Vermont fans select greatest Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl victory in Delta Dental poll
Voting for the most significant win in the long-running rivalry against New Hampshire closes on July 30, ahead of the 2026 contest.
Vermont supporters are currently participating in a poll to determine the most significant victory in the history of the Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl against New Hampshire. The voting process, sponsored by Delta Dental, remains open until 9 p.m. on Thursday, July 30. This selection precedes the upcoming 2026 game, which is scheduled to take place on Saturday, August 1.
While New Hampshire has historically dominated the rivalry, Vermont has secured 19 victories over the series’ 63-year history. Burlington Free Press reporters Alex Abrami and Judith Altneu have curated a ballot of ten specific games from these wins, inviting readers to cast unlimited votes for their preferred historic moment.
The nominations span the breadth of the program’s history, beginning with the Green Mountain State’s first victory in 1955. That 12-6 win occurred despite significant adversity, including a team member contracting polio and another player competing days after his mother’s death. Vermont controlled the game in yardage and first downs, establishing a margin of victory that stood until 2016.
Other nominated contests highlight dramatic comebacks and offensive explosions. A 22-21 victory featured quarterback Rex Martin engineering a final drive, culminating in a touchdown pass to Robbie Gilligan with five seconds remaining. In 2000, a high-scoring affair saw Mike Keenan throw six touchdowns for a 47-40 win, setting a new scoring record for Vermont in the annual contest.
The ballot also includes a dominant 50-2 win, which represented the largest margin of victory in the series at the time, and a 2018 victory that marked Vermont’s first three straight wins in 40 years. The most recent nomination features a 28-6 win involving a hook-and-ladder play and a 73-yard interception return by Tanner Robbins.
The poll closes just days before the next iteration of the rivalry. Fans are encouraged to submit their selections through the Burlington Free Press summer ballot before the Thursday evening deadline.
