Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina will be the stage on August 29 as the Appalachian State Mountaineers and the Charlotte 49ers square off to open their seasons, with both programs ushering in fresh eras under new leadership.
For Appalachian State, this year marks the beginning of the Dowell Loggains era as he takes on his first head coaching job at the college level. The Mountaineers have seen plenty of roster turnover, especially up front, with both offensive tackles departing through the transfer portal.
Charlotte is also beginning a new chapter with Tim Albin taking the reins after a successful run at Ohio, where he led the Bobcats to three straight double-digit win seasons. Albin brings an aggressive rebuild, reshaping the roster with changes across the offensive line, wide receiver corps, and most importantly, at quarterback.
Here, GOAL brings you everything you need to know about how to watch Charlotte vs App State NCAAF game, plus plenty more.
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Charlotte vs App State: Date and kick-off time
Colorado Buffaloes will take on Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in a highly anticipated NCAAF game on Friday, August 29, 2025 at 7:00 pm ET or 4:00 pm PT, at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.
| Date | Friday, August 29, 2025 |
| kick-off Time | 7:00 pm ET or 4:00 pm PT |
| Venue | Bank of America Stadium |
| Location | Charlotte, NC |
How to watch Charlotte vs App State on TV & stream live online
- TV channel: ESPNU
- Streaming service: Fubo
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Charlotte vs App State team news & key players
Charlotte 49ers team news
The 49ers will turn to Conner Harrell, a transfer from Duke who showed flashes in limited action. Harrell connected on 61.4% of his passes (43-for-70) for 552 yards, tossing four touchdowns and three interceptions over the past two years. He also showed mobility, rushing 38 times for 130 yards and two scores. With Albin’s track record and Harrell’s dual-threat ability, the 49ers are hoping their fresh start quickly pays dividends.
The Charlotte 49ers turn to North Carolina transfer Conner Harrell as their new leader under center. Harrell’s dual-threat ability fits perfectly with Tim Albin’s system, which thrived at Ohio with mobile quarterbacks. He already flashed his talent against Charlotte last season, throwing for 219 yards and rushing for a score in a Tar Heels win. Harrell will be surrounded by a mix of fresh faces and proven returnees, with FCS standout E. Jai Mason and veteran Jayden McGowan joining top returner Sean Brown at receiver.
In the run game, longtime 49er Henry Rutledge finally steps into a feature role after the departure of Charlotte’s top three rushers, while sixth-year center Jonny King anchors the line. Defensively, linebacker Reid Williford (77 tackles) is back as the leader, with former Ohio standouts Shay Taylor (72 tackles, 10 TFL) and Kadin Schmitz strengthening the unit. In the secondary, ex-Tar Heel Ja’Qurious Conley could be the x-factor if he stays healthy, giving Charlotte a needed playmaker against App State’s rebuilt passing attack.
App State Mountaineers team news
The most notable addition is quarterback AJ Swann, who arrives with SEC experience after stints at Vanderbilt and LSU. Over three seasons, Swann completed 224 of 398 passes (56.3%) for 2,741 yards, throwing 22 touchdowns against nine interceptions. His SEC pedigree gives Appalachian State a proven arm to build around as Loggains looks to put his stamp on the program.
The Mountaineers enter 2025 with plenty of change, especially on offense, where nine new starters will line up. With new head coach Dowell Loggains calling the plays, the Mountaineers are banking on big years from running back Kanye Roberts and wideout Dalton Stroman. Roberts, who has been a steady piece of the backfield, ran for 696 yards and seven touchdowns in 2023 before injuries slowed him last fall.
Stroman, meanwhile, returns as the top target after topping 300 yards in three straight seasons and averaging a whopping 18 yards per catch in his career. To help him out, transfers Davion Dozier (Arkansas), Jackson Grier (Boise State), and Jaden Barnes (Austin Peay) bolster a revamped receiving corps, while portal pickups are also set to anchor both tackle spots up front.
Defense is where Appalachian State must flip the script after finishing 113th in scoring defense last season and giving up 48+ points to Clemson, South Alabