North Carolina–Wake Forest rivalry

Last updated • 3 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia
North Carolina–Wake Forest rivalry
Sport Football and Basketball
First meeting1888 (football)
1910 (men's basketball)
North Carolina-Wake Forest rivalry
Invisible Square.svg
Invisible Square.svg
Mapscaleline.svg
45km
30miles
Black pog.svg
Wake Forest
Cyan pog.svg
North Carolina
Locations of North Carolina and Wake Forest.

The North Carolina–Wake Forest rivalry is a series of athletic contests between the University of North Carolina Tar Heels and the Wake Forest University Demon Deacons. The first football game between the two institutions was played in 1888. [1] As a consequence of ACC expansion in the 21st century, the two schools do not play each other annually in football, as they were placed in separate divisions and assigned different opponents for their "protected" (i.e., annual) cross-division games. North Carolina got rival NC State as their cross-divisional opponent, while Wake Forest got Duke, which allowed the Duke-Wake Forest rivalry to continue.

Contents

Football

North Carolina–Wake Forest football rivalry
First meetingOctober 10, 1888
Wake Forest 6, North Carolina 4
Latest meetingNovember 12, 2022
North Carolina 36, Wake Forest 34
Next meetingNovember 16, 2024
Statistics
Meetings total110
All-time seriesNorth Carolina leads, 72–36–2
Largest victoryNorth Carolina, 65–0 (1928)
Longest win streakNorth Carolina, 17 (1893–1923)
Current win streakNorth Carolina, 3 (2020–present)

History

The University of North Carolina and Wake Forest University have a long shared athletic history, having formerly been located in close proximity to one another, as Wake Forest was originally located in Wake Forest, North Carolina. In 1956, the university moved its campus across the state of North Carolina to its current location in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

The football rivalry, first meeting in 1888, is the oldest intercollegiate football rivalry in the American state of North Carolina [1] As of 2021, there have been 109 games between the two teams. The 2019 and 2021 games were non-conference games and thus were not counted in the ACC standings. [2] [3] [4] This unusual occurrence of a non-conference regular season game between teams in the same conference has only occurred once before in the recent history of the major FBS conferences. [5]

Results

North Carolina victoriesWake Forest victoriesTiesForfeits

Notable games

2001

The Tar Heels built a 24–0 first-half lead behind a phenomenal performance by freshman quarterback Darian Durant, who threw for a freshman school record 361 yards. Carolina looked in control taking a 31–14 lead into the fourth quarter after Durant threw his fourth touchdown pass of the game. Then things began to unravel for the Tar Heels. After the Deacons cut the lead to 7, the Tar Heels snapped the ball out of the back of the end zone for a safety, cutting the lead to 31–26 with 4:49 left in the game. Wake Forest put together a 59-yard drive, capped by a 1-yard touchdown run by quarterback James MacPherson with just over a minute remaining. The Tar Heels’ final chance fell short as Wake safety Quinton Williams forced a Darian Durant fumble with 45 seconds remaining, and the Deacons won 32–31. The 24-point comeback was one of the largest in ACC history. [6]

2021

Wake Forest entered the game 8–0 for the first time in program history and ranked #9 in the College Football Playoff rankings and #10 in the AP Poll, both rankings being the highest in program history. The game featured an explosion of offense as the teams combined for 1,161 total yards. With 7:38 remaining in the third quarter, Wake Forest quarterback Sam Hartman connected with receiver A.T. Perry on a 66 yard touchdown pass, which gave the Demon Deacons a 45–27 lead. Over the next 21 minutes of the game, North Carolina went on a 31–3 run which included three rushing touchdowns by running back Ty Chandler, who finished the game with career highs of 213 yards and four touchdowns. After Carolina cut the lead to seven with 10:40 left in the game, Tar Heel safety Cam'Ron Kelly intercepted Hartman for the second time of the game. The Tar Heels quickly scored, tying the game at 48–48. The Tar Heel defense forced two consecutive turnovers on downs as Carolina erased a 14-point fourth quarter deficit, ultimately winning the game 58–55. With the win, the Tar Heels notched their first home win against a top-ten opponent since defeating #3 Miami in 2004. [7]

See also

Men's basketball

North Carolina–Wake Forest men's basketball rivalry
First meeting1910–11
North Carolina 31, Wake Forest 28
Latest meeting2023–24
North Carolina 85, Wake Forest 64
Statistics
Meetings total234
All-time seriesNorth Carolina leads, 164–70
Largest victoryNorth Carolina, 95–57 (2018–19)
Longest win streakNorth Carolina, 19 (1926–1936)
Current win streakNorth Carolina, 1 (2024–present)

Carolina currently leads the series 164–70.

