North Carolina is a hotbed of college basketball. When most people think of college hoops in the Tar Heel State, Duke and UNC are often top of mind; State, Wake and Davidson may be others people think of, but one of the most underrated rivalries in the Old North State – not just in college basketball but in football and other sports as well – is the Aggie-Eagle rivalry. Contested between NC A&T and NC Central, the rivalry features two of the largest and most storied HBCUs in the nation.

North Carolina Central University, based in the Bull City of Durham, is just 55 miles down Interstate 40 from North Carolina A&T, which plays in Greensboro. The history, traditions and passionate fanbases of both universities help to make this rivalry one to see in person, primarily in football and basketball. Competing as conference foes at the Division II level in the MEAC from 1971-78, the schools would be separated when that conference was elevated to Divsion I in the late ’70s. They’d meet up again when NCCU joined the DI ranks in 2010, competing together in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference until 2021. However, due to more realignment, these former rivals no longer share a conference. In 2022, the Aggies moved to the Big South before finding their home in the Coastal Athletic Conference. Despite the two not being conference rivals anymore, they still commit to play each other every season in both football and men’s basketball.

On the gridiron, the schools typically alternate between the Eagles’ home at O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium and the Aggies’ Truist Stadium. Some notable exceptions to the Aggie-Eagle Classic being played in either Durham or Greensboro include neutral site contests from 1994-2005 at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh – home of the NC State Wolfpack – and several meetings at Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium – home of the Carolina Panthers. The teams have faced off nearly every year on the football field, with the Aggies holding a 53-38-5 record. The Eagles, however, have won three straight, defeating A&T by a score of 66-24 in the 2024 game – the first in Durham since 2018. Both schools are also home to two of the best marching bands in the country. NCCU’s Sound Machine and NC A&T’s Blue and Gold Marching Machine add to their respective schools’ rich culture and traditions.

Shifting over to the hardwood, the Aggies’ Corbett Sports Center and the Eagles’ McDouglad-McLendon Arena are fantastic venues, showcasing both of these basketball programs and their electric fanbases during rivalry games. Unlike in football, the Eagles lead this series 14-11 as of 2024.

While they may no longer compete in the same conference, the rich history, tradition, culture and passionate fanbases of both HBCUs help to make the Aggie-Eagle Classic one of the most underrated rivalries not just in North Carolina but across the country. Whether it’s in football, basketball or any other sport, it’s well worth a trip to Durham, Greensboro or wherever else this electric rivalry takes place.

Photos by Jared Goodman