Is Taco Bell’s Crispy Chicken Sandwich Taco a sandwich or taco?

Taco Bell’s Crispy Chicken Sandwich Taco made its debut this month, but foodies remain divided on one huge question about the fast-food chain’s newest item: Is it a sandwich or a taco?

Its name would suggest both, but Taco Bell held a special event to settle the matter. On Sept. 4, the debate teams from Clemson University and the University of Georgia argued over which category the delicious snack falls into. And they did it on national television.

Airing on ABC at 7:30 p.m. ET, #TeamItsASandwich and #TeamItsaTaco went head to head on the debate stage. Clemson University stood firm in its assessment that Taco Bell’s Crispy Chicken Sandwich Taco is, indeed, a taco. Meanwhile, the University of Georgia was happy to admit that the new menu item is shaped like a taco — but still insisted that it’s a sandwich.

As the debate unfolded, things heated up between the two schools. Did they come to a consensus on what Taco Bell’s Crispy Chicken Sandwich Taco should be called?

Both schools make points about Taco Bell’s Crispy Chicken Sandwich Taco

No matter which side you take in the Crispy Chicken Sandwich Taco debate, both Clemson University and the University of Georgia made good points about Taco Bell’s new item.

“Any reasonable person knows that it’s not the shell that makes the taco,” a member of #TeamItsATaco said. “It’s the fold that makes the taco.”

#TeamItsASandwich responded to that by pointing out that tacos are typically served in tortillas — not just any kind of bread.

“This is a sandwich that is in the shape of a taco,” a #TeamItsASandwich representative explained. “It is taco-inspired, but it is still a sandwich. While all tortillas are bread, not all bread is a tortilla.”

Touché. #TeamItsASandwich also asserted that history was on its side, reminding viewers that crispy chicken has been paired with bread and called a sandwich for decades.

Of course, #TeamItsATaco offered other compelling evidence for its case — including that the order of the words in its name suggests “taco” is the main noun, and that jalapenos are more commonly found in tacos than sandwiches.

In the end, the teams had to agree to disagree. Ultimately, it’s up to each person trying Taco Bell’s Crispy Chicken Sandwich Taco to make their own call on what it truly is. That’s half the fun of eating it!

Watch the full debate between Clemson University and the University of Georgia on YouTube.

What do you think? Is Taco Bell’s Crispy Chicken Sandwich Taco a sandwich or a taco? Tell us which team you’re on in the comments below!