The rivalry dates back to when Wake Forest was in Wake Forest, NC, and was only a short distance from UNC's campus. The rivalry that grew between the two schools became very intense, with fights breaking out on the court in certain match ups. Their rivalry eventually expanded into the Big Four with NC State and Duke, which are recognized as being some of the fiercest rivalries in NCAA men's basketball.

Over the years there have been many classic and exciting games in this series. In 1983, UNC came back from behind to win 80–78 at the Greensboro Coliseum. In 1995, the two teams faced each other in the ACC Tournament Championship game. Wake won behind center Tim Duncan and shooting guard Randolph Childress who made the go-ahead basket in an 82–80 overtime win.

North Carolina victoriesWake Forest victories

Related Research Articles

Tobacco Road is a term used in college sports, mainly basketball, for the four rival universities of North Carolina that play in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). The term refers to the area's history as a major tobacco producer. The Tobacco Road teams represent the following universities:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South's Oldest Rivalry</span> College football rivalry game

The South's Oldest Rivalry is the name given to the North Carolina–Virginia football rivalry. It is an American college football rivalry game played annually by the Virginia Cavaliers football team of the University of Virginia and the North Carolina Tar Heels football team of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Both have been members of the Atlantic Coast Conference since 1953, but the Cavaliers and Tar Heels have squared off at least fifteen more times than any other two ACC football programs. Virginia and North Carolina also have extensive rivalries in several other sports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Riley Skinner</span> American football player (born 1986)

Riley Skinner is a former American football quarterback. He was signed by the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He played college football at Wake Forest University. Skinner is currently captain of a golf team representing San Jose Country Club for the annual Ross Cup Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Carolina Tar Heels football</span> College Football Bowl Subdivision team; member of Atlantic Coast Conference

The North Carolina Tar Heels football team represents the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the sport of American football or Gridiron Football. The Tar Heels play in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and are members of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).

The 2006 Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team represented Wake Forest University during the 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Jim Grobe, in his fifth season at the school, and played its home games at Groves Stadium. The Deacons finished the regular season with a 10–2 record, giving them the first 10-win season in their history, and won the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference. The subsequent victory in the conference championship game gave Wake Forest their first conference championship in 36 years. As such, they represented the ACC in the Orange Bowl. The team ended the season with an 11–3 record and a number 17 ranking in the nation. The team and its star linebacker Jon Abbate would become the subject of a 2011 feature film, The 5th Quarter. They did not win the Atlantic Division again until 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Textile Bowl</span> American college football rivalry

The Textile Bowl is the name given to the Clemson–NC State football rivalry. It is an American college football rivalry game played annually by the Clemson Tigers football team of Clemson University and the NC State Wolfpack football team of North Carolina State University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dave Clawson</span> American football player and coach (born 1967)

David Paul Clawson is an American football coach and former player. He currently serves as the head football coach at Wake Forest University, where he was named the 2021 ACC Coach of the Year. Clawson previously served as the head football coach at Fordham University from 1999 to 2003, at the University of Richmond from 2004 to 2007, and at Bowling Green State University from 2009 to 2013. At Wake Forest, his annual salary is $3.6 million.

The 2008 Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team represented Wake Forest University during the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It was Wake Forest's 56th season as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).

The 2001 Peach Bowl featured the North Carolina Tar Heels and Auburn Tigers.

