The East Carolina–NC State rivalry is a rivalry between East Carolina University and North Carolina State University, both of which are located in North Carolina. The intensity of the rivalry is driven by the proximity of the two schools, both are UNC system schools and are only 83 miles apart via U.S. Highway 264. The size of the two schools, NC State is the largest university in the state and East Carolina is the second largest, and the fact that both schools are competing for many of the same students and athletes also add to the rivalry.