Guilford College Cancels Remainder of Football Season, Seniors Lose Final Game
Guilford College announced on November 10 that it will cancel the remainder of its 2025 football season after a postgame altercation following the November 8 meeting with Averett University, a decision mirrored by Averett. The Old Dominion Athletic Conference reviewed the incident and determined the actions did not reflect conference expectations, a ruling that ends Guilford play and raises concerns about student athlete safety and postgame management for local residents.
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Guilford College and Averett University will not play the remainder of their 2025 football schedules after a November 8 postgame altercation prompted an Old Dominion Athletic Conference review and a joint announcement on November 10. The ODAC determined that the conduct following the game did not reflect the conference expectations for sportsmanship and behavior, and both programs forfeited their final scheduled contests as a result.
For Guilford, the cancellation alters official records and rosters. The team will finish the season with a 2 and 7 overall record and a 1 and 6 mark in conference play. The final game that will not be played was scheduled for November 15 at Bridgewater College. The decision ends opportunities for seniors and other student athletes to compete in their final scheduled contest and deprives the community of a local college sporting event.
Conference leaders and the two schools said they will work to reinforce conduct expectations and to prioritize safety and well being of student athletes. The ODAC commissioner framed the action as a reflection of the conference commitment to sportsmanship and safety, and conference officials also indicated that Bridgewater and Roanoke, the teams scheduled to face Guilford and Averett respectively, would have the option to schedule each other to complete a 10 game slate, subject to conference rules.
The cancellation has immediate local impacts. Guilford County loses a hometown athletic event that draws students, alumni, and local fans. For players the decision removes a last chance to compete and to showcase play that can matter for awards, records, and personal closure. For coaches and athletic staff, the ruling limits opportunities for evaluation and development at season end. For the college the decision raises reputational and operational questions about event management, crowd control, and campus conduct protocols.
The incident also draws attention to policies and procedures that govern postgame interactions on and off the field. Community members and campus leaders will likely scrutinize security measures, stewarding of visiting fans, and the protocols that guide teams and staff after competitive contests. Local civic stakeholders may press for clearer engagement between campus officials and law enforcement or conference authorities to reduce the risk of future incidents.
The conference statement and the schools note a commitment to reinforce expectations, but the precise measures and any disciplinary actions beyond the cancellation have not been detailed in available materials. The cancellation underscores tension between preserving athletic opportunity for student athletes and enforcing standards of conduct across campus athletics. For readers seeking the full official statements and original reporting, see the WXII article linked above.
