Tobacco Road (rivalry) explained

Tobacco Road is a term used in college sports, mainly basketball, for the four rival universities of North Carolina that play in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).[1] The term refers to the area's history as a major tobacco producer. The Tobacco Road teams represent the following universities:

North Carolina, Duke, and NC State lie in the Research Triangle and are separated by no more than 25 miles (40 km). Before moving to Winston-Salem in 1956, Wake Forest University was located in the town of Wake Forest within the Triangle region, to the northeast of Raleigh. The schools are historical and present powerhouses among college sports, especially basketball. The universities' proximity and membership in the ACC, coupled with their reputation for academic prestige and as hubs for research and innovation, has created a natural rivalry among students, fans, and alumni.

Basketball

Men's basketball

These four universities are also known in the state as the "Big Four" and competed in the Dixie Classic men's basketball tournament from 1949 to 1961, in which the four schools won all 13 tournaments played. They also played in the Big Four Tournament in Greensboro, North Carolina, from 1971 to 1981. The Wake–Duke rivalry is the oldest basketball rivalry among the four schools in that it dates back to the 1905–06 season and was the first intercollegiate basketball game in North Carolina. The Wake-Duke rivalry is just ahead of the more well known UNC-Duke rivalry in terms of games played by two games. The rivalries between the four schools also account for six of the most frequently played men's basketball rivalries in the ACC. The four schools have a combined 13 men's national basketball championships (UNC has 7 (6 NCAA), Duke has 5, NC State has 2). The four schools also won 2 NIT titles (UNC won 1, and Wake won 1). In the men's tournament they have combined to have 11 runners-up (Duke has 6 and UNC has 5) and 39 Final Fours (UNC has 20, Duke has 16, NC State has 4, and Wake has 1). At least one Tobacco Road team has made the NCAA Tournament every year since 1974. Since the NCAA Tournament started in 1939, all four teams have missed the same tournament eleven times. The years in which none of the teams were in the tournament was 1940, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1958, 1971, and 1973. All four teams have made the same tournament 4 times (1991, 2003, 2004, 2005). Prior to the 2014 NCAA Tournament, at least one of the teams had made the Sweet 16 since 1979.

Aside from the ACC Tournament, the four schools have only played each other in the postseason four times, only twice in the NCAA tournament. The first two times came in the NIT Tournament: Wake beat NC State in a semifinal game of the 2000 NIT Tournament and went on to win the tournament, and UNC beat Duke in a semifinal game of the 1971 NIT Tournament, also winning the tournament. The third time was UNC’s victory over Duke in the Final Four of the 2022 NCAA Tournament in New Orleans. The fourth time was NC State’s win over Duke on Easter Sunday in the Elite Eight of the 2024 NCAA Tournament in Dallas.

Team 1! style="width: 10%;"
ScoreTeam 2
Date
Tournament		Round
Venue
North Carolina Tar Heels73–67Duke Blue Devils
March 25, 1971
1971 National Invitation Tournament		Semifinals
Madison Square Garden, New York City
Wake Forest Demon Deacons62–59North Carolina State Wolfpack
March 28, 2000
2000 National Invitation Tournament		Semifinals
Madison Square Garden, New York City
Duke Blue Devils (West #2)77–81North Carolina Tar Heels (East #8)
April 2nd, 2022
2022 NCAA Tournament		Final Four (National Semifinal)
Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
Duke Blue Devils (South #4)64–76North Carolina State Wolfpack (South #11)
March 31st, 2024
2024 NCAA Tournament		Elite Eight (South Regional Final)
American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas

Furthermore, in 1991 in Indianapolis, Duke and UNC came within one game of playing each other for the national championship. North Carolina lost 79–73 to Kansas, coached by former Tar Heel assistant and future head coach Roy Williams, while Duke upset previously undefeated UNLV 79–77 in a rematch of the previous year's championship game, which UNLV had won by 30 in Denver.

