WVU to Reignite Bowl Past in Duke’s Mayo Matchup with North Carolina

In addition to providing an extra game to cap off a season, bowl games often offer fans a chance to see their team square off against an opponent they otherwise would never play. But in the case of WVU, the Mountaineers already have some bowl history with their upcoming opponent.

The 2023 Duke’s Mayo Bowl marks the 40th bowl appearance for West Virginia, with North Carolina now the opponent in three of those 40 contests. The only matchups between WVU and UNC throughout history have been bowl games.

QUEEN CITY BOUND 👑

We're headed to the @DukesMayoBowl on Dec. 27!#HailWV pic.twitter.com/1fNwo2L5N0

— West Virginia Football (@WVUfootball) December 3, 2023

The first meeting between the two schools took place at the conclusion of the 1996 season in the Gator Bowl. Ironically enough, the most recent was also in Charlotte in 2008.

Other Notable Bowl Facts for WVU

(Credit to WVU Athletics press release)

WVU is 2-2 overall in games played in Bank of America Stadium. This marks the third time that WVU played in the Charlotte-based bowl game, winning 31-30 against North Carolina in 2008 (Meineke Car Care Bowl) and dropping a contest with Virginia in the inaugural Charlotte bowl game (Continental Tire Bowl) in 2002. The Mountaineers also split a pair of regular-season games in the stadium, defeating Tennessee, 40-14, in 2018, and dropping a 30-23 decision to East Carolina in 1999.

Almost heaven… pic.twitter.com/TCJokrdsQL

— Duke's Mayo Bowl (@DukesMayoBowl) December 4, 2023

The Duke’s Mayo Bowl between the Mountaineers and Tar Heels will kickoff at 5:30 pm ET on Dec. 27. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN.