The Wabash College football team is familiar with being undefeated at over a quarter of the way through the season. The hot start has almost become an expectation. But the difference in the team's schedule is what makes the 4-0 record far more impressive than in years past. Beating Wittenberg was not a given the last few years, but the Little Giants took care of that in impressive fashion.
 
Last week they followed the win with another victory on Homecoming against Hiram College, 38-0. The next games on the schedule are teams that Wabash beats nearly every year.
 
The teams are often smaller and much less talented than the Little Giants squad. That means victory is expected, but far from given. Wabash will continue to have to play to their level of excellence for the duration of the year. The first opponent that will test that is Oberlin College.
 
Team Captain Eddie Cmehil said, "An undefeated record is nice to have, but we feel as though this is expected of us. We came into this season with the goal to win a conference championship and there's only one way to do that. Go undefeated."
 
Undefeated they have stayed through the tests that the first four games offered. Wins against Hampden-Sydney College and Wittenberg University highlight some of the toughest matchups the Little Giants won with ease. Now that they are through the hard tests, the rest of the regular season is an expectation to finish an undefeated team.
 
The offensive firepower the team has gained this year behind the prolific arm of Connor Rice has made a difference in the tough games
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Rice had three passing touchdowns that were vital in the big win over Wittenberg. The Little Giants are averaging over 42 points a game and have over 1,800 yards on the year.
 
The staple of the team every year it seems is the strong defense. Little Giant defenders have earned All-NCAC and All-American honors nearly every year. They often lead the NCAC in nearly every defensive category. In what was thought to be an impossibility, the group may have improved from last year. The Little Giants have allowed an astounding 24 rushing yards through four games.
 
They have averaged giving up less than five points a game including two shutout victories. The defense has given up two touchdowns through the air and not a single one rushing.
 
Teams are starting to get creative against the Little Giants to try and confuse the steel curtain defense.
 
"As a defense, one thing we need to realize is the fact that some teams are going to come out with crazy formations and plays that we have never seen before," Cmehil said
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Cmehil knows that the battle in the upcoming weeks is going to be continuing to play to their standard of excellence.
 
"We want to play our best football as the season continues, so coming out every week like we did against Witt is the standard from now on," Cmehil said.
 
Cmehil is not worried about the team letting their play suffer against teams of less talent.
 
"We don't have the luxury to look down on any opponent and we are not that type of team." Cmehil said.
 
"We are going to come out every week with intensity and treat every game as another step towards the end goal."
 
The first team that will test Wabash is Oberlin College on
 
Saturday. Oberlin is a team that Wabash has handled in the past two years. The 2012 season was a different story. The team played down to the level of an inferior Oberlin team and lost the game 31-16. Cmehil keeps that out of his mind in the week of preparation.
 
"If our team comes out Saturday and plays at the level we are capable of no one will touch us," Cmehil said.