The Zeitgeist List · Rivalries

ECU-NC State

NC State20-14East Carolina
National Program I#41 of 138–Regional Program I#86 of 138–
See both programs’ full 91-year Zeitgeist History, side by side →
3 players crossed straight to the rival since 2021 — the turncoat ledger →

NC State leads the all-time series 20-14. They've met 34 times since 1970. NC State once took 5 straight.

Current season

Vegas win totals and transfer-portal swing right now, plus what fans are actually saying — not history, this year.

NC State
Win total
6.5
Vegas over/under
Transfer portal
+1
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: -9
What fans are saying · rivalry
One fan thinks the intensity of the games exceeds typical conference matchups
I love playing ECU. I fucking HATE them and losing to them is brutal, but that’s what makes college football great. This game actually means something
Verified verbatim
East Carolina
Transfer portal
-5
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: -14

Stature & the series, 1970–2025

Both programs’ standing over time, each line named at its end, with every meeting beneath — read down to see who was bigger and who won. (Stature is each program’s season-by-season standing on the Zeitgeist List, 1936–present — one score blending on-field performance, program achievement, and roster talent.)

program stature over timeNC StateEast Carolinaevery meeting (bar height = margin; dark: NC State won, gray: East Carolina won)19401960198020002020

The identity war

East Carolina has been the more pass-heavy program more often than not.

Across 23 seasons of real play-level data (2004–2026), NC State led 11 and East Carolina led 12.

more passmore runNC StateEast Carolina2004200620082010201220142016201820202022202420262014East Carolina 16.7 pts2007NC State 13.6 ptsNC State won 34-202010East Carolina 9.7 ptsEast Carolina won 33-27
Source team_season_stats (CFBD season totals) · pass rate = passAttempts ÷ (passAttempts + rushingAttempts)

The biggest win was NC State by 55 in 2018. The biggest crowd, 57,633, was in 2019.

The coaching duels

Bo Rein vs Pat Dye2-2
Monte Kiffin vs Ed Emory3-0
Mike O'Cain vs Steve Logan1-2
Dave Doeren vs Mike Houston2-1
Lou Holtz vs Sonny Randle2-0
Lou Holtz vs Pat Dye2-0

The draft ledger

Every NFL Draft pick either program has produced since the modern era began, decade by decade.

Draft picks
117-45
NC State leads
1st-rounders
17-2
Since
1967
First CFBD-carried draft class
NC StateEast Carolina
1960s1-0
1970s10-6
1980s15-11
1990s24-12
2000s27-7
2010s29-6
2020s11-3

Best picks, either side

2006Mario Williams Defensive End · Houston TexansRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
2004Philip Rivers Quarterback · New York GiantsRd 1, pick 4#4 overall
2018Bradley Chubb Defensive End · Denver BroncosRd 1, pick 5#5 overall
2022Ikem Ekwonu Offensive Tackle · Carolina PanthersRd 1, pick 6#6 overall
1968Dennis Byrd Defensive End · Boston PatriotsRd 1, pick 6#6 overall
1999Torry Holt Wide Receiver · St. Louis RamsRd 1, pick 6#6 overall
2001Koren Robinson Wide Receiver · Seattle SeahawksRd 1, pick 9#9 overall
1990Ray Agnew Defensive End · New England PatriotsRd 1, pick 10#10 overall

Recent meetings

2025NC State24-17
2024East CarolinaMilitary Bowl26-21
2022NC State21-20East Carolina — decided by 1
2019NC State34-6
2018NC State58-3
2016East Carolina33-30NC State — decided by 3
2013East Carolina42-28
2010East Carolina33-27
2008NC State30-24
2007NC State34-20
2006East Carolina21-16
2004NC State52-14
1999East Carolina23-6
1997NC State37-24

Every meeting since 2018, play by play

Each line is NC State’s chance to win through that meeting. NC State is 1-1 in the meetings since 2018 that were still close in the fourth quarter.

2025NC State 24-17NC State won 24-17 vs East Carolina. Chance to win started at 87%, low 82%, high better than 99%.
2024East Carolina 26-21NC State lost 21-26 vs East Carolina. Chance to win started at 74%, low 8%, high 79%.
2022NC State 21-20NC State won 21-20 at East Carolina. Chance to win started at 76%, low 30%, high 98%.
2019NC State 34-6NC State won 34-6 vs East Carolina. Chance to win started at 84%, low 78%, high better than 99%.
2018NC State 58-3NC State won 58-3 vs East Carolina. Chance to win started at 95%, low 94%, high better than 99%.