New ACC football schedule protects rivalries. NC State coach Dave Doeren wants that celebrated

Dave Doeren wants to see a trophy made for the North Carolina football teams, rewarding the program that racks up the most in-state victories each year.

The N.C. State head coach said he’s grateful to continue the historic rivalries, at least for the next seven years with the new ACC schedule. He thinks the schedule provides the possibility of earning true statewide bragging rights.

“I would be in favor of a trophy for whoever wins the most in-state games between the four of them,” Doeren said. “Paint each side of it the school color and let that team keep it. I think it’d be awesome to have some kind of trophy for the four teams moving forward after this season, because we are actually going to have bragging rights for a whole year based on that.”

N.C. State, Duke and North Carolina will continue to play each other annually.

N.C. State and Duke play Wake Forest as a protected game, as well, with North Carolina playing the Demon Deacons four times (2024, 2025, 2027 and 2028).

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Among in-state series, N.C. State’s series with the Tar Heels dates back to 1894, but the Pack’s rivalry with Wake Forest features the most consecutive games. The teams have played each year since 1910.

The programs also plan to include Charlotte, Appalachian State and East Carolina in their non-conference rotations.

“We’ll see how that all plays out, but it’s awesome to look at the geography of it,” Doeren said. “These leagues across the country are becoming less (about) geography; they’re becoming the entire country. We’re going to have two California schools and a Texas school. I love that our pod is local.”

N.C. State faces Wake Forest at 2 p.m. Saturday, though no trophy is on the line. Fans can watch the game on the CW.