The regional rivalry game between Fayetteville State and UNC Pembroke has come to be known as the Two Rivers Classic. In recent years, the contest has featured two of the top Division II programs in our state.
This year’s meeting, the 13th overall in the series, will come in the second week of the D2 season and will be part of a challenging non-conference schedule for both the Broncos and Braves.
Why This Game Matters: There is a trophy involved in this matchup, plus bragging rights across southeastern North Carolina. Both UNC Pembroke and Fayetteville enter 2026 with genuine D2 playoff aspirations, and securing an early non-conference victory will be a huge resume builder for the winning squad.
🔄 Last Updated: July 28, 2026
🏟️ Game Information
UNC Pembroke at Fayetteville State
Date: Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026
Time: 6 p.m. ET
Location: Luther “Nick” Jeralds Stadium, Fayetteville, NC
TV/Stream: CIAA Sports Network
⭐ Featured Game in our 25 Games to Watch series
📚 Series History
- UNC Pembroke leads 10-2
- Last meeting: UNC Pembroke 31, Fayetteville State 24 (Sept. 6, 2025)
- First matchup: UNC Pembroke 41, Fayetteville State 34 (Aug. 29, 2009)
- Last Fayetteville State win: 35-31 (Sept. 7, 2024)
- UNC Pembroke has won 8 of the last 10
Roughly 40 miles separate the two campuses in southeastern North Carolina. The two teams played every season between 2009 and 2016, then resumed their yearly series in 2022.
All four games in the 2020s have been barnburners.
2025: UNC Pembroke 31, Fayetteville State 24 – UNCP quarterback Tre Robinson threw for 234 yards and three TDs, and the Braves held off a charging Broncos team down the stretch.
2024: Fayetteville State 35, UNC Pembroke 31: Demari Daniels culminated a five-play, 60-yard scoring march with an 11-yard touchdown run in the final seconds to seal the Broncos’ victory.
2023: UNC Pembroke 19, Fayetteville 17: Ty Woods kicked the game-winning field goal for the Braves with nine seconds left – his fourth made field goal of the game.
2022: Fayetteville State 15, UNC Pembroke 13: An Andrew Elton 37-yard field goal late in the third quarter held up as FSU beat the Braves for the first time in football.
🔍 What to Watch
UNC Pembroke offense vs. Fayetteville State defense
The Braves know how to score points under coach Mark Hall. Conversely, the Broncos usually have one of the top defenses in the CIAA. Something will have to give on the first Saturday in September.
The kicking game
Placekickers have decided two of the four most recent meetings. If things are tight again coming down the stretch, will the kickers be ready to do their part?
Who are the quarterbacks?
Both teams have to replace productive signal callers from 2025. How well the new starters take the reins could play a huge role in who wins in the end.
Fast Facts: UNC Pembroke at Fayetteville State
- UNC Pembroke is coming off an 8-3 season in 2025, finishing as the runner-up in the revitalized Conference Carolinas. The Braves went 5-1 in league play and lost to North Greenville 34-20 in the Conference Carolinas Bowl.
- UNCP was picked second in Conference Carolinas for 2026 in the league’s preseason coaches poll, trailing only North Greenville.
- Fayetteville State made a strong run at the CIAA title game and a D2 playoff spot last season, going 6-1 in conference play. The Broncos lost to Johnson C. Smith – the eventual CIAA champions – in the final seconds in the next-to-last week of the regular season.
- CIAA coaches picked Fayetteville State third in its preseason poll, behind Virginia Union and Johnson C. Smith.
- Richard Hayes Jr. is one of the longest-tenured college football coaches in our state. He has been at the helm at Fayetteville State since 2016, compiling a 59-33 record through his first nine seasons (51-13 in the CIAA) and taking the Broncos to six CIAA title games. Fayetteville State won the 2022 CIAA crown.
- This will be Mark Hall’s fourth season as head coach at UNCP. He owns a 21-11 record entering 2026 (17-7 vs. conference opponents) and a 35-18 overall record. Hall was the head coach at Chowan for two seasons before taking over at UNC Pembroke. His Hawks teams went 7-3 and 7-4, advancing to the 2022 CIAA title game where they lost to Hayes’ FSU squad.
- Both Fayetteville State and UNC Pembroke will play D2 powerhouse Valdosta State in the non-conference later in the season. Valdosta played in the D2 national title game in 2024. UNCP blanked the Blazers 31-0 last season in Georgia.
📊 By the Numbers
- 14 – Regular season wins for Fayetteville State (6) and UNC Pembroke (8) in 2025
- 10 – Total wins for UNC Pembroke in the series with FSU that dates back to 2009
- 2022 – First-ever win in the series for Fayetteville State, a 15-13 triumph
- 38.5 – Points-per-game average for UNC Pembroke the past three seasons under coach Mark Hall
- 35 – Sacks for Fayetteville State’s defense in 2025, tops in the CIAA.
📝 Prediction
We’ll publish our official prediction during game week.
🔗 More NC Football Coverage
- UNC Pembroke football schedule
- Conference Carolinas standings
- Fayetteville State football schedule
- CIAA standings
- 2026 week-by-week schedule
- North Carolina college football scores
📝 Game Recap
Check back after the game for a recap, stats and observations.
⭐ Featured Game: UNC Pembroke at Fayetteville State was selected as one of NC Football News’ 25 Games That Could Define the 2026 Season, our statewide look at the most important matchups from the ACC to Division III.
