Charlotte 49ers football schedule in focus, beginning with Duke’s Mayo Classic

With fewer than 100 days until college football kicks off in the Queen City, the Charlotte 49ers know the game times for more than half of their schedule, starting at Bank of America Stadium against Appalachian State on Friday, Aug. 29.

The American Athletic Conference unveiled kick times spanning the first half of the season Thursday, solidifying the exact time the Tim Albin era will commence for Charlotte, taking the reins as the program’s fourth head coach.

With the 49ers playing their first four games in Charlotte, and not hitting the road until early October, the first-year iteration of Albin’s roster has the opportunity to create an early shift in the program’s recent trajectory — and it starts with Appalachian State in the Duke’s Mayo Classic (7 p.m. Aug. 29), followed by hosting the North Carolina Tar Heels (7 p.m. Sept. 6) in Bill Belichick’s first road game as head coach.

While faced with a challenging schedule in year one, Albin is taking it week by week.

“App State, that’s a great matchup for two great fan bases. That’s going to be an electric atmosphere at a great venue. That’s the only one I’ve thought about,” Albin said on the Highway 49 Podcast. “You mentioned coach (Bill) Belichick and the Georgia game — I don’t even know when that is. The second game, against North Carolina, in the state, great energy in our stadium. Great opportunity, and we’ll take it as it comes.”

Kicking off the season with two monstrous games against in-state opponents, Charlotte will also grab a national spotlight under the lights in Week 1, meeting the Mountaineers on ESPNU at 7 p.m. in Charlotte’s first time playing at Bank of America Stadium.

The 49ers are slated to play at least six night games, including five straight to open the season. Charlotte’s only scheduled midday kickoff will come on the road against defending AAC Champion Army (Oct. 11), traveling to West Point at noon on CBS Sports Network.

With the program ramping up for training camp in the coming months, Albin had a clear message for the Charlotte faithful.

“We respect all opponents and fear none. We’ll deal with that as it comes.”

Charlotte 49ers schedule

Aug. 29: vs. App State - 7 p.m. (ESPNU)

Sept. 6: vs. North Carolina - 7 p.m. (ESPN+)

Sept. 13: vs. Monmouth - 6 p.m. (ESPN+)

Sept. 18: vs. Rice - 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Sept. 25: Off

Oct. 3: at South Florida - 7 p.m. (ESPN2)

Oct. 11: at Army - noon (CBS Sports Network)

Oct. 18: vs. Temple – TBD (Homecoming)

Oct. 24: vs. North Texas - 7 p.m. (ESPN2)

Nov. 1: Off

Nov. 8: at East Carolina (TBD)

Nov. 15: vs. UTSA (TBD)

Nov. 22: at Georgia (TBD)

Nov. 29: at Tulane (TBD)