SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The 2025-26 edition of the Ingles I-26 Rivalry Series begins this Saturday, September 20, as USC Upstate men's soccer hosts UNC Asheville at 7:00 p.m. in Spartanburg.
Separated by just 65 miles, the Spartans and Bulldogs are set to continue one of the Big South's most unique rivalries, battling for bragging rights, points, and the Ingles Rivalry trophy.
Last season, USC Upstate captured its first Ingles I-26 Rivalry Series title, finishing with 40 points to UNC Asheville's 20. The Spartans secured victories in baseball, women's soccer, volleyball, and track & field while also winning the Ingles Food Drive Bonus, which tipped the scales in Spartan Nation's favor. Fans played a pivotal role as Spartan Army rallied to collect the most canned goods during the annual drive, earning bonus points that ultimately helped deliver the hardware to Spartanburg.
How the Series Works:
The Ingles I-26 Rivalry is structured as a year-long competition across multiple sports. Points are awarded as follows:
- Three (3) points per head-to-head regular-season victory in men's basketball, women's basketball, women's soccer, men's soccer, volleyball, and baseball.
- Three (3) points to the higher-finishing school at Big South Championships in cross country, indoor/outdoor track & field, and women's golf.
- *Bonuses* for community initiatives, including Ingles' long-standing food drive competition and statistical categories such as three-pointers made in basketball and strikeouts in baseball. Ingles also contributes charitable donations tied to each bonus stat, further connecting the rivalry to service in Spartanburg and Asheville
USC Upstate Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Matt Martin shared his excitement about the new campaign:
"This has been a fun rivalry between our two schools—it's exactly what collegiate athletics represents. We had an excellent campaign last year and aim to continue building momentum this year. A huge thank you to Melissa Leavell and our friends at Ingles for all their support in stewarding this great rivalry while also positively impacting our communities."
| Date |
Sport |
Location |
Final Score |
Series Score |
| Sep 20, 2025 |
Men's Soccer |
Spartanburg, S.C. |
|
|
| Sep 26, 2025 |
Women's Volleyball |
Asheville, N.C. |
|
|
| Oct 29, 2025 |
Women's Soccer |
Asheville, N.C. |
|
|
| Oct 31, 2025 |
Men's & Women's Cross Country |
Longwood, Va. (Big South Championships) |
|
|
| Nov 14, 2025 |
Women's Volleyball |
Spartanburg, S.C. |
|
|
| Jan 21, 2026 (M) |
Men's Basketball |
Spartanburg, S.C. |
|
|
| Jan 21, 2026 (W) |
Women's Basketball |
Asheville, N.C. |
|
|
| Feb 4, 2026 |
Men's Basketball |
Asheville, N.C. |
|
|
| Feb 14, 2026 |
Women's Basketball |
Spartanburg, S.C. |
|
|
The 2025-26 rivalry begins with Saturday night's men's soccer showdown and will continue throughout the academic year with points up for grabs across multiple sports. After falling just short two years ago, USC Upstate made history last season. Now, the Spartans are set on defending the Ingles I-26 Rivalry Series trophy and keeping it in Spartanburg.
