North Carolina

Bank of America Stadium hosts first-ever High School Esports Regional Tournament in North Carolina

Published

2 years ago

January 20, 2024

Bank of America Stadium hosts first-ever High School Esports Regional Tournament in North Carolina

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) – When Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools held its season one esports championship in Jan. 2023, 27 schools across the district competed.

When the Varsity Esports League (VESL) kicked off season two, more than 200 schools across the state joined what CMS started.

The students told WBTV that it’s really special to be part of the first group to take the game to a new level.

“It’s really cool, it’s amazing how much it’s expanded in a short time,” Olympic High School senior Leyton Bean said.

The first ever esports regional tournament in the history of North Carolina, featuring over 300 local students competing in different games.

“It feels really nice to be a part of this big community,” said Olympic senior Leyton Bean.

Greensboro and Wilmington also hosted regional tournaments today, further showcasing how much this sport has grown across the state.

The winners from this weekend will advance to the first-ever esports state championship.

“It’s amazing. I’m so glad that people are taking an interest in esports now,” said Olympic junior Daniel Downing. “Crazy to see how this game expanded.”

But more than just playing games, these kids are also learning Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, or STEM skills that they can use well beyond school.

“They’re learning the 101 basics of artificial intelligence and machine learning,” Charlotte City Councilman Tariq Bokhari said. “Things they can put on their resume and say ‘I actually do have experience in that.’”

And if you ask those involved, esports also teach the same lessons as conventional sports.

“Definitely cooperation,” Downing said. “I’m definitely spending more time with more people, I’m meeting new people. I’m always learning new things along the way.”

It might not look like your typical varsity sport, but if the last year has shown anything, it’s that esports are growing fast, and not leaving North Carolina anytime soon.

“Pretty soon nation-wide, people are going to be benefitting from this,” Bokhari said. “But it will be because it originated in Charlotte, in our hometown, with our hometown schools.”

The regional tournaments will wrap up on Sunday, with the winners advancing to the esports state championships on Saturday, February 17, at UNC Greensboro.

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North Carolina

UNC’s Austin Blaske Mindset for Upcoming NC State Matchup

Published

18 hours ago

November 28, 2025

Press Room

UNC’s Austin Blaske Mindset for Upcoming NC State Matchup

The North Carolina Tar Heels’ season will officially conclude after this weekend, regardless of the result on Saturday against North Carolina State.

However, the Impact of this game against North Carolina State means much more since it is an in-state rivalry matchup.

While speaking with the media during his press conference availability center Austin Blaske previewed the matchup while revealing what he has learned from his head coach during the season.

Nov 22, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Gio Lopez (7) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the first half against Duke Blue Devils at Kenan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Howard-Imagn Images / William Howard-Imagn Images

Nov 22, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Gio Lopez (7) is hit after a pass by Duke Blue Devils defensive back Caleb Weaver (3) during the first half at Kenan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Howard-Imagn Images / William Howard-Imagn Images

The Tar Heels’ season has been a roller coaster, which is one of the main reasons the team failed to qualify for a bowl game. Blaske understands that it has not been the season that many fans hoped for, but it served as a learning experience for the program.

Nov 22, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick watches play during the first half against the Duke Blue Devils at Kenan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Howard-Imagn Images / William Howard-Imagn Images

Although Blaske’s final season does not conclude with a bowl game appearance, the six-year senior did have an opportunity to learn from Bill Belichick. The veteran center spoke on that experience and how it helped him develop as a player.

The Tar Heels’ 2025 season is inching closer to the end, but 2026 could spell much more success with another recruiting class arriving, paired with the experience gained from the current regime.

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North Carolina

North Carolina vs. NC State football betting line, odds, spread | Week 14 2025

Published

2 days ago

November 27, 2025

Press Room

North Carolina vs. NC State football betting line, odds, spread | Week 14 2025

A pair of ACC teams meet when the NC State Wolfpack (6-5) face off against the North Carolina Tar Heels (4-7) on Saturday, November 29, 2025 at Wayne Day Family Field at Carter-Finley Stadium. The Wolfpack are favored by 7 points. The over/under for the contest is 47.5 points.

Against the Duke Blue Devils in their most recent contest, the Tar Heels lost 32-25.

