Bill to Preserve UNC, NC State Rivalry Games

A new bill, the Restoring Rivalries Act, has been filed in the North Carolina House to ensure that the University of North Carolina (UNC) and NC State continue their historic sports rivalry by mandating annual matchups across several sports, including football, men's and women's basketball, baseball, and softball. This legislation comes amid concerns of potential conference realignments that could separate the two schools, as the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) faces challenges and falls behind other Power Five conferences in terms of revenue and influence. The bill does not require UNC and NC State to remain in the same conference, but it suggests that if one is invited to join the Big Ten or SEC, the other should follow as a package deal. The UNC System Board of Governors is keen to attach the two schools in any future conference changes, particularly if the ACC dissolves or they decide to leave. Current settlements with Florida State and Clemson have reduced penalties for schools leaving the ACC before 2036, increasing the possibility of realignment. The bill reflects an effort to preserve traditional rivalries despite the shifting landscape of college athletics.