The four schools have combined to win 71 men's conference tournaments with 21 SoCon tournaments and 50 ACC tournaments (UNC won 26, Duke won 24, NC State won 17, and Wake Forest won 5). While in the Southern Conference they won or shared 17 SoCon regular season titles between the 1922–23 and 1952–53 seasons. They have also dominated ACC regular season play, having won or shared 52 regular season titles between them, including all but seven since the 1980–81 season.

Records (1949–2020)[2] [3] [4] [5]
Teamv. UNCv. NCSUv. Dukev. WFUOverall RecordWinning %
North Carolina N/A 115–58 100–86 109–50 324–194
NC State 58–115 N/A 71–96 103–73 232–284
Duke 86–100 96–71 N/A 122–57 304–228
Wake Forest 50–109 73–103 57–122 N/A 180–334

Women's basketball

While the women's basketball teams have not been as successful, one team from the region has won the NCAA championship with North Carolina, who did so in 1994. They have reached the Final Four on three occasions, reaching in 1994, 2006, and 2007. They have won the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament nine times while winning the regular season title four times. Duke has made the NCAA Tournament Championship twice, losing in 1999 and 2006. They made the Final Four on four occasions (1999, 2002, 2003, 2006). They have won eight ACC tournament championships and twelve regular season titles. NC State has advanced to the Final Four twice, doing so in 1998 and 2024. They have won the ACC Tournament seven times and the regular season six times. Wake Forest has had the least amount of success, as they have only reached the NCAA Tournament on two occasions (1988, 2021). At least one of the four schools has made all but 10 of the 46 combined CIAW, AIAW, and NCAA tournaments since 1969, and all since 1980.

Football

Though the Tobacco Road rivalry predominantly relates to basketball, football between these programs is also competitive. As of the 2014 season, the four schools have combined to appear in 82 bowl games (Duke has 14, UNC has 33, NC State has 32, Wake has 13) and a 46–45–1 record in those games (Duke won 6, UNC won 14, NC State won 17, Wake won 9). They have also shared or won outright a combined 32 conference championships (20 ACC and 12 SoCon). As of the 2015 game, NC State is the only school out of the four to not appear in the ACC Championship Game since the ACC went to a divisional format in 2005. The format divided the four schools in which Wake Forest and NC State were put in the Atlantic Division, while Duke and UNC were put in the Coastal Division. Wake Forest and Duke are "permanent cross-division" rivals, meaning that they play every year regardless of division. The same can be said about UNC and NC State. The Wake–UNC game, as well as the Duke–NC State game, is played two of every twelve years, excluding additional matchups played as non-conference games. In football, the four schools have produced 5 players and no coaches in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. They have also produced 15 players and 6 coaches in the College Football Hall of Fame. The oldest of the football rivalries between the four schools belongs to the UNC-Wake rivalry, which dates back to October 10, 1888 and was the first intercollegiate football game in North Carolina.