The Heels’ Gio Lopez went 21-for-27 for 204 yards against Duke, with one TD and no INTs.

Last time around, the Wolfpack defeated the Florida State Seminoles, with 21-11 being the final score.

In the article below, we’ll give you all the details you need to watch this matchup on ACC Network.

Check out: US LBM Coaches Poll powered by USA Today sports

North Carolina vs NC State line, odds, spread, over/under

College football odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Odds updated Thursday at 10:15 p.m. ET. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub.

Spread favorite: NC State (-7)
Moneyline: NC State (-275), North Carolina (+220)
Total: 47.5 points

North Carolina vs NC State game info

Game day: Saturday, November 29, 2025
Game time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
Stadium: Wayne Day Family Field at Carter-Finley Stadium
Live stream: Watch on Fubo! (Regional restrictions may apply)

Watch NC State vs. North Carolina on Fubo! (Regional restrictions may apply)

North Carolina betting info

North Carolina has won two games against the spread in conference action this season.
The Tar Heels have covered the spread five times over 11 games with a set spread.
North Carolina has been an underdog by 7 points or more three times this season in ACC action, and covered the spread in one of those games.
In games they have played as 7-point underdogs or more, the Tar Heels have an ATS record of 2-2-1.
North Carolina and its opponents have combined to hit the over three out of five times this year in ACC play.
This year, four Tar Heels games have gone over the point total.

2025 North Carolina leaders

Lopez: 1,629 PASS YDS / 162.9 YPG / 64.9% / 9 TD / 5 INT / 78 CAR / 141 RUSH YDS / 3 TD
Demon June: 82 CAR / 461 YDS / 46.1 YPG / 2 TD / 17 REC / 159 YDS / 19.9 YPG / 1 TD
Davion Gause: 60 CAR / 253 YDS / 28.1 YPG / 3 TD / 14 REC / 123 YDS / 15.4 YPG / 2 TD
Jordan Shipp: 52 REC / 581 YDS / 52.8 YPG / 5 TD
Kobe Paysour: 30 REC / 388 YDS / 38.8 YPG / 1 TD

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Judges approve North Carolina’s use of GOP-friendly district map – UPI.com

Published

2 days ago

November 27, 2025

Press Room

Judges approve North Carolina’s use of GOP-friendly district map – UPI.com

Nov. 26 (UPI) — A three-judge panel on Wednesday permitted North Carolina to adopt a redrawn congressional map that is expected to favor the Republican Party.

The U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina unanimously ruled against the plaintiffs’ request for an injunction against legislation approved in October by the state’s General Assembly that critics say threaten one federal congressional district, specifically Congressional District 1, which represented by Democrat Don Davis.

In their 57-page ruling on Wednesday, the three Republican-appointed judges said the plaintiffs failed to prove that the state’s General Assembly enacted the legislation, Senate Bill 249, with the intent to “minimize or cancel out the voting potential” of Black North Carolinians as they had claimed.

The ruling comes in protracted litigation that began in 2023, when the Republican-led state sought to redraw some of the districts for electing representatives to the state Senate and federal Congress.

The plaintiffs, who include the North Carolina State Conference of the NAACP, sued that December. In October, amid litigation on the maps, the state’s General Assembly passed legislation to swap counties between Congressional District 1 and Congressional District 3.

The plaintiffs again sued the state, alleging the legislation was unconstitutional and asking the court to enjoin S.B. 249.

Earlier this month, the same three-judge panel issued a ruling approving the changes to the map put forward in 2023.

A hearing on S.B. 249 was held Nov. 19, during which the plaintiffs argued that the speed with which the General Assembly passed the 2025 plan was evidence of discriminatory intent.

But the panel of judges disagreed, stating “they have offered no reason to believe that the speed of the 2025 process indicates an intent to discriminate on the basis of race. Nor do they explain what weight we are supposed to assign to what they call ‘the near uniform outcry among North Carolina voters against the map and the process.’”

The ruling comes amid something of a gerrymandering race in the United States that began in earnest when Texas this summer — under pressure of President Donald Trump — sought a mid-decade redraw of its maps to make them more favorable to the Republican Party.

California is in the process of redrawing its maps in retaliation and other states under control of both parties have followed with similar plans.

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