Game notes
- Time and date: Friday, August 29 at 7:00 p.m. ET
- Network: ESPNU
- Location: Bank of America Stadium — Charlotte, NC
- Spread: Appalachian State (-6.5)
- Over/under: 50.5
- All-time series: Appalachian State leads, 3-0
- Last meeting: Appalachian State 35, Charlotte 20 — September 12, 2020
- Current streak: Appalachian State, 3 (2018-20)
Setting the scene
Friday night presents an exciting opportunity for Appalachian State and Charlotte. The two programs converge at Bank of America Stadium — home of the Carolina Panthers — for a non-conference, neutral-site clash in an NFL setting.
Coaching debuts only add to the intrigue of this clash between these two up-and-coming North Carolina-based programs that still haven’t spent 15 years at the FBS level. This is Charlotte’s formal introduction of Tim Albin, the 2024 MAC championship-winning coach at Ohio,
who is leaving Athens, OH for the first time in 20 years to build the 49ers. Appalachian State counters with first-time head coach Dowell Loggains, a former South Carolina offensive coordinator with vast NFL experience.
It’s American vs. Sun Belt in the Duke’s Mayo Classic.
Appalachian State Mountaineers outlook
This is uncharted territory for Appalachian State. The Mountaineers transitioned from the FCS to the FBS in 2014, and they made the typically-difficult transition look seamless. Appalachian State already has a 7-1 bowl record to its name and won 10+ games five times. But one splotch that never appeared on the Mountaineers’ résumé was a losing record — until now. App State is fresh off a 5-6 campaign and the program responded with a coaching change, bringing in Dowell Loggains, the architect behind South Carolina’s recent offensive progression.
Offense is expected to be the strength of the 2025 Mountaineers, as it was in 2024. There is an overhaul in personnel as the team replaces nine starters, including current Tennessee starting quarterback Joey Aguilar and wide receiver Kaedin Robinson — two stars responsible for App State’s 19th-ranked passing attack. Replacing Aguilar is SEC journeyman AJ Swann, a former starter at Vanderbilt who spent 2024 as LSU’s backup. The pocket passer-style QB threw for 2,731 yards from 2022-23 as a Commodore, collecting 22 touchdowns to nine interceptions. Iowa State transfer JJ Kohl remains in App State’s back pocket as another option, but Swann’s experience likely prevails to start the year.
The skill players propelling this new-look offense — with Loggains holding play-call duties — include Kanye Roberts and Dalton Stroman. Roberts has been a staple of the offense for quite some time, producing 696 rushing yards and seven touchdowns in 2023 before adding 332 yards in an injury-riddled 2024. Meanwhile, Stroman is the returning leader in receiving yards, and he’s exceeded 300 in three-consecutive seasons as a steady contributor. Averaging 18.0 yards per reception in his career, he’s a big-play threat looking to make his greatest impact yet after the departures of Kaedin Robinson and Makai Jackson.
However, the receivers sharing the production with Stroman will primarily be transfers. Davion Dozier (Arkansas) and Jackson Grier (Boise State) arrive as FBS transfers eyeing expanded roles, while Jaden Barnes (Austin Peay) transitions upward from the FCS level. The first-team offensive tackles are likely portal additions as well, while the incumbent guards are among the most experienced starters on the unit.
The Mountaineers’ 5-6 record in 2024 was primarily a consequence of a brutal turnover margin (-9) and poor defensive effort. App State ranked 113th in scoring defense, heavily burdened by the inability to stop the run. Clemson, South Alabama, and Marshall — the three teams to drop 48+ on the Mountaineers — all did so via dominant ground attacks, and that facet must be amended under new defensive coordinator DJ Smith, an alumni hire who previously served on the Mountaineers’ late 2010s coaching staffs.
