How a small Ohio college football program built the most dominant dynasty in sports history
In short: For decades, the University of Mount Union Purple Raiders have redefined college football dominance. From a humble beginning in 1893 to a staggering 24-year conference title streak, this Division III powerhouse achieved a level of sustained excellence that arguably eclipses the most storied programs in the history of the sport.
The Mount Union Purple Raiders, representing the University of Mount Union in Alliance, Ohio, began their football journey in 1893. For much of their early history, the program operated as an independent, only joining the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) in 1914. Stability arrived slowly, punctuated by the construction of Mount Union Stadium in 1913, which remains the oldest college football stadium in Ohio. Despite these foundations, the program spent 71 years in the OAC without securing a single conference title.
The turning point arrived in 1985 under head coach Ken Wable, who led the team to its first conference championship and its inaugural NCAA Division III playoff berth. This success ignited a transformation that accelerated under Larry Kehres, who took the helm in 1986. During his 27-year tenure, Kehres built a juggernaut, winning 11 national championships and maintaining a conference title streak that reached 21 years by the time of his retirement in 2013. His final five seasons produced a .960 winning percentage, a record that surpassed the legendary Tom Osborne’s final stretch at Nebraska.
The dynasty continued under Vince Kehres, who replaced his father in 2013 and maintained the program's elite status by securing six OAC titles and two national championships in just seven years. The program's sustained success is reflected in its 36 total OAC titles and 13 NCAA Division III national championships. Beyond the trophies, Mount Union’s history is marked by remarkable streaks, including a 100-game winning streak against OAC opponents between 1994 and 2005. Today, the Purple Raiders remain a standard-bearer for Division III football, having appeared in the Stagg Bowl 23 times through the 2025 season.
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