North Carolina victoriesNC State victoriesDuke victoriesWake Forest victories
Year Winner Summary NCSU vs. Duke Duke vs. WF
1924style= Wake Foreststyle= WF 3–0, UNC 2–1, NCSU 1–2, Duke 0–3style= UNC 10–0style= UNC 6–0style= WF 7–6style= NCSU 14–0style= WF 12–0style= WF 32–0
1925Split UNC, NCSU, WFUNC 2–1, NCSU 2–1, WF 2–1, Duke 0–3style= UNC 17–0style= UNC 41–0style= WF 6–0style= NCSU 13–0style= NCSU 6–0style= WF 21–3
1926Split UNC, NCSU, WFUNC 2–1, NCSU 2–1, WF 2–1, Duke 0–3style= UNC 12–0style= UNC 6–0style= WF 13–0style= NCSU 26–19style= NCSU 7–3style= WF 21–0
1927style= NC Statestyle= NCSU 3–0, UNC 1–2, Duke 1–2, WF 1–2style= NCSU 19–6style= UNC 18–0style= WF 9–8style= NCSU 20–18style= NCSU 30–7style= Duke 32–6
1928style= North Carolinastyle= UNC 2–0–1, Duke 2–1, NCSU 1–1–1, WF 0–3Tie 6–6style= UNC 14–7style= UNC 65–0style= Duke 19–12style= NCSU 37–0style= Duke 38–0
1929style= North Carolinastyle= UNC 3–0, Duke 2–1, NCSU 1–2, WF 0–3style= UNC 32–0style= UNC 48–7style= UNC 48–0style= Duke 14–12style= NCSU 8–6style= Duke 20–0
1930style= North Carolinastyle= UNC 2–0–1, Duke 1–0–2, WF 1–2, NCSU 0–3style= UNC 13–6Tie 0–0style= UNC 13–7style= Duke 18–0style= WF 7–0Tie 13–13
1931style= North Carolinastyle= UNC 2–0–1, Duke 1–1–1, WF 1–2, NCSU 1–2style= UNC 18–15Tie 0–0style= UNC 37–0style= NCSU 14–0style= WF 6–0style= Duke 28–0
1932style= Dukestyle= Duke 2–1, UNC 1–1–1, NCSU 1–1–1, WF 0–1–2style= UNC 13–0style= Duke 7–0Tie 0–0style= NCSU 6–0Tie 0–0style= Duke 9–0
1933style= Dukestyle= Duke 3–0, UNC 2–1, NCSU 0–2–1, WF 0–2–1style= UNC 6–0style= Duke 21–0style= UNC 26–0style= Duke 7–0Tie 0–0style= Duke 22–0
1934style= North Carolinastyle= UNC 2–0–1, Duke 2–1, WF 1–2, NCSU 0–2–1Tie 7–7style= UNC 7–0style= UNC 21–0style= Duke 32–0style= WF 13–12style= Duke 28–7
1935style= Dukestyle= Duke 3–0, UNC 2–1, NCSU 1–2, WF 0–3style= UNC 35–6style= Duke 25–0style= UNC 14–0style= Duke 7–0style= NCSU 21–6style= Duke 26–7
1936style= Dukestyle= Duke 3–0, UNC 2–1, WF 1–2, NCSU 0–3style= UNC 21–6style= Duke 27–7style= UNC 14–7style= Duke 13–0style= WF 9–0style= Duke 20–0
1937style= North Carolinastyle= UNC 3–0, Duke 2–1, NCSU 1–2, WF 0–3style= UNC 20–0style= UNC 14–6style= UNC 28–0style= Duke 20–7style= NCSU 20–0style= Duke 67–0
1938style= Dukestyle= Duke 3–0, UNC 2–1, NCSU 1–2, WF 0–3style= UNC 21–0style= Duke 14–0style= UNC 14–6style= Duke 7–0style= NCSU 19–7style= Duke 7–0
1939style= Dukestyle= Duke 3–0, UNC 2–1, WF 1–2, NCSU 0–3style= UNC 17–0style= Duke 13–3style= UNC 36–6style= Duke 28–0style= WF 32–0style= Duke 6–0
1940Split UNC, Duke, WFUNC 2–1, Duke 2–1, WF 2–1, NCSU 0–3style= UNC 13–7style= UNC 6–3style= WF 12–0style= Duke 42–6style= WF 20–14style= Duke 23–0
1941style= Dukestyle= Duke 3–0, WF 2–1, NCSU 1–2, UNC 0–3style= NCSU 13–7style= Duke 20–0style= WF 13–0style= Duke 55–6style= WF 7–0style= Duke 43–14