Five defensive starters return, and App State experiences continuity in all three position groups. The defensive line returns defensive end Thomas Davis (36 tackles, 3.0 sacks), the linebacking corps retains the team’s third-leading tackler in Kyle Arnholt (55 tackles, 2 TFL), and the secondary trots out free safety DJ Burks (58 tackles, 3 TFL). The defense isn’t beaming with experienced transfers, but App State needs to find the right pieces to improve upon its coverage (allowed third-highest opponent completion percentage in FBS at 68.8%) and turnover output (intercepted just four passes).
Charlotte 49ers outlook
Charlotte joined the FBS one year after Appalachian State but cannot claim a wealth of accolades. The 49ers have yet to win a bowl and only claim one winning season — a 2019 campaign which featured a 7-6 finish. Charlotte enjoys other advantages such as a fervent fanbase which routinely packs Jerry Richardson Stadium and potential. Potential is the reason Tim Albin left Ohio after 20 years of building the Bobcats into a perennial winner. He produced the Bobcats’ first MAC title since 1968, and now he’s ready for his next challenge of ending droughts in the Queen City.
Albin’s teams at Ohio were always renowned for the playmaking abilities of their dual-threat quarterbacks, which included Nathan Rourke, Kurtis Rourke, and Parker Navarro. Given that history, it wasn’t surprising North Carolina transfer Conner Harrell emerged as the winner of the 49ers’ three-man quarterback competition. Charlotte experienced his mobility firsthand last fall as Harrell threw for 219 yards and touchdowns while rushing for 39 and another score in a 38-20 Tar Heel victory.
Harrell earned three starts at North Carolina, including his first in Bank of America Stadium, and he’ll look to lead a renovated offense which is expected to be half-comprised of incoming transfers. Wide receiver is one position that could feature multiple newcomers into first-team positions, as E. Jai Mason arrives as an established threat from FCS Samford while former Vanderbilt/Boston College veteran Jayden McGowan joins the corps. They’ll join Sean Brown, who ranked second on the roster with 470 receiving yards, as the 49ers hope to replace five of their top six leaders in the category.
The offense also consists of long term staples including sixth-year center Jonny King and fifth-year 49er running back Henry Rutledge. Charlotte lost its top three rushers from 2024, thrusting Rutledge into the premier role. He has 345 career rushing yards, and the senior will double as a star return specialist — as he produced an American Conference-best 605 kick return yards in 2024.
While the offense features a healthy mix of transfer and retained talent, the defensive production will primarily come from portal additions. Inside linebacker Reid Williford and cornerback Treyveon McGee are the returning talent who started the majority of the prior season. Williford is a welcome presence as Charlotte’s leading tackler from 2024, generating 77 tackles and seven tackles for loss. The linebacking corps should be the strength of this unit as Shay Taylor follows Albin and defensive coordinator Nate Faanes from Ohio. Taylor produced 72 tackles and 10 tackles for loss as a key cog on the MAC champions. More MAC championship influence is seen at linebacker in Kadin Schmitz, who also made the popular offseason migration from Athens to Charlotte.
Ja’Qurious Conley is the playmaker to watch in the secondary against App State’s new-look aerial attack. Conley was limited to six appearances last season, but the former North Carolina transfer thrived in coverage and produced 26 tackles in reduced action.
Still, vast improvement must be displayed in a 49er defense which ranked 123rd in points allowed per game, 124th in rushing yards allowed, and tied for 111th in both sacks and turnovers produced.
Prediction
New coaching staffs. Rosters with heavy transfer portal representation. No homefield advantage. First-game jitters.
Predicting this matchup isn’t going to be easy with a litany of variables. Appalachian State possesses more established offensive talent, having a considerable experience edge over Charlotte at quarterback and running back. Both teams fielded questionable defenses in 2024 which need major revamping.
But given this game’s status as an opener with new head coaches, the offenses might take a bit to gel. Thus, expect a lower-scoring bout with the Mountaineers’ offensive advantages prevailing in a close one at Bank of America Stadium.
Prediction: Appalachian State 27, Charlotte 20
