting in 2023 at Centre, 10-7. Hanover is seeking its first victory inside Alumni Stadium since the 2010 season. The overall record has Centre leading the opening week matchup 9-2.
 
THE PANTHERS ON THE HUNT: Hanover returns a slew of veterans in 2024 including a conference-leading defense that held opponents to a league-low 23 touchdowns and 17.8 points per game. Senior defensive lineman, David Wall (Sellersburg, Ind.) paced the defensive effort with 10.5 sacks including nine solo stops. His 10.5 sacks ranked him 11^th nationally averaging 1.05 sacks per game.
 
Offensively, senior Austin Oppel (Brandenburg, Ky.) and senior Blake Huffman (Columbus, Ind.) paired as a dynamic duo in the backfield combining for five touchdowns and 126 total carries.
 
UNDER HEAD COACH THEOBALD: Matt Theobald enters his ninth season at the helm of the Panthers with a 45-31 overall record, leading Hanover to two NCAA Playoff berths and three HCAC Titles.
 
HALL OF FAME: Today Hanover welcomes two new members into the Panther Hall of Fame, Donna Ochsner Bryant '80 and Joe Neuman '02.
 
Bryant was a four-year member of the Hanover's field hockey team and the College's most outstanding female athlete her senior year. Neuman helped lead the Men's Basketball squad to one of the winningest athletic spans covering five years of Championships.
 
The two outstanding Panther athletes will be recognized in a special halftime ceremony at midfield.
 
PRESEASON POLL: Hanover enters the 2024 campaign ranked second among the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Preseason Poll voted on by the league coaches. Mount St. Joseph was pegged as the favorite to repeat as HCAC Champions while Rose-Hulman took third and Franklin fourth overall.
 
Hanover finished the 2023 season third with a 4-3 mark in conference play. The top two 2024 preseason favorites clash on Saturday, Oct. 5 as the Panthers welcome Mt. St. Joseph to Alumni Stadium for Homecoming!
 
THE BUTLER BULLDOGS: Next week Hanover hits the road for an NCAA Division I test at Butler. Kick-off with the Bulldogs is slated for 6:00 PM inside the Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl with tickets available online. Use promo code: HANOVER for discounts.