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The third month of the year brings plenty of excitement with March Madness, the annual tournament for men’s and women’s basketball at the collegiate level.
It’s especially true in North Carolina, a state known for its college basketball popularity and talent — Durham’s Duke University is a favorite to win the men’s championship this year.
With that in mind, Rep. Brenden Jones (R-Columbus, Robeson) introduced House Bill 469 — the Restoring Rivalries Act — on Thursday, a bill that would require the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University in Raleigh to face off in football, men’s and women’s basketball, baseball, and softball every year.
“Our collegiate rivalries are part of our state’s DNA, and this bill ensures it stays that way!” Jones shared on social media.
If passed, the measure would go into effect for the 2026-2027 academic year.
The bill notes that regular competition among North Carolina’s major collegiate athletic programs generates substantial revenue and tourism, in addition to reinforcing the “long-standing traditions that define the State’s athletic legacy.”
Each year, rivalry games between local teams like UNC, NC State and Duke are some of the most high-profile in the season.
“College athletics have long played a fundamental role in the culture and economy of North Carolina, fostering school spirit, community engagement, and regional pride,” the bill reads.
The legislation divides the eligible sports into “high-game count sport” and “low-game count sport,” with the former referring to baseball and softball, and the latter meaning football and men’s and women’s basketball.
For low-game count sports, the schools would need to play at least one home game or one away game against the other each academic year.
On the other hand, for baseball and softball, UNC and NC State would play a series of at least three home games or three away games against each other.
The legislation comes at a time of rapid transition in college sports as the advent of NIL (name, image and likeness) dollars have transformed many college athletes into highly paid professionals. Meanwhile, expansion and consolidation have ruptured and /or reshaped many traditional leagues like the Atlantic Coast Conference and left many schools — including UNC and NC State — warily eyeing the threat of being left behind in future conference realignments.