Charlotte 49ers release 2021 football schedule
By Richard Walker
After a 2020 season limited to six games by the ongoing pandemic, the 49ers of 2021 are slated to host their first ACC opponent, play their first Big Ten opponent, host nearby FCS rival Gardner-Webb and play eight Conference USA games as part of a 12-game schedule.
Coach Will Healy’s third season will include six home games and six road games, beginning with the historic Sept. 4 home game against Duke of the ACC. Charlotte also will host Gardner-Webb (Sept. 11) and Conference USA rivals Middle Tennessee (Sept. 25), Florida Atlantic (Oct. 23), Rice (Nov. 6) and Marshall (Nov. 20). The 49ers travel to play at Georgia State (Sept. 18), the historic first Big Ten meeting at Illinois (Oct. 2) and Conference USA opponents Florida International (Oct. 9), Western Kentucky (Oct. 30), Louisiana Tech (Nov. 13) and Old Dominion (Nov. 27).
Due to the rotating divisional schedule in Conference USA, Charlotte will be meeting Louisiana Tech for the first time.
Charlotte’s meeting with Gardner-Webb would be the fourth all-time; The teams scheduled a game last November but it was cancelled due to COVID-19 issues at Gardner-Webb.
And the Duke home game comes after Charlotte has started 0-3 all-time against ACC opposition – road games at Louisville (2016), Clemson (2019) and Duke (2020). A game at North Carolina was schedule last September but it was cancelled due to COVID-19 issues in the 49ers’ program.
The schedule is subject to change and some dates are expected to move in the coming weeks to accomodate television, which will release its schedule in the coming weeks.
2021 Charlotte 49ers football schedule
Sept. 4 Duke
Sept. 11 Gardner-Webb
Sept. 18 at Georgia State
Sept. 25 Middle Tennessee
Oct. 2 at Illinois
Oct. 9 at Florida International
Oct. 16 BYE
Oct. 23 Florida Atlantic
Oct. 30 at Western Kentucky
Nov. 6 Rice
Nov. 13 at Louisiana Tech
Nov. 20 Marshall
Nov. 27 at Old Dominion