North Carolina and NC State were both charter members of the Atlantic Coast Conference, which was founded in 1953.

NC State hired Earle Edwards as head coach in 1954, and he was able to have considerably more success against North Carolina than his predecessors.

NC State hired Dick Sheridan as head coach prior to the 1986 season, and he went 6–1 against the Tar Heels.

During the 2000s, NC State went 6–4 in the series, including winning the last three games of the decade under Tom O'Brien, who finished with a 5-1 record against Carolina.

Mack Brown finished his career with a 7–9 record against NC State as head coach of the Tar Heels.

[8] NC State head coach Dave Doeren is currently 8–4 against UNC-Chapel Hill, including a 5–1 record in Kenan Stadium.