What you need to know - game by game - about the Charlotte 49ers’ 2018 football schedule
The Charlotte 49ers are less than three months away from their Sept. 1 season opener against Fordham at Richardson Stadium. There’s a lot riding on this season for coach Brad Lambert and the 49ers, who went 1-11 in 2017. Lambert’s job is no doubt on the line, and he will be watched closely by new athletics director Mike Hill.
Lambert has 18 returning starters and a coaching staff that was almost completely made over. So here’s a game-by-game look at Charlotte’s schedule, which in addition to eight Conference USA games, includes nonconference games against one Football Championship Subdivision team (Fordham), a regional rival (Appalachian State), a Football Bowl Subdivision independent (Massachusetts) and a trip to Neyland Stadium to face Tennessee.
Sept. 1, Fordham (6 p.m., ESPN+)
About the Rams: Fordham was 4-7 last season and has a new coach in Joe Conlin, a former offensive coordinator at Yale. Senior receiver Austin Longi caught 38 passes for 478 yards and three touchdowns despite missing five games due to injury.
49ers prospects: This will be an absolute must-win game for the 49ers, pure and simple. During a season in which they will likely be underdogs each game after this one, losing to a mediocre (at best) FCS team would be a disastrous start.
Sept. 8, Appalachian State (6 p.m., ESPN+)
About the Mountaineers: Appalachian has made the transition to the Sun Belt Conference and Football Bowl Subdivision seamlessly. The Mountaineers, who have won three consecutive bowl games, must replace quarterback Taylor Lamb, a four-year starter.
49ers prospects: This game will be about bragging rights (and a recruiting edge) between two programs separated by about 100 miles. And there’s no doubt the Mountaineers will look to show the 49ers just how far the distance between them truly is.
Sept. 15, Old Dominion (6 p.m., ESPN3)
About the Monarchs: ODU, like Charlotte a school with a young football program, slipped to 5-7 last season, 3-5 in C-USA and sixth in the East Division (ahead only of the 49ers). Junior Oshane Ximines might be the best defensive end in C-USA and had 8.5 sacks last season.
49ers prospects: Here’s a chance for Charlotte to get off to a good start in the league. The Monarchs struggled to beat the 49ers 6-0 last season in Norfolk, Va.
Sept. 22, at Massachusetts (Time, TV TBA)
About the Minutemen: UMass is another program that recently made the jump to the FBS. A big moment for the Minutemen in 2017 (when they went 4-8) was an upset against Appalachian State.
49ers prospects: Another opportunity for Charlotte to show how far the program has come (or still needs to go) against one of the FBS’ few independent programs.
Sept. 29, at Ala.-Birmingham (Time TBA, ESPN3)
About the Blazers: UAB’s first season back (after the program was disbanded for two years) was one of college football’s surprise stories, with the Blazers going 8-5 and making an appearance in the Bahamas Bowl.
49ers prospects: The Blazers will not have forgotten that they were Charlotte’s only victory in 2017, coming in overtime on a trick play, no less.
Oct. 13, Western Kentucky (3:30 p.m., ESPN+)
About the Hilltoppers: Western Kentucky is a perennial C-USA contender but slipped to 6-7 last season. Receiver Lucky Jackson is the top player on a young team.
49ers prospects: This will be a game in which Charlotte might have more experience than its opponent. Can that translate into a victory?
Oct. 20, at Middle Tennessee (3 p.m., ESPN3)
About the Blue Raiders: Middle Tennessee went 7-6 last season (winning the Camellia Bowl against Arkansas State) and has quarterback Brent Stockstill back.
49ers prospects: Middle Tennessee will be one of the better teams in C-USA’s East Division. This will be a tall order for Charlotte on the road.
Oct. 27, Southern Mississippi (2 p.m., ESPN3)
About the Golden Eagles: Southern Miss will be one of the conference’s younger teams with just eight starters returning. There’s uncertainty at quarterback, where Kwadra Giggs and Keon Howard are competing.
49ers prospects: Things didn’t go well for Charlotte in 2017 in Hattiesburg, Miss., where the Golden Eagles romped 66-21. The 49ers should at least hope they can close that significant – and embarrassing - gap this season.
Nov. 3, at Tennessee (Time, TV TBA)
About the Vols: There’s a new coach in Knoxville – former Alabama defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt. Tennessee has a serviceable quarterback in Jarrett Guarantano, but he might be pushed by Stanford grad transfer Keller Chryst.
49ers prospects: Charlotte fans making the trip should check out the Vol Navy – an armada of boats that dock and tailgate along the Tennessee River next to Neyland Stadium.
Nov. 10, at Marshall (2:30 p.m., ESPN+)
About the Thundering Herd: Marshall might have enough this season to challenge Florida Atlantic in the East Division. Tyler King and Keion Davis anchor a strong running game.
49ers prospects: Charlotte won in Huntington, W.Va., in 2016, a victory that many thought meant the 49ers were turning the corner to respectability on the way to a 4-8 season. Marshall probably won’t let that happen again.
Nov. 17, Florida International (2 p.m., ESPN3)
About the Panthers: FIU has one of C-USA’s big-name coaches in Butch Davis, who guided the team to an 8-4 record last season. Davis loses a number of impact players to graduation, including quarterback Alex McGough.
49ers prospects: If Charlotte’s experience can overcome the Panthers’ youth, the 49ers might have a chance.
Nov. 24, at Florida Atlantic (Time, TV TBA)
About the Owls: FAU was one of college football’s big surprises last season (11-3) and coach Lane Kiffin has an excellent running back in Devin Singletary and 10 defensive starters back.
49ers prospects: If the Owls need this game to help them in the C-USA East race and the 49ers are playing out the string by then, it could get ugly.
David Scott: @davidscott14
This story was originally published June 24, 2018 at 9:09 AM with the headline "What you need to know - game by game - about the Charlotte 49ers’ 2018 football schedule."