North Carolina’s eastern and western Group of 5 programs are going to rekindle their rivalry.
Appalachian State and East Carolina -- or is that East Carolina and Appalachian State? -- announced Tuesday plans to play a 4-game series in 2021 and then 2024-26.
The teams will meet on opening weekend (Sept. 4) of the 2021 season at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, then go home-and-home for the final three games of the series. East Carolina will host on Sept. 14, 2024, App State will take a turn on Sept. 6, 2025, and East Carolina will close the series on Sept. 5, 2026.
“On behalf of Appalachian State University, I would like to thank Will Webb, the Charlotte Sports Foundation, Jeff Compher and East Carolina University, the Carolina Panthers, and Bank of America Stadium for the opportunity to host a home game in downtown Charlotte,” App State AD Doug Gillin said in a statement Tuesday. “The chance for App State to host a home game in an NFL Stadium, in Charlotte where our largest alumni base is and against a program like East Carolina is a great opportunity for our students-athletes, alumni, and fans.”
“Both football programs have a rich history of success and outstanding fan support,” East Carolina AD Jeff Compher added. “I am especially excited for our future football student-athletes who will have an opportunity to play in such an exceptional NFL venue as Bank of America Stadium. We are grateful to Doug [Gillin] and our colleagues at Appalachian for working together in creating this four-game series.”
The two teams have met 31 times previously, but only twice since 1979. East Carolina has won each of the recent meetings -- 29-24 to open the 2009 season and 35-13 to open ’12, both in Greenville -- and holds a 19-12 all-time advantage with wins in the last six and nine of the last 11 matches.