NC State, UNC to meet in inaugural 'Tobacco Road Classic' in Greensboro in December
One of college basketball's oldest rivalries is getting a new touch.
The University of North Carolina and NC State University have announced an exciting addition to their college basketball rivalry – the inaugural Tobacco Road Classic. This non-conference game will take place at First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina, in December.
NC State head coach Justin Gainey expressed enthusiasm about the new event, stating that it would be a fun rivalry to discuss with his team. He plans to share the history and significance of the tradition leading up to the game. The 2025-26 season marked the first time since 1919 that these two long-time rivals did not face each other twice in the regular season. The ACC reduced its league schedule from 20 games to 18, requiring each school to have a primary partner for home and away games.
UNC will face Duke, while NC State will now play Wake Forest. However, the creation of the Tobacco Road Classic ensures that both programs will meet twice in the regular season this year and next. UNC head coach Michael Malone emphasized the importance of giving back to fans and delivering what they want. Scott Johnson, General Manager of First Horizon Coliseum, expressed excitement about hosting this historic matchup in a neutral-site setting, expressing gratitude to all involved.
Tickets for the December 15th game will be available starting September 10th on Ticketmaster.com and at the First Horizon Coliseum Ticket Office. This will be the first time UNC and NC State compete in Greensboro in the regular season since they last met in the Big 4 Tournament on November 30th, 1979.
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