Johnson C. Smith V North Carolina - Link 2 <2026 Update>

: Formerly fierce CIAA rivals before NCCU's move to Division I, these two "state-line" programs have a deep history in both basketball and football. NCCU led their most recent basketball matchup (July 2022) with a 69-56 win.

The matchup between and the University of North Carolina (UNC) primarily takes place in men's basketball, often as an exhibition game that highlights the regional connection between these two historic North Carolina institutions. Recent Matchup: October 27, 2024

: JCSU's primary historical rival is Livingstone College . This rivalry is famous for the first-ever Black college football game played on December 27, 1892. JCSU's Recent Success (2025) Johnson C. Smith v North Carolina - Link 2

: These games serve as a platform for JCSU, a Division II HBCU, to compete on a national stage against elite Power 5 talent while celebrating North Carolina's deep basketball culture. Historical Context & Other Rivalries

While "North Carolina" often refers to the UNC Tar Heels, JCSU maintains fierce, long-standing rivalries with other state-based institutions: : Formerly fierce CIAA rivals before NCCU's move

: Despite the final score, JCSU kept the game highly competitive early on, trailing by just a single bucket ( 25-23 ) at the 8:53 mark in the first half before the Tar Heels went on a decisive 34-11 run.

In their most recent high-profile meeting, the 9th-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels defeated the JCSU Golden Bulls in an exhibition game at the Smith Center in Chapel Hill. Recent Matchup: October 27, 2024 : JCSU's primary

: UNC saw seven players score in double digits , shooting 61% from the field in the first half alone.