1942Split UNC, NCSU, Duke, WFUNC 1–1–1, NCSU 1–1–1, Duke 1–1–1, WF 1–1–1style= NCSU 21–14Tie 13–13style= UNC 6–0style= Duke 47–0Tie 0–0style= WF 20–7
1943style= Duke*style= Duke 2–0, WF 1–0, UNC 1–1, NCSU 0–2style= UNC 27–13style= Duke 14–7No Conteststyle= Duke 75–0style= WF 54–6No Contest
1944style= Duke†*Duke 2–0, WF 2–0, NCSU 0–1, UNC 0–2No Conteststyle= Duke 14–7style= WF 33–0No Conteststyle= WF 21–7style= Duke 43–0
1945style= Duke*style= Duke 3–0, WF 2–1, UNC 0–2, NCSU 0–2No Conteststyle= Duke 14–7style= WF 14–13style= Duke 26–13style= WF 19–18style= Duke 26–19
1946Split UNC, NCSU*UNC 2–0, NCSU 2–0, Duke 1–2, WF 0–3No Conteststyle= UNC 22–7style= UNC 26–14style= NCSU 13–6style= NCSU 14–6style= Duke 13–0
1947style= North Carolina†UNC 2–1, Duke 2–1, NCSU 1–2, WF 1–2style= UNC 41–6style= UNC 21–0style= WF 19–7style= Duke 7–0style= NCSU 20–0style= Duke 13–6
1948style= North Carolinastyle= UNC 3–0, WF 2–1, NCSU 0–2–1, Duke 0–2–1style= UNC 14–0style= UNC 20–0style= UNC 28–6Tie 0–0style= WF 34–13style= WF 27–20
1949style= North Carolinastyle= UNC 3–0, NCSU 1–2, Duke 1–2, WF 1–2style= UNC 26–6style= UNC 21–20style= UNC 28–14style= Duke 14–13style= NCSU 27–14style= WF 27–7
1950style= Wake Foreststyle= WF 2–0–1, Duke 2–1, UNC 1–2, NCSU 0–2–1style= UNC 13–7style= Duke 7–0style= WF 13–7style= Duke 7–0Tie 6–6style= WF 13–7
1951style= Wake Foreststyle= WF 3–0, Duke 2–1, UNC 1–2, NCSU 0–3style= UNC 21–0style= Duke 19–7style= WF 39–7style= Duke 27–21style= WF 21–6style= WF 19–13
1952style= Duke*style= Duke 3–0, WF 2–1, UNC 0–2, NCSU 0–2No Conteststyle= Duke 34–0style= WF 9–7style= Duke 57–0style= WF 21–16style= Duke 14–7
1953style= Dukestyle= Duke 3–0, UNC 2–1, WF 1–2, NCSU 0–3style= UNC 29–7style= Duke 35–20style= UNC 18–13style= Duke 31–0style= WF 20–7style= Duke 19–0
1954style= Dukestyle= Duke 3–0, UNC 2–1, WF 1–2, NCSU 0–3style= UNC 20–6style= Duke 47–12style= UNC 14–7style= Duke 21–7style= WF 26–0style= Duke 28–21
1955style= Dukestyle= Duke 3–0, WF 1–1–1, UNC 1–2, NCSU 0–2–1style= UNC 25–18style= Duke 6–0style= WF 25–0style= Duke 33–7Tie 13–13style= Duke 14–0
1956style= Dukestyle= Duke 3–0, WF 1–1–1, NCSU 1–2, UNC 0–2–1,style= NCSU 26–6style= Duke 21–6Tie 6–6style= Duke 42–0style= WF 13–0style= Duke 26–0
1957style= NC Statestyle= NCSU 2–0–1, UNC 2–1, Duke 1–1–1, WF 0–3style= NCSU 7–0style= UNC 21–13style= UNC 14–7Tie 14–14style= NCSU 19–0style= Duke 34–7
1958style= Dukestyle= Duke 3–0, UNC 1–2, Duke 1–2, WF 1–2style= NCSU 21–14style= Duke 7–6style= UNC 26–7style= Duke 20–13style= WF 13–7style= Duke 29–0
1959style= North Carolinastyle= UNC 3–0, Duke 2–1, WF 1–2, NCSU 0–3style= UNC 20–12style= UNC 50–0style= UNC 21–19style= Duke 17–15style= WF 17–14style= Duke 27–15
1960style= Duke†style=

