6 bowl teams await Charlotte 49ers on 2020 football schedule

The Charlotte 49ers, fresh off the first winning football season in program history, released their 2020 schedule Wednesday. It includes games with six teams that played in bowls in 2019, as well as nonconference opposition from SEC and ACC teams.

Charlotte, which went 7-6 (5-3 Conference USA) in coach Will Healy’s first season, opens at the SEC’s Tennessee on Sept. 5, and also travels to the ACC’s Duke for a Thursday night contest on Sept. 17. The 49ers’ other nonconference games are against the Football Championship Subdivision’s Norfolk State (the home opener on Sept. 12) and at home against the Sun Belt’s Georgia State on Sept 26.

“The challenges are very evident, right from the opener at an SEC opponent and going into the conference season,” Healy said in a statement. “We know we’ve got our work cut out for us. We know we’ve got to establish a process now, in the winter months, that prepares us for what we will face this fall.”

Charlotte opens its C-USA schedule with road games against Florida Atlantic on Oct. 3 and North Texas on Oct. 10.

“We’re extremely proud of all the ‘firsts’ we established in year one, but there’s no lasting satisfaction in a seven-win season,” Healy said. “We absolutely have to continue growing and building. And I can promise you that a schedule like this will quickly ground us and get us focused on the work that needs to be done.”

The Conference USA championship game is scheduled for Dec. 5.

Here’s a look at the 49ers’ 2020 schedule, which includes a bye on Oct. 31:

Sept. 5, at Tennessee

• 2019 record: 8-5 (beat Indiana 23-22 in Gator Bowl).
• Series record: Tennessee leads 1-0.

49ers acquitted themselves well in last visit to Neyland Stadium (14-3 loss in 2018).

Sept. 12, Norfolk State

• 2019 record: 5-7.
• Series record: First meeting

49ers are 4-1 against FCS opposition since joining Conference USA.

Sept. 17, at Duke

• 2019 record: 5-7.
• Series record: First meeting

Game was switched to Thursday night from Saturday, Sept. 19, will likely be on ESPN or ACC Network.

Sept. 26, Georgia State

• 2019 record: 7-6 (lost to Wyoming 38-17 in Arizona Bowl).
• Series record: Tied 1-1.

Series against Sun Belt’s Panthers renewed for the next four seasons,

Oct. 3, at Florida Atlantic

• 2019 record: 11-3 (beat Southern Methodist 52-28 in Boca Raton Bowl).
• Series record: FAU leads 3-2.

Owls will be playing under first-year coach Willie Taggart, who replaced Lane Kiffin (now at Mississippi).

Oct. 10, at North Texas

• 2019 record: 4-8.
• Series record: Charlotte leads 1-0.

Mean Green will be without star quarterback Mason Fine, who graduates.

Oct. 17, Florida International

• 2019 record: 6-7 (lost to Arkansas State 34-26 in Camellia Bowl).
• Series record: FIU leads 5-0.

Panthers will be in rebuilding mode under coach Butch Davis, especially on offense.

Oct. 24, Texas-El Paso

• 2019 record: 1-11.
• Series record: Charlotte leads 1-0.

Miners lost 11 straight games in 2019, but gave Charlotte a game of it (28-21 49ers victory).

Nov. 7, at Middle Tennessee

• 2019 record: 4-8.
• Series record: Middle Tennessee leads 4-1.

Blue Raiders will be coming of uncharacteristically poor season. 49ers had never beaten them until 2019.

Nov. 14, Old Dominion

• 2019 record: 1-11.
• Series record: ODU leads 3-2.

Monarchs replaced Bobby Wilder, only coach they’d ever had, with Ricky Rahne.

Nov. 21, at Marshall

• 2019 record: 8-5 (lost to Central Florida 48-25 in Gasparilla Bad Boy Mowers Bowl).
• Series record: Marshall leads 3-2.

Beating Thundering Herd was perhaps biggest victory in 49ers history, clinching their first winning season.

Nov. 28, Western Kentucky

• 2019 record: 9-4 (beat Western Michigan 23-20 in Servpro First Responder Bowl).
• Series record: WKU leads 2-1.

Healy said season was turned around after Hilltoppers beat Charlotte to extend a losing streak to four games. Charlotte then reeled off five victories in a row.

Note: Game dates and times are subject to change to accommodate television scheduling.

This story was originally published January 8, 2020 at 2:19 PM.