The first Saturday in August has arrived and that means one thing — we’re now a mere four weeks away from the opening Saturday of college football in North Carolina.
With the new season so close that we can almost taste the tailgate spread and hear the marching bands, here are ten non-conference match-ups between Old North State schools that have us most eager to get this party started.
1. Wingate (8-3 in 2023) at UNC Pembroke (7-3)
Saturday, Aug. 31 | 6 p.m.
A duel between two of our state’s best Division II programs kicks things off on opening weekend. Both the Bulldogs (picked second in the preseason South Atlantic coaches poll) and Braves have legit conference title and playoff aspirations.
One match-up to watch: UNC Pembroke’s explosive offense (453.6 ypg, 40.4 ppg a year ago) vs. Wingate’s always stout defense (264.7 ypg, 14.18 ppg). This opening night winner will pocket a nice resume builder to start the season.
2. Guilford (2-8) at Greensboro (2-8)
Saturday, Sept. 7 | Noon
This annual meeting between the Quakers and Pride in the GSO is known as the Gate City “Soup Bowl” and helps raise money for local food banks and charities. Guilford holds bragging rights for now, having beaten Greensboro 36-21 a year ago. Both schools can be proud of the work this game does to help those who are less fortunate and need a hand.
3. Campbell (5-6) at Western Carolina (7-4)
Saturday, Sept. 7 | 1 p.m.
The Camels have had some of the highest ranked FCS recruiting classes in the nation in recent years and are eager to break through under new coach Braxton Harris. The Catamounts have had some of the most prolific offenses in the nation the past few years under coach Kerwin Bell and are eager to break through to a SoCon championship and/or FCS playoff berth.
This meeting will be the first-ever between the two schools. It will be a “White Out Whitmire” atmosphere in Cullowhee with an early afternoon kick time.
4. Elon (6-5) at North Carolina Central (9-3)
Saturday, Sept. 7 | 6 p.m.
Two of the elite FCS programs in the state will go head-to-head for the second year in a row. Central outlasted the Phoenix 34-23 last season on the way to posting a 3-1 record against CAA opponents
Elon enters 2024 in the preseason top 25 rankings. Central, which made the FCS playoffs a year ago, has been tabbed as the favorite to capture the MEAC crown. The schools have only played seven other times — Elon leads the series 5-2 — and we hope this latest meeting will start a trend of more frequent match-ups.
5. Winston-Salem State (4-6) at North Carolina A&T (1-10)
Saturday, Sept. 7 | 7 p.m.
Only 30 miles separate the pair, who are among the largest HBCUs in our state and fiercest competitors. The Rams and Aggies have a storied rivalry that dates back to the 1950s, with the schools having played in football nearly 50 times.
They haven’t met on the gridiron since 2010, so this will be a highly anticipated game. At its outset, A&T dominated the series, winning the first 18 meetings. But Winston-Salem State has captured three of the last five, including the most recent game in 2010 (a 21-14 triumph in Greensboro).
Expect a festive, passionate atmosphere. And we’ll cast our vote to have this series continue more regularly in the years and decades to come.
6. Catawba (5-6) at Davidson (7-4)
Saturday, Sept. 7 | 7 p.m.
One of the best Saturdays for in-state match-ups adds yet another one, with the D2 Indians serving as the Wildcats’ first foe in their new home stadium (which is a real beauty). If you’re tempted to think this as a blow-out-in-the-making, keep in mind that a D2 team (Barton) came to Davidson last season and upset the ‘Cats.
Catawba is a team on the rise in the South Atlantic under second-year coach Tyler Haines. But stopping Davidson’s potent rushing attack, which grinds out the yards and grinds up the clock, will be a challenge for sure.
7. Appalachian State (9-5) at East Carolina (2-10)
Saturday, Sept. 14 | 4 p.m.
We here at NC Football News headquarters believe this should once again be a conference match-up — or at least a yearly non-conference duel. Few schools in our state match the fervor of these two fan bases, especially when their passions are aimed at each other.
East Carolina had a dreadful 2023 campaign, and the game against App State in Boone was a representative of their struggles. The Pirates led 21-10 late in the first half and 28-22 early in the third before being outscored 21-0 down the stretch. They won just once the rest of the way.
ECU looks ready to bounce back to competitiveness in 2024 and will have home-field advantage for this highly anticipated rematch.
8. Western Carolina (7-4) at Elon (6-5)
Saturday, Sept. 14 | 6 p.m.
Last season, WCU didn’t play a single in-state foe. This year, the Catamounts face three. The first meeting between the schools since 2013 will feature a pair of stellar quarterbacks (WCU’s Cole Gonzales and Elon’s Matthew Downing), two up-and-coming head coaches (Bell and Elon’s Tony Trisciani) and two schools competing for FCS playoff spots.
Elon has a slight edge in the overall series, 8-7. Western Carolina earned a narrow win, 27-24, in the most recent showdown a decade ago.
9. North Carolina A&T (1-10) at North Carolina Central (9-3)
Saturday, Sept. 21 | 7 p.m.
This rivalry needs no introduction if you follow HBCU or FCS football. The schools have played for more than 100 years and will fill the stadium no matter the records.
A&T holds a fairly commanding lead in the series, 52-34-5. But NC Central has gotten the best of their Aggie rivals in the last two games, both by double digits. Though no longer conference companions, the series, thankfully, will continue yearly until at least 2030.
This year’s showdown will be a nice barometer for NC A&T, which is attempting to claw back to form after a 1-10 campaign a year ago.
10. North Carolina Central (9-3) at Campbell (5-6)
Saturday, Oct. 5 | 4 p.m.
One of the most exciting games of the 2023 campaign came between these schools at Central’s O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium last October. Campbell forced overtime with a late touchdown run by NaQuari Rogers, then scored first in OT with a Hajj-Malik-to-Ezeriah Anderson touchdown throw.
But the PAT was missed, and Adrian Olivo gave the Eagles the 49-48 victory, booting home the clinching extra point after a Latrell Collier TD run. Williams tossed five touchdown passes in all. NCCU quarterback Davius Richard rushed for four scores and threw for another.
Yes, we’ll take an encore of that game in 2024.
