Charlotte football enters the 2025 season with a new head coach, a nearly brand-new offense and low national expectations — but also a chance to surprise if key pieces fall into place. Best of all, the future looks as promising as it has since the 49ers rebooted their football program in 2013.
The 49ers finished 5-7 last fall (4-4 AAC), good for a tie for sixth place in the American Athletic Conference. Biff Poggi is out, and in comes Tim Albin, the former Ohio Bobcats coach who won the MAC championship in 2024 before being lured to the Queen City.
“After a 3-9 debut at Ohio, Tim Albin guided the Bobcats to a 30-10 mark over the next three seasons,” wrote Athlon Sports, which gave the Charlotte coaching hire a Grade A. “Hiring a proven coach with a track record of maximizing his roster is a huge upside for Charlotte.”
The new threads for @CharlotteFTBL #uniswag pic.twitter.com/J38Y7EHqxe — UNISWAG (@UNISWAG) June 30, 2025
🏈 National Expectations:
Charlotte’s rebuild is reflected in national rankings across the board:
- Phil Steele: 114th of 134 FBS teams
- Lindy’s: 122nd
- Athlon: 124th
- CBSSports: 107th
The 49ers are also picked near the bottom of the 14-team AAC:
- Phil Steele: 12th
- Lindy’s: 13th
- Athlon: 11th
Bowl projections? None.
Projected win total? 4.5, per College Football News.
“This is still a young Charlotte program. It has plenty of positives, but this is a total building job — it’s not even a rebuild — with almost no returning talent, a new staff, and … hope,” wrote College Football News. “Albin is a good one. It might take a bit, but the 49ers will soon start winning.”
🔁 Almost Everyone’s New
Per Phil Steele, Charlotte returns just 1 starter on offense and 5 on defense. Center Jonny King is the lone returning offensive starter, and even the special teams unit will feature a new kicker, punter and long snapper.
Charlotte brought in nearly 40 transfers in the off-season. The 49ers 2025 transfer portal class ranks third-best in the AAC, per 247Sports and No. 78 nationally behind conference mates Memphis and Tulane.
🔥 Position Battles to Watch
QB Competition
The quarterback battle has an ACC flavor. Both newcomers have starting experience and have enjoyed success under center
- Connor Harrell (UNC transfer): Went 16-of-25 for 219 yards and 2 TDs in a win over Charlotte last season.
- Grayson Loftis (Duke): Took first-team snaps in spring.
- Also, Zach Wilcke: Started 8 games at Southern Miss in 2022 before going the JUCO route.
“Conner Harrell (North Carolina) and Grayson Loftis (Duke) are each decent quarterback options, but all the new wide receivers – most are from Power Four schools – need some seasoning. Tight end Jake Young (Western Carolina transfer) will be an instant target.” – College Football News
Special Teams Overhaul
Charlotte must replace both kickers and its long snapper — a rarely talked-about challenge that could play a role in close games. Stephen Rusniak went 11-for-11 in field goals and was 25-for-25 in extra points a year ago before transferring to Cincinnati. He hit a 54-yard field goal against Gardner-Webb last September. Three placekickers are on the roster heading into the season, including Asheville’s Liam Boyd.
🏅 Preseason Honors
Several 49ers earned recognition from national preview magazines:
- TE Jake Young – 1st Team AAC (Lindy’s)
- C Jonny King – 2nd Team AAC (Lindy’s)
- LB Reid Williford – 2nd Team AAC (Phil Steele)
- LB Shay Taylor – 2nd Team AAC (Phil Steele)
- DL Braden Mullen – 2nd Team AAC (Lindy’s)
- Henry Rutledge – All-purpose standout (Lindy’s 2nd team, Phil Steele KR 3rd, PR 4th)
Also, Lindy’s named WR Jayden McGowan as Charlotte’s Top Newcomer, and linebacker Gavin Willis, a Bucknell transfer who had 129 tackles last fall was recognized by College Football News.
“On a team that’s almost completely starting over, the leading tackler is back,” wrote College Football News. “Reid Williford isn’t huge, but he cleaned up in the middle with 77 stops.”
🚨 Notable Transfer News
Louisville RB Don Chaney Jr., expected to be a major contributor, is no longer with the team, per Charlotte Observer reporter Hunter Bailey.
📅 Circle Your Calendars: Big Games in 2025
Charlotte will face one of the toughest schedules among the Group of Five. The 49ers travel to Georgia and must play defending AAC champion Army on the road. Three in-state foes will get the most buzz in our state:
- Aug. 29 vs. App State – Duke’s Mayo Classic at Bank of America Stadium. The premiere to two new head coaches and two new eras in NC college football
- Sept. 6 vs. UNC – Home opener comes against new Tar Heels coach Bill Belichick
- Nov. 8 at ECU – Charlotte is 2-0 all-time vs. the Pirates. Can they keep their record unblemished in this budding rivalry?
