UNC and NC State have a million reasons to keep playing twice a season

Some things in life just make sense.

Peanut butter and jelly, March and college basketball, and Carolina Blue and argyle. None of these need further explanation.

However, the Atlantic Coast Conference still needs to explain how UNC and NC State don't play twice a year with this new scheduling format.

Before last season, you'd have to go back to 1919 to find the last time the Tar Heels and Wolfpack didn't meet twice on the hardwood during the regular season. While NC State won last year's game (which, we won't discuss), it would've been nice to have a chance at redemption at the Dean Smith Center, but due to the schedule, that didn't happen.

Let's not forget, Tar Heel fans certainly wanted to give Ven-Allen Lubin a warm welcome back to Chapel Hill!

Well, there's plenty of people who want to see these two programs battle multiple times a season, and they now have a million reasons to make it happen.

UNC and NC State have a million reasons to keep this rivalry going

In June, it was announced that North Carolina and North Carolina State would play a non-conference game in Greensboro in each of the next two seasons. This year's contest, the inaugural Tobacco Road Classic, will be held on December 15 at the First Horizon Coliseum.

Financially, this game makes a ton of sense for both sides.

The contract between the two universities promises a $1 million payout for this year's event. Both universities will also receive a $1 million payout when they meet again in non-conference play during the 2027-2028 campaign.

This is simply the two programs making a major mistake because the ACC added three schools to the conference. Duke and NC State should always be on North Carolina's conference schedule twice, but the rotating schedule gives each team only one consistent home-and-home opponent.

Of course, the major networks and the conference won't miss out on the money-making opportunities that come with the greatest rivalry in sports between the Blue Devils and Tar Heels!

Sure, it's crazy to think that we've reached a point where this is even necessary to do. Still, it's a win-win for both programs: they will earn a significant payday while keeping this in-state rivalry alive.

Giving the fans what they want while honoring tradition, along with making some money in the process? No one will argue with that!

Normally, North Carolina has to pay schools to come to the Dean Smith Center to play during non-conference action. This is refreshing to see that UNC will actually benefit financially for once, especially given that they won't have to travel far for the contest itself.

There aren't many "win-win" situations in college athletics, but this feels as close to one as you're going to get.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow