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College Football’s Five Must Watch Neutral Site Games in 2023

By Luke Fletcher

Sep 4, 2022; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Florida State Seminoles quarterback Jordan Travis (13) avoids a tackle during the second half against the Louisiana State Tigers at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Melina Myers-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 4, 2022; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Florida State Seminoles quarterback Jordan Travis (13) avoids a tackle during the second half against the Louisiana State Tigers at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Melina Myers-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 28, 2022; San Diego, CA, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Drake Maye (10) carries the ball against the Oregon Ducks during the first half of the 2022 Holiday Bowl at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 28, 2022; San Diego, CA, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Drake Maye (10) carries the ball against the Oregon Ducks during the first half of the 2022 Holiday Bowl at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

2. North Carolina vs South Carolina – Duke’s Mayo Classic,  Charlotte, North Carolina

This will mark the 80th time that the two programs have met on the gridiron and the Tar Heels lead the series 35–20–4. The rivalry started in 1903 while UNC and USC both spent 49 years in the same athletic conference, first in the Southern and later in the ACC, until the Gamecocks left to go independent in the early seventies.

This is about as close to a true neutral-site college football game as you’ll get in Charlotte as it is almost exactly dead in the middle of both campuses. The Tarheels finished the 2022 season 9-5 and were 9-1 through mid-November, but the Tar Heels finished the campaign with a four-game losing streak that saw them finish with a 1-point loss to Oregon in the Holiday Bowl.

The Gamecocks finished the season 8-5,  with two consecutive wins over ranked opponents,  Tennessee and in-state rival Clemson and then they lost to Notre Dame in the Gator Bowl by a touchdown.

This game could feature early-season offensive fireworks as North Carolina will be led by star quarterback Drake Maye and South Carolina will be led by star quarterback Spencer Rattler. The difference in the game could be the team that has the defense that steps up first.

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