Charlotte 49ers football: Five games to be excited about on the 2026 schedule

Year 2 under Tim Albin is rapidly approaching, and Wednesday’s American Conference schedule release finalized the task ahead for the Charlotte 49ers, who are looking to bounce back from a one-win season in 2025.

Kicking off with their lone FCS clash against The Citadel on Sept. 5, the 49ers won’t have the luxury of spending the first month of the season in the Queen City as they did in Albin’s first year.

Charlotte’s first FBS clash comes Sept. 12 in Oxford against Heisman candidate Trinidad Chambliss and the Ole Miss Rebels, who are coming off a College Football Playoff run, in Week 2.

The schedule features just one set of back-to-back home games, concluding non-conference play with Louisiana (Sept. 26) and opening American play with Memphis (Oct. 3).

Charlotte will again face the American Conference champion and runner-up, hosting Tulane (Oct. 30) and traveling to North Texas (Oct. 10). A challenging schedule, especially for a team that failed to beat an FBS program a season ago, features seven matchups with bowl teams from a year ago (eight if you include Appalachian State, which won five games and lost in the Birmingham Bowl to Georgia Southern).

The 49ers open spring ball on March 24, running through April 25, to lay the foundation for Albin’s second iteration as head coach.

Here are our top five games to watch for Charlotte in the 2026 season.

(1) Sept. 19: at Appalachian State

The in-state rivalry was renewed last season, taking center stage in the season-opening Duke’s Mayo Classic at Bank of America Stadium, with the 49ers and Mountaineers meeting for the first time since 2020.

Appalachian State dominated the 49ers for the game’s final three quarters, and Mountaineers head coach Dowell Loggains spoke very decisively after the 34-11 onslaught.

“It’s always good to win in a place we consider home base,” Loggains said after the game.

That quote didn’t sit well with the 49ers, and Charlotte will look to get its first win in the series in Boone. The two programs are scheduled to meet every year through 2030.

(2) Nov. 14: vs. East Carolina

After kicking off the in-state conference rivalry with the Pirates with consecutive victories under Biff Poggi, East Carolina scored its first win last season, dominating the 49ers in Greenville.

Charlotte ran out of fireworks the last time the Pirates visited the Queen City, scoring 55 points in a rout, leading to the firing of Mike Houston and eventual promotion of current head coach Blake Harrell.

While this game should undoubtedly be on rivalry week, in the final week of the regular season, Charlotte’s penultimate game will be its hottest home ticket in 2026.

(3): Oct. 30: vs. Tulane

Charlotte suffered lopsided losses against two College Football Playoff teams last season (Georgia and Tulane) and is slated to play two more this season, despite different head coaches on the opposing sidelines in both games.

Former Tulane head coach Jon Sumrall took the Florida job, with Will Hall taking command of the Green Wave this season. Friday night games are massive for Charlotte’s program, likely on a nationally televised channel with a viewership window that any young program needs to build relevance.

This will be one of the biggest opportunities of the season for Albin to score a signature win against a team that will be reloading from a CFP appearance last season.

(4): Oct. 3: vs. Memphis

If the third meeting between these programs lives up to the previous two, this game will feature continuous lead changes, late-game comebacks, and even thrilling overtime finishes. The 49ers have come out on the losing end in both matchups, falling in overtime against the Tigers in 2023 and blowing a late-game lead in 2024, which ultimately derailed Charlotte’s season.

While familiar faces from those matchups will be few and far between, with former head coach Ryan Silverfield taking the Arkansas job and Charles Huff taking over for the Tigers, this will be a highly anticipated matchup to kick off American Conference play in Charlotte.

(5) Sept. 12: at Ole Miss

In a game originally scheduled to take place in Charlotte, the 49ers will now earn $1.8 million from the Rebels to travel to Oxford, Mississippi, for their first road game of the season. The 49ers will make that trip for two consecutive seasons, adding a $1.4 million payout in 2027.

With Lane Kiffin jumping to LSU, former Ole Miss defensive coordinator Pete Golding has been promoted to head coach of the Rebels. Golding was able to retain standout quarterback Trinidad Chambliss after the NCAA granted him a sixth year of eligibility, meaning that the 49ers will take on one of the most dynamic offenses in the nation in Week 2.

The Rebels are coming off a deep CFP run, coming up just short against Miami in the semifinals.

The 49ers have never beaten an SEC team, and likely won’t against what’s become a stalwart in the conference, but it is yet another massive opportunity to be competitive on a national stage (and receive a significant payday).

Charlotte 49ers’ 2026 football schedule

Sept. 5: vs. The Citadel

Sept. 12: at Ole Miss

Sept. 19: at Appalachian State

Sept. 26: vs. Louisiana

Oct. 3: vs. Memphis*

Oct. 10: at North Texas*

Oct. 17: at Temple*

Oct. 24: Open date

Oct. 30: vs. Tulane*

Nov. 7: at Alabama-Birmingham*

Nov. 14: vs. East Carolina*

Nov. 21: at Tulsa*

Nov. 28: vs. Navy*

*American Conference game.