Charlotte 2025 football schedule
| Date |  | Opponent | Time/Result | TV/Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug. 29 | vs | Appalachian 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 |
| Oct. 3 | at | South Florida* | 7 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| Oct. 11 | at | Army* | 12 p.m. | CBSSN |
| Oct. 18 | vs | Temple* | ||
| Oct. 24 | vs | North Texas* | 7 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| Nov. 8 | at | East Carolina* | ||
| Nov. 15 | vs | UTSA* | ||
| Nov. 22 | at | Georgia | 12:45 p.m. | |
| Nov. 29 | at | Tulane* | ||
| * denotes conference game |
🔗 Get kickoff times, TV info, and scores throughout the season: View full Charlotte 2025 football schedule page HERE
🧠 Related Recruiting Coverage: Charlotte Building Solid 2026 Class
- Charlotte 49ers Add Three Intriguing 2026 Commitments, Including Prolific QB and State Champion WR: QB Brody Dawyot, WR Caleb Tucker, LB Gray Patterson join Charlotte’s latest recruiting class
Charlotte Lands Dual-Threat QB Jaylen White: Clearwater (Florida) standout becomes 49ers’ first high school quarterback pledge of this cycle - Grimsley 2026 wideout Kaden Catoe commits to Charlotte football: Game of Inches ‘Breakout Player of the Year’ had 3 TDs in 4A West title game last season
Charlotte Football 2026 Commitments
| NAME | POS | HOMETOWN | SCHOOL | COMMITTED | DATE | STORY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donte Nicholson | WR/ATH | Charlotte, NC | West Charlotte HS | Charlotte | 6/27/2025 | READ |
| Mason McGill | OL/DE | Gainesville, GA | North Hall HS | Charlotte | 6/23/2025 | READ |
| Brody Dawyot | QB/ATH | Salem, VA | Glenvar HS | Charlotte | 6/22/2025 | READ |
| Gray Patterson | LB | Fort Mill, SC | Fort Mill HS | Charlotte | 6/22/2025 | READ |
| Caleb Tucker | WR | Bryant, AR | Bryant HS | Charlotte | 6/22/2025 | READ |
| Cody Taylor | OL | Greenwood, AR | Greenwood HS | Charlotte | 6/7/2025 | READ |
| Jaylen White | QB | Clearwater, FL | Clearwater HS | Charlotte | 6/6/2025 | READ |
| Kaiden Bower | DE | Carmel, IN | Carmel HS | Charlotte | 6/3/2025 | READ |
| Mikey Domanik | LB | Marietta, GA | Kell HS | Charlotte | 6/2/2025 | READ |
| Chase Usher | CB | Tyrone, GA | Sandy Creek HS | Charlotte | 6/1/2025 | READ |
| Kaden Catoe | WR | Greensboro, NC | Grimsley HS | Charlotte | 5/27/2025 | READ |
| Maddox West | DB | Smyrna, GA | Campbell HS | Charlotte | 4/24/2025 | — |
| Josh Hines | DB | Charlotte, NC | Myers Park HS | Charlotte | 4/23/2025 | READ |
| Kadarus Hainsworth | WR | Spartanburg, SC | Mountain View Prep | Charlotte | 4/20/2025 | READ |
| Jarell Turner | DB | Columbia, SC | Richland Northeast HS | Charlotte | 4/12/2025 | — |
| Alchino Blakely | DB | Snellville, GA | South Gwinnett HS | Charlotte | 4/8/2025 | — |
| Jacob Allen | OL | Jackson, OH | Jackson HS | Charlotte | 4/2/2025 | READ |
| Maximus Jansenvanvuren | EDGE | Waterford, MI | Waterford Mott HS | Charlotte | 3/31/2025 | READ |
🏟 Program Milestone: Ogunjobi Hall of Fame
Defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi will become the first football player inducted into Charlotte’s Athletics Hall of Fame this fall, the school announced recently.
The Greensboro native and Ragsdale High alum holds school records in tackles-for-loss, sacks and quarterback hurries and was Charlotte’s first NFL Draft pick (3rd round, 2017). Now with the Buffalo Bills, Ogunjobi has played eight seasons in the NFL.
Final Word: Momentum building in Queen City
The 49ers are starting over — but with a proven head coach, a reshaped roster, a full dose of energy among fans and plans to upgrade Richardson Stadium in the near future. The Niners may take a few lumps this season but the future looks bright.
NC Football News Prediction: 5-7 record. With foes like UNC, Georgia, Army, USF and Tulane on the schedule, reaching bowl eligibility this fall will be a tough ask. But Green and Gold is a stock to buy-and-hold for the long term. Things are definitely trending up for the 49ers.
“The payoff should be there with a little time,” said College Football News. “Albin will get the most out of the talent on hand even in what looks to be a rebuilding year.”
