VALDOSTA, Ga. – Valdosta State University and the University of West Georgia announced this week a new rivalry series, as the two schools will compete throughout the 2021-22 academic year in the Red Clay Rivalry.

The Red Clay Rivalry is a yearlong series between UWG and VSU, encompassing all sports that each school sponsors. For each of the 11 sports in the rivalry, there will be one point awarded to the school who wins the majority of contests in each sport in a given season. If teams only play once, the school who claims the regular season contest will earn the point. If teams play twice, a team must win both contests to win the point. If in a two-game season teams split the series, each team will be awarded a half-point. In a three-game season, teams must win the series to earn the point.

"UWG Athletics is excited to partner with our conference-mates from the south to establish this very fitting rivalry series," said Jason Carmichael, director of UWG Athletics. "This annual contest will provide a unique platform for our teams to compete for excellence across essentially the entirety of our respective athletics departments."

"Our rivalry with West Georgia in athletics is long-standing and has generated some outstanding events over the years," said Herb Reinhard, Director of VSU Athletics. "We are excited to partner with West Georgia on the 'Red Clay Rivalry Series' and I believe the series will grow and enhance the outstanding competition between our institutions. The winner of our annual football game has for many years won the Peach Basket but our other teams and student-athletes have not been as involved as football. The Red Clay Rivalry Series will have all of our teams and student-athletes involved and add additional excitement to our events."
 
Points are awarded for all regular-season contests in all sports except men's golf and cross-country. For those sports, the highest finish at the Gulf South Conference championships will determine the winner of the point. 

The Battle for the Peach Basket will remain part of the rivalry series, with the winner of the annual football game between the Wolves and Blazers earning the right to host the basket for the entire year. 

The first school to reach six points in a given year will be declared the winner of the Red Clay Rivalry. The trophy will be awarded at the annual Gulf South Conference baseball tournament in Oxford, Alabama. 

The following is a list of matchups between UWG and VSU that will comprise the Red Clay Rivalry:
 

 
Red Clay Rivalry Points to Date (10/25/2021)
Valdosta State holds a 2-0 lead in the series, with points in football, women's soccer, and volleyball to come in the next three weeks. 

Volleyball - No Points Awarded Yet
West Georgia won the first match between the two schools on September 24. The rematch is set for November 13 in Carrollton in the 2021 regular season finale for both teams. 

Men's Cross-Country - Point to Valdosta State
At the GSC Championships this past weekend in Clinton, Miss., Valdosta State finished sixth with 187 points and West Georgia finished 10th with 260 points, awarding the Red Clay Rivalry points to VSU. 

Women's Cross-Country - Point to Valdosta State
At the GSC Championships this past weekend in Clinton, Miss., Valdosta State finished sixth with 189 points and West Georgia finished 10th with 248 points, awarding the Red Clay Rivalry points to VSU.