† indicates tiebreakers are determined by who won head-to-head matchup. With no trophy, it is possible to split the title 3 or 4 ways


* Indicates years where not all contests were held

  • The 2020 UNC-Wake Forest Game did not count as an ACC Conference Win
Records
TeamChampionshipsChampionship YearsShared ChampsShared Champs Years
North Carolina 31 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1934, 1937, 1947†, 1948, 1949, 1959, 1963, 1964†, 1971, 1972, 1976†, 1977, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2004*, 2011†*, 2015*, 2020, 2021†*9 1925, 1926, 1940, 1942, 1946*, 1979, 1982, 2001, 2005*
Duke 26 1932, 1933, 1935, 1936, 1938, 1939, 1943*, 1944†*, 1945*, 1952*, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1958, 1960†, 1961, 1962, 1969, 1985†, 1989, 2012*, 2013*, 2017*, 2023†* 3 1940, 1942, 1982
NC State 20 1927, 1957, 1965†, 1966*, 1967, 1968, 1973, 1978, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 2000, 2002, 2008*, 2010*, 2014*, 2016*, 2022*7 1925, 1926, 1942, 1946*, 1979, 1982, 2001
Wake Forest 14 1924, 1950, 1951, 1970, 1975, 1984, 1987, 1999†, 2003†, 2006*, 2007*, 2009*, 2018*, 2019*7 1925, 1926, 1940, 1942, 1979, 2001, 2005*

Baseball

In baseball, the four schools won a combined 15 ACC Baseball Tournaments (UNC won 6, NC State and Wake won 4, Duke won 1). In the College World Series, Wake Forest held the only national championship of any ACC school while a member of the ACC in 1955 until Virginia won it in 2015. Other schools have national championships, but all came before joining the ACC, or since leaving the ACC in the case of South Carolina. Wake was the runner-up in 1949, while UNC was the runner-up in 2006 and 2007.

Soccer

In men's soccer, the four schools have won a combined four national titles (UNC has 2, Wake has 1, Duke has 1), three NCAA runners-up (Duke with 2, UNC with 1), 11 ACC Tournament titles, and won or shared 7 ACC regular season titles. Women's soccer has produced much more success among the four schools. On the national level, they have combined for 21 national championships (UNC won all 21), six NCAA runners-up (UNC with 3, Duke with 2, NC State with 1). Tobacco Road teams have won 22 ACC tournaments since its inception in 1987. The years not won by a Tobacco Road team are 1987, 2004, 2011, 2012, and 2013. They have also won or shared 20 ACC regular season titles since 1987. UNC's 21 national titles in women's soccer are the most among Division 1 schools.

Lacrosse

Only Duke and North Carolina currently compete in men's and women's lacrosse, though NC State had a program in the 1970s and 1980s. The current two Tobacco Road competitors have had a significant presence on the national stage, as the Blue Devils have won three national titles (2010, 2013, 2014), while the Tar Heels lay claim to five (1981, 1982, 1986, 1991, 2016).[6] Duke and North Carolina have met 75 times, with UNC leading the rivalry 42–33 through 2020. However, Duke leads the ACC and NCAA postseason series by records of 9–4 and 4–0 respectively. For further information, see Duke–North Carolina lacrosse rivalry.

Overall team national championships

As of 2020, the four schools have combined to win 73 NCAA team national championships in both men's and women's sports.

See also

References

]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Alwyn Featherston. Tobacco Road: Duke, Carolina, N.C. State, Wake Forest, and the History of the Most Intense Backyard Rivalries in Sports. 2006. Lyons Press. 978-1-59228-915-8. vii. "...in a renewal of four-way rivalry that has made Tobacco Road famous far beyond the bounds of North Carolina or the ACC.".
  2. Web site: UNC Tar Heels Head-to-Head Results.
  3. Web site: NC State Wolfpack Head-to-Head Results.
  4. Web site: Duke Blue Devils Head-to-Head Results.
  5. Web site: Wake Forest Demon Deacons Head-to-Head Results.
  6. Web site: DI Men's Lacrosse Championship History NCAA.com. www.ncaa.com. en. 2020-04-29.

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