: 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.
: 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. Johnson C. Smith v North Carolina - Link 2
: 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) : Despite the final score, JCSU kept the
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
The university is currently experiencing a massive athletic resurgence:
: The JCSU football team recently won the 2025 CIAA Championship , their first title since 1969.