The Wasps will compete as members of the South Atlantic Conference as they plan to start playing a full SAC schedule in 2022–23.

Emory & Henry previously competed as members of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) of NCAA Division III from 1976–77 to 2020–21.

[5] The allegations came to public attention after the resignation of former coach Don Montgomery from the football program and departure of the College's president, Rosalind Reichard.

While there are many rumored origins of the nickname, the most commonly accepted story is that Emory & Henry was first called the Wasps after the football team played the first-ever game in Tennessee's Neyland Stadium by a local Knoxville newspaper.

[10] Despite the Volunteers from Tennessee being heavily favored, they only held a 6-0 lead at halftime, this is due to the defensive efforts of Emory & Henry.

Though Emory and Henry was beaten 27–0, legend has it that the local paper declared "that those Virginia boys stung like wasps," and the nickname has stuck ever since.

[17] In 2004, Y'all magazine listed Emory and Henry among the 40 colleges and universities in the South with the greatest football traditions.