Both schools are members of the NCAA Division I Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and are the largest public Historically Black colleges representing their respective states.

The two schools have played 53 times since their first meeting, with South Carolina State leading the series with a record of 32 wins 22 losses and 2 ties.

In the early years of the series, the match up between North Carolina A&T and South Carolina State was an inter-conference contest; as A&T was a member of the NCAA Division II Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (CIAA) and SC State was a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC).

in 1974, under the leadership of head coach Willie E. Jeffries, South Carolina State would earn their first victory of the series.

[3] South Carolina State would maintain their dominance for the remainder of the 1970, winning 5 MEAC football titles in the decade.

[4] Although suffering a loss to the rival Aggies, South Carolina State would go on to win the MEAC title and be crowned the Black College Football National Champions.