GREENSBORO, N.C. (NCN News) – NC State will take on UNC in a non-conference game in Greensboro. This comes after the two only play each other once in the expanded ACC.
The Heels face the Wolfpack on Dec. 15 in the inaugural Tobacco Road Classic presented by Old Dominion Freight Line.
Tickets go on sale Thursday, Sept. 10 at Ticketmaster.com and the First Horizon Coliseum Ticket Office.
“UNC-NC State is one of the great rivalries in college basketball, and we’re thrilled to bring it to Greensboro,” said Scott Johnson, General Manager of First Horizon Coliseum in a press release. “The Tobacco Road Classic gives fans the opportunity to experience this historic matchup in a neutral-site setting, and we’re grateful to the universities, athletic directors and coaches for making this game possible. We’re proud to welcome these two legendary programs back to Greensboro and add another chapter to this rivalry and the history of First Horizon Coliseum.”
The Dec. 15 game will mark the first time UNC and NC State will play in Greensboro in the regular season since they met in the Big 4 Tournament on Nov. 30, 1979. UNC and NC State will also return to Greensboro in 2027 for a rematch of the Tobacco Road Classic (game date TBD).
“Few rivalries in college sports carry the history, passion, and pride of UNC versus NC State. The Tobacco Road Classic brings that tradition center stage and gives fans an opportunity to experience one of the great rivalries in college basketball in a new and exciting way,” said Chip Overbey, Senior Vice President of Strategic Planning at Old Dominion Freight Line. “We’re incredibly proud to be part of this event that celebrates these two historic schools as their drive for excellence aligns with our winning culture at OD.”
North Carolina is under the direction of first-year head coach Michael Malone, who comes to UNC after 12 years as an NBA head coach, where he won an NBA title with the Denver Nuggets in 2023. Last season, the Tar Heels earned their 55th appearance in the NCAA Tournament and finished 24-9 overall,12-6 in the ACC. Senior forward Jarin Stevenson has the most experience of the returning Tar Heels – the Chapel Hill native started 25 times and averaged 8.1 points and 4.4 rebounds.
The 2026-27 NC State men’s basketball team enters a new era with first-year head coach and former Wolfpack captain Justin Gainey at the helm. Gainey’s inaugural squad will be led by junior guard Paul McNeil Jr., who returns as the Pack’s leading scorer after a breakout sophomore campaign in which he tied a school record with 105 three-pointers, ranked second in the ACC with 3.1 made threes per game and shot 42.7 percent from beyond the arc. McNeil will be joined in the backcourt by Christian Hammond, a First-Team All-WCC selection at Santa Clara last season, and Preston Edmead, the CAA Rookie of the Year and an All-CAA honoree at Hofstra. In the frontcourt, graduate transfer Kyle Evans gives the Wolfpack an elite rim-protecting presence after leading the NCAA with 3.3 blocked shots per game and a nation-best 115 total blocks last season.
“This is exactly the type of college basketball matchup that has helped make Greensboro ‘Tournament Town,’” said Richard Beard, President of the Greensboro Sports Foundation. “The ACC and college basketball have been part of the fabric of this community for generations, and Greensboro has a deep appreciation for the traditions and rivalries that make this sport so special. Having UNC and NC State meet here in the regular season for the first time in more than four decades is a tremendous opportunity for fans and a great addition to Greensboro’s basketball legacy.”