ESPN has ECU-NCSU among best under-the-radar rivalries

by | Aug 28, 2025

We all know how big the ECU-NCSU rivalry is. We’ll see it even more Thursday night when the two teams square off in the season opener for both teams.

ESPN’s Ryan McGee knows how big this rivalry is. In a story that was posted to the website on Thursday, he recalls the Sept. 10, 1983 game, where he pulled for the Wolfpack while his brother pulled for the Pirates.

We all know how that game turned out and its significance. McGee writes more about it and why the series is so big but isn’t as recognized as the other big rivalries in college football.

McGee writes in part, “That’s how a lot of North Carolina families will be rolling Thursday night, especially those who reside between the state capital and the Outer Banks, what we call Down East. From Nags Head to New Bern and Scotland Neck to Smithfield, one giant barrel of red and white and purple and gold, all swirled together in the same living room. And man, do those colors clash.”

McGee also points out other big games the two teams have had, from the Peach Bowl to last year’s Military Bowl.

“Those games are the ones where you look at the other guy and you know that guy, or you at least recognize that guy, because that guy either lives in your neighborhood, or hell, he might be your brother,” explained Jerry Kill when asked about the intensity of overlooked rivalries.”

Click here to read more and to see the other rivalries McGee points to as ones under the radar.

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