Centre Colonels football The Centre Colonels football team , historically also known as the Praying Colonels , represents Centre College in National Collegiate Athletic Association ( NCAA ) Division III competition . The Colonels currently play in the Southern Athletic Association ( SAA ) , which played its first season in 2012 after its formation in 2011 by a group of schools that included Centre . Before the establishment of the SAA , Centre had played 50 seasons in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference . Despite the school ' s small size ( 2008 enrollment of 1 , 215 ) , the football team has historically had success and possesses a strong tradition . At the end of the 2008 season , the school ranked as the 12th winningest school in Division III with an all - time record of 509 – 374 – 37 . History . On April 9 , 1880 , a Centre College team traveled to Lexington to play against Kentucky in the first football game south of the Ohio River . The Colonels lost that game , and a rematch at home later in the month , but it was the start of a long - running rivalry with their in - state opponent . The first officially recognized Centre – Kentucky game took place in 1891 . In that series , the Colonels compiled a 18 – 12 – 2 record before the Kentucky athletic council determined to permanently drop Centre from their schedule . From 1917 to 1924 , Centre compiled a 57 – 8 record while playing against some of the best teams in the nation . After the 1920 season , Centre faced Texas Christian ( TCU ) in the Fort Worth Classic . The Colonels convincingly routed them , 63 – 7 . The 1921 Centre – Harvard game resulted in one of the most shocking upsets in college football , with the Colonels winning , 6 – 0 . The star of that game , back Alvin " Bo " McMillin , was twice named a consensus All - American , in 1919 and 1921 . Center James Weaver was named a consensus All - American alongside him in 1919 . The Colonels finished the 1921 season undefeated , having outscored their opponents , 314 points to 6 . In the Dixie Classic , precursor to the modern Cotton Bowl Classic , Centre faced Texas A & M . Miscues contributed to the Colonels ' defeat , 22 – 14 . This is also the game in which Texas A & M ' s 12th man tradition originated . Centre again found success during the 1950s . In 1951 , the Colonels finished the season with a 5 – 1 record and were invited to play Northern Illinois State in the Corn Bowl . The invitation , however , was rejected by the school administration who wished to de - emphasize football . From 1954 to 1956 , Centre compiled a sixteen - game winning streak . In 1955 , the undefeated Colonels were again invited to a postseason game , the Tangerine Bowl , but once more declined . In recent years , Centre has secured eight SCAC championships between 1980 and 2003 . Jack " Teel " Bruner , a safety from 1982 to 1985 , became the second Centre Colonel inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame . In 1984 , he recorded five interceptions against Rose - Hulman , tying the all - time record . In 2011 , the Colonels ' final SCAC season , they finished second in the conference , but received an at - large invitation to the NCAA tournament . The Colonels defeated Hampden – Sydney in the first round to earn their first Division III tournament win , and lost in the next round to traditional D - III powerhouse Mount Union . Achievements . Individual achievements . Consensus All - Americans College Football Hall of Fame