Erwin Cup Rules

Unlike the Carlyle Cup, we’ll be striving to give each sport its appropriate weight. Men’s basketball is obviously the king of the hill, with football second. After that, the sports will be roughly equal. Also, we’ll award points for ACC regular season and championship titles, NCAA final fours, and national titles.

For our purposes, a “rivalry win” means a game between Duke and UNC. Obviously. Here’s the system.

The First Tier – 17 Sports

Men’s Sports Women’s Sports
  • Cross Country
  • Fencing
  • Golf
  • Swimming & Diving
  • Tennis
  • Track & Field
  • Wrestling
  • Cross Country
  • Fencing
  • Golf
  • Swimming & Diving
  • Tennis
  • Track & Field
  • Wrestling
  • Volleyball
  • Rowing
  • Field Hockey
  • Lacrosse

In sports where the two teams meet head-to-head:

  • One and a half (1.5) points for a rivalry win at home or a neutral venue.
  • Two (2) points for a win on the road.
  • In the event of a draw, the difference in possible points is awarded. Visiting team would receive one half (0.5) point. Zero (0) points awarded for tied contests at a neutral venue.
  • Three (3) additional points for capturing an ACC regular season or tournament championship. Five (5) points total if both are captured.
  • If the teams meet just once in the regular season (wrestling, volleyball, field hockey) an additional 1.5 points can be gained from finishing higher in the ACC standings, provided neither school wins either ACC title OR faces off in the ACC championship tournament. This is to ensure that at least three (3) points are at stake for every sport.
  • Six (6) points for a Final Four berth. (Or a top four finish, if the sports’ format is different.)
  • Nine (9) points for a national championship. National championship points replace Final Four points.
  • Four (4) point bonus for any rivalry win in the NCAA tournament.

Others:

Track & Field
Only the ACC Indoor and Outdoor championship will be counted, and a team wins 1.5 points only for a higher finish, for a possible gain of six (6) total points in the sport. ACC championship and Final Four/national title points still apply.

Rowing, Golf, Cross Country, Swimming & Diving
Only the ACC championship counts. Three (3) points to the higher finisher, other championship point totals apply. 

Fencing
The one meet a year between the schools will count for the three (3) points.

The Second Tier – 5 Sports

Men’s Sports Women’s Sports
  • Baseball
  • Lacrosse
  • Soccer
  • Basketball
  • Soccer
  • Three (3) points for a rivalry win at home or at a neutral venue. (A series win in baseball.)
  • Four (4) points for a win on the road. (Again, a series win in baseball.)
  • In the event of a draw, the difference in possible points is awarded. Visiting team would receive one (1) point. Zero (0) points awarded for tied contests at a neutral venue.
  • Four (4) additional points for capturing an ACC regular season or tournament championship. Seven (7) points total if both are captured.
  • If the teams meet just once in the regular season (m/w soccer, men’s lacrosse) an additional 3 points can be gained from finishing higher in the ACC standings, provided neither school wins either ACC title OR faces off in the ACC championship tournament. This is to ensure that at least six (6) points are at stake for every sport.
  • Eight (8) points for a Final Four berth. (Or a top four finish, if the sports’ format is different, or a College World Series appearance in baseball.)
  • Twelve (12) points for a national championship. National championship points replace Final Four points.
  • Six (6) point bonus for any rivalry win in the NCAA tournament.

The Third Tier – Football

  • Eight (8) points to the winner of the rivalry game, ten (10) if it’s a road win.
  • Three (4) points for making a bowl game, and a three (3) bonus points for winning.
  • Five (5) points for winning an ACC division title, and five (5) more for winning the ACC championship game. This would result in a BCS bowl berth, meaning it replaces the category above. Winning the BCS game is worth ten (10) points.
  • Fifteen (15) points for winning a national championship.

The Fourth Tier – Basketball

  • Eight (8) points for a home win in the rivalry game, ten (10) points for a road win.
  • Eight (8) points for a neutral-floor win in the ACC Tournament.
  • Six (6) points for winning the ACC regular season championship. Six (6) points for winning the ACC tournament.
  • Fifteen (15) points for a Final Four berth.
  • Twenty (20) points for a national championship. National championship points replace Final Four points.
  • Thirty (30) points for the first ever rivalry win in the NCAA tournament.