August 20th, 2025 8:00am
Conference Carolinas is set to make history this fall as it officially brings football back to the league for the first time in decades. With a slate of competitive programs ready to take the field, the 2025 season promises to showcase both new and renewed rivalries, high-level talent, and a fresh era of excitement for student-athletes and fans alike. From established contenders to rising programs, the return of football marks a milestone moment in the conference’s storied history.
Preseason Poll
Rank School Total (First Place)
T1 UNC Pembroke 32 (4)
T1 North Greenville 32 (3)
3 Shorter 26
4 Barton 22
5 Chowan 18
6 Erskine 11
7 Ferrum 6
Players to Watch
Barton
Joshua Hightower, So., DL, Smithfield, North Carolina
Keno Jones, Jr., LB, Rocky Mount, North Carolina
Jackson Parrish, So., RB, Graham, North Carolina (2024 All-SAC)
Chowan
Malique Frazier, Sr., WR, Macon, Georgia
Cameron Richardson, Jr., LB, Wake Forest, North Carolina
Maurice Smith Jr., Sr., QB, Fort Pierce, Florida
Erskine
Josiah Burson, So., WR, Sumter, South Carolina
Rodshaun Dorsey, r-So., WR, Andrews, South Carolina
Garrick Schwartz, r-Sr., DL, Daytona Beach, Florida
Ferrum
Ian Ashworth, Sr., DB, Galax, Virginia (2024 All-ODAC)
William Hutton, So., P, Glade Spring, Virginia (2024 All-ODAC, 2024 D3football.com All-Region)
Jaylen Lee, Jr., RB, Rocky Mount, Virginia (2024 All-ODAC)
North Greenville
Jerrick Foster, Sr., DB/RS, Fort Mill, South Carolina (2024 All-GSC, 2023 All-GSC)
Dylan Ramirez, Sr., QB, Cowpens, South Carolina (2024 All-GSC)
Dakota Willard, r-Jr., DL, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (2024 All-GSC)
Shorter
Kobe Butts, Sr., LB, Macon, Georgia
Jahseim Henry, Sr., DE, Brooklyn, New York
Jacory Wright, So., OL, Americus, Georgia
UNC Pembroke
Jahari Clemmons, Jr., DL, Gainesville, Florida
Hunter Turner, R-Jr., OL, Gaffney, South Carolina (All-MEC)
Evan VanMeter, Sr., LB, Lexington, North Carolina (All-MEC)
Must-see Matchups (all times Eastern)
UNC Pembroke at Wingate | Saturday, Aug. 30 | 6:00 pm | Wingate, N.C.
The matchup kicks off the 2025 campaign for both programs under the Friday-night lights—or rather, Saturday evening lights at 6 p.m. inside Irwin Belk Stadium in Wingate, N.C. This matchup sets the tone for the season right out of the gate. Coming off a strong 9–2 finish in 2024, including a SAC title and an NCAA Division II playoff appearance, Wingate enters the season picked second in the 2025 SAC preseason coaches’ poll, while Pembroke finished last year 6-5 overall with a 6-3 mark in the Mountain East
UNC Pembroke and Wingate share a regional rivalry fueled by proximity—just over 80 miles apart and connected by US-74. Wingate holds a decisive 9-3 advantage in the overall series dating back to 2007, including a narrow 17-12 victory last season on the road.
North Greenville at Delta State | Saturday, Sept. 6 | 7:00 pm | Cleveland, MS
The first game of the newly minted Gulf South Conference/Conference Carolinas scheduling partnership is a clash of two familiar foes. Last October, North Greenville stunned then-No. 24 Delta State in a four-overtime thriller, emerging victorious 47–45 on its home turf in Tigerville, S.C.
It’s an early test for the Trailblazers and first-year head coach Nate Garner as Delta State holds a 5–2 edge in the all-time series, but the Statesmen have dropped two of the last three meetings.
Barton at North Greenville | Saturday, Sept. 13 | 7:00 pm | Tigerville, S.C.
Saturday, September 13, marks a milestone: the first-ever official Conference Carolinas football game since the league last sponsored the sport during the 1974–75 academic year. After more than 50 years without football, this matchup officially signals the beginning of a new era.
UNC Pembroke at Valdosta State | Saturday, Sept. 27 | 4:00 pm | Valdosta, Ga.
Back in 2016, during the first round of the NCAA Division II playoffs, UNC Pembroke pulled off one of the most memorable wins in program history—a 24–21 upset at Valdosta State. The 2025 matchup pits the Braves against last year’s National Runner-Up in VSU on the road. This early-season test will allow both programs to see where they stack up, especially the Blazers who have gone through a roster overhaul during the offseason and will be working under a new coaching staff.
UNC Pembroke at North Greenville | Saturday, Oct. 18 | 2:00 pm | Tigerville, S.C.
UNC Pembroke and North Greenville are tied atop the Conference Carolinas preseason coaches’ poll, each earning 32 points (4 first-place votes for UNC Pembroke, 3 for North Greenville). This isn't just a prime-time game — it's a direct clash for the early edge in the race for the conference championship. A win here could be pivotal come November’s title game, which the regular-season champion will host.
Both North Greenville and Pembroke have three wins apiece in the all-time series dating back to 2007; however, they have not matched up on the gridiron since 2016, when the Braves came away with a 49-35 win at home.