We already knew when East Carolina and Charlotte were scheduled to play Alabama and Ole Miss, respectively. Now we know when the Pirates and 49ers will play each other – and the rest of their conference opponents.
The American Conference released its full 2026 football schedule on Thursday, locking in dates for all 12 games for both North Carolina FBS programs.
The Pirates and 49ers will face off for the fourth time in their history on Saturday, Nov. 14 at Jerry Richardson Stadium in Charlotte. The Niners took the first two games in the series in 2023 and 2024, with ECU getting its first victory last season.
Both teams also will face College Football Playoff participants from 2025, with East Carolina opening its season Sept. 5 at Alabama and Charlotte traveling to Ole Miss the following Saturday.
Here is how the 2026 schedule shapes up for each program:
ECU looks to build on 9-win season
East Carolina’s schedule features seven teams that qualified for bowls a year ago. The Pirates and Alabama have met only once before, with the Crimson Tide surviving 23-22 in the 1998.
ECU’s home opener comes Sept. 12 against in-state rival Appalachian State. Other non-conference opponents include Old Dominion (Sept. 19 away) and North Carolina Central (Sept. 26 home).
Building towards that goal 🏴☠️ pic.twitter.com/EYmqw4lOoV — ECU Football (@ECUPiratesFB) February 26, 2026
From there, the schedule features only conference opponents. Once again, East Carolina will be midweek warriors, playing road games on back-to-back Thursdays in October (UAB and Memphis) and hosting USF on the first Friday in November. ECU’s regular season finale against FAU may be moved to Friday, Nov. 27 or played on Saturday, Nov. 28.
The Pirates are 40-50-1 all-time in non-Saturday contests and went 2-2 in 2025.
2026 ECU Schedule
- Sept. 5 – at Alabama
- Sept. 12 – APPALACHIAN STATE
- Sept. 19 – at Old Dominion
- Sept. 26 – NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL
- Oct. 3 – OPEN
- Oct. 10 – RICE*
- Oct. 15 – at UAB* (Thu)
- Oct. 22 – at Memphis* (Thu)
- Oct. 31 – TEMPLE*
- Nov. 6 – SOUTH FLORIDA* (Fri)
- Nov. 14 – at Charlotte*
- Nov. 21 – at Army*
- Nov. 27/28 – FLORIDA ATLANTIC* (Fri or Sat)
*American Conference game
Charlotte looking to take steps forward after 1-win season
Year two of the Tim Albin era brings opportunity — and a challenging road map — for Charlotte.
The 49ers finished 1-11 last season, earning their lone win against FCS opponent Monmouth. Now comes a 2026 slate that includes an SEC road trip, two in-state FBS matchups and a balanced American schedule.
Charlotte opens Sept. 5 at home against The Citadel Bulldogs before heading to Ole Miss on Sept. 12 and Appalachian State on Sept. 19.
Football Players 🤝 Creative Team
Your 2026 Charlotte Football Official Schedule Graphic!
Comment which is the best! 🏆#BrickxBrick🧱 pic.twitter.com/mEuvJgdxa5— Charlotte Football (@CharlotteFTBL) February 26, 2026
The non-conference slate concludes Sept. 26 against Louisiana.
American Conference action starts Oct. 3 at home against Memphis, followed by road trips to North Texas and Temple.
After a bye week, Charlotte’s lone weekday game features Tulane visiting the Queen City on Friday, Oct. 30 — a prime-time opportunity to generate momentum midseason.
ECU and Navy round out the rest of the home schedule, while the 49ers will travel to UAB and Tulsa.
2026 Charlotte Schedule
- Sept. 5 – The Citadel
- Sept. 12 – at Ole Miss
- Sept. 19 – at Appalachian State
- Sept. 26 – Louisiana
- Oct. 3 – Memphis*
- Oct. 10 – at North Texas*
- Oct. 17 – at Temple*
- Oct. 24 – OPEN
- Oct. 30 – Tulane* (Fri)
- Nov. 7 – at UAB*
- Nov. 14 – East Carolina*
- Nov. 21 – at Tulsa*
- Nov. 28 – Navy*
*American Conference game
In-State Storylines to Watch
- ECU vs. Charlotte (Nov. 14): Pirates look to even the all-time series 2-2 after taking it on the chin the first two meetings
- Both vs. App State: Early September measuring stick games and high-profile in-state matchups.
- SEC Tests: ECU at Alabama to open the season; Charlotte at Ole Miss in Week 2.
- Prime-Time Exposure: Three confirmed non-Saturday games for ECU; one Friday night home showcase for Charlotte.
Follow the Pirates, 49ers on NC Football News
As kickoff times and television designations are announced in the coming months, NC Football News will continue updating its team schedule pages and statewide scoreboard to provide a centralized place to track every game involving North Carolina’s college programs.
➡️ East Carolina Pirates football 2026 Schedule Central
Game times, broadcast information and weekly updates for the Pirates will be added as they are announced throughout the offseason and into the fall.
➡️ Charlotte 49ers football 2026 Schedule Central
Charlotte’s full schedule page will also be updated with kickoff times, network assignments and related coverage leading into the 2026 season.
➡️ Statewide Weekly Scoreboard & Schedule
Each week during the season, NC Football News will publish its comprehensive North Carolina College Football Schedule & Scoreboard, tracking every game across the state — from FBS to Division II, Division III and beyond — with links to recaps, statistics and notable performances.