The 2008 Atlantic Coast Conference football season was the 56th season that the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) participated in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) college football. As a Bowl Championship Series (BCS) conference, the ACC's constituent members competed within the framework of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Carolina–NC State football rivalry</span> American college football rivalry

The North Carolina–NC State football rivalry is an American college football rivalry between the North Carolina Tar Heels football team of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the NC State Wolfpack football team of North Carolina State University.

The 2011 North Carolina Tar Heels football team represented the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a member of Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) during the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was led by interim head coach Everett Withers and played their home games at Kenan Memorial Stadium. The Tar Heels finished the season 7–6 overall and 3–5 in ACC play to tie for fourth in the Coastal Division. They were invited to the Independence Bowl, where they were defeated by Missouri, 24–41.

The 2012 North Carolina Tar Heels football team represented the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a member of Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) during the 2012 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was led by first-year head coach Larry Fedora and played their home games at Kenan Memorial Stadium. The Tar Heels finished the season 8–4 overall and 5–3 in ACC play to tie for first in the Coastal Division with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and the Miami Hurricanes. Due to NCAA sanctions imposed in the wake of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill football scandal, North Carolina was ineligible for the conference title and banned for postseason play for the 2012 season.

The NC State–Wake Forest rivalry is a series of athletic contests between in-state rivals, the North Carolina State University Wolfpack and the Wake Forest University Demon Deacons. The first game was played in 1895 between the two institutions. Wake Forest was originally located in Wake Forest, North Carolina until it moved its campus across the state of North Carolina to Winston-Salem, North Carolina in 1956. The two universities are members of the Atlantic Coast Conference, where they meet every year in football due to being aligned in the Atlantic Division. The schools play each other twice in basketball every season, due to being primary partners.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sam Howell</span> American football player (born 2000)

Samuel Duke Howell is an American professional football quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the North Carolina Tar Heels, setting school records for most touchdown passes in a single season (38) as well as career passing yards (10,283) and touchdown passes (92).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 ACC Championship Game</span> College football game

The 2021 ACC Championship Game was a college football game played on December 4, 2021, at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. It was the 17th edition of the ACC Championship Game and determined the champion of the Atlantic Coast Conference for the 2021 season. The game began at 8:15 p.m. EST and aired on ABC. The game featured the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, the Atlantic Division champions, and the Pittsburgh Panthers, the Coastal Division champions. Sponsored by restaurant chain Subway, the game was known as the Subway ACC Championship Game.

Joshua Downs is an American professional football wide receiver for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at North Carolina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sam Hartman</span> American football player (born 1999)

Samuel Hartman is an American professional football quarterback who is a free agent. He played college football for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons for five seasons, setting several school records before playing the 2023 season with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Hartman signed with the Commanders as an undrafted free agent in 2024. But was drafted by the Birmingham stallions of the United football league (UFL) back in July of 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drake Maye</span> American football player (born 2002)

Drake Lee Maye is an American professional football quarterback for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the North Carolina Tar Heels, where he was named the 2022 ACC Football Player of the Year after leading the NCAA in total yards and setting single-season school records in passing yards and touchdowns. Maye was selected third overall by the Patriots in the 2024 NFL draft.

The 2022 Gasparilla Bowl was a college football bowl game played on December 23, 2022, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The 14th annual Gasparilla Bowl began at 6:35 p.m. EST and was aired on ESPN. The game was played between the Wake Forest Demon Deacons from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and the Missouri Tigers from the Southeastern Conference (SEC). It was one of the 2022–23 bowl games concluding the 2022 FBS football season.

References

  1. 1 2 "Old Rivalry Renewed As Deacs Invade Carolina". The Dispatch, Lexington NC. October 23, 1954.
  2. "2012 Wake Forest Football Media Guide".
  3. "2015 North Carolina Football Yearbook" (PDF).
  4. "UNC, Wake Forest Schedule Non–Conference Football Series". 26 January 2015.
  5. "California Golden Bears Football Schedule". University of California at Berkeley Department of Athletics. Retrieved March 4, 2011.
  6. "Wake Forest Comes All The Way Back To Beat UNC, 32–31". Godeacs. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  7. "Chandler, Tar Heels rally past No. 10 Demon Deacons, 58–55". ESPN. Retrieved November 10, 2021.