NDL Rivalry Spotlight: The Textile Bowl
Article By: Clemson and NC State may not stand out as a heated rivalry matching the disdain and the animosity of a Michigan/Ohio State or Texas/Oklahoma but despite that, the Textile Bowl ranks as one of the most prominent rivalries in the NDL with multiple National Championships and periods of absolute dominance from both sides.
Today we dig a little deeper and analyze the Textile Bowl in our third look at rivalries across the NDL.
The Numbers
Series Record: 18-13 Clemson
Longest Winning Streak: 8 Clemson
First Meeting: Season 1 (NC State 31, Clemson 14)
Last Meeting: Season 31 (Clemson 34, NC State 7)
Rivalry Game History
To begin looking at this rivalry we travel back to the year 2005, a simpler time for some, and a time where the NC State Wolfpack ran wild in the NDL.
Not only did NC State claim the S3 National Championship by beating Aaron Rodgers and the California Golden Bears, but they dominated this rivalry and the Atlantic Coast Conference as well.
NC State would win seven of the first eight Textile Bowl encounters and did so in dominating fashion. In fact, the Clemson Tigers would only score 23 points in the first four meetings that saw the Tigers put up just a field goal in three straight games between S2-S4.
Clemson would win their first Textile Bowl in S5 with a 40-14 win in Raleigh, North Carolina but would lose three more in a row afterwards. During this time, North Carolina State kept adding to their trophy case by winning three ACC Championships in five total appearances.
Beginning in S9 however, the tide of this series would change forever. Clemson would win eight straight games from S9 to S16. The Tigers would win two ACC Championships during this run in addition to the S13 National Championship.
North Carolina State snapped the losing streak in S17 but would drop four consecutive games afterwards as the Tigers won 12 of 13 meetings between S9 and S21.
Since S21 however, the Textile Bowl is evenly knotted at 5-5 after Phil Mafah ran for 178 yards and two scores in Death Valley in S31 on their way to the S31 ACC Championship.
In their history the Wolfpack hold four ACC Championships while last season’s ACC Championship put the Clemson Tigers at three.
This season, the Wolfpack have a little something extra in their step after seeing the return of beloved NCSUHolmey as head ball coach. On the other side of the field however, await the defending ACC Champions and record setting running back Phil Mafah who are out to improve upon last season’s 13-1 record that saw them bounced from the CFP by the Tennessee Volunteers.
While Clemson may be the favorite to win in S32, be weary. The Tigers hold the overall lead in the series but are just 6-10 lifetime in Carter-Finley Stadium.
Springing a big upset would be the ideal way to announce the Wolfpack are returning to ACC Championship picture and shake things up in the conference and beyond.
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