When College GameDay went live on Saturday, it didn't take long for Desmond Howard to mention The Game.
In the opening segment of ESPN's college football kickoff show, the former Michigan wide receiver and 1991 Heisman Trophy winner brought up the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry when he compared it to the North Carolina-South Carolina rivalry, also known as the "Battle of the Carolinas."
Howard's comparison, however, wasn't what one would expect. A Cleveland, Ohio, native and prominent player in the history of The Game, Howard believes the rivalries and the fandom behind Ohio State-Michigan and North Carolina-South Carolina are not the same.
“I’m familiar with the border battle – Ohio State and Michigan fighting for Toledo," Howard said in Charlotte, where the Tar Heels and Gamecocks will play at Bank of America Stadium. "This is another level.”
North Carolina and South Carolina have faced off 59 times since 1903. The Tar Heels lead the all-time series 35-20, and the teams have tied four times. Since 2007, the Gamecocks have won four of the last five matchups between the programs, including two victories in Charlotte.
Ohio State and Michigan have battled annually since 1918, save for the pandemic-impacted 2020 season. Michigan holds a 60-51 advantage in the all-time series (with six ties) and had back-to-back wins in 2021 and 2022, ending the Buckeyes' nine-game win streak in the rivalry from 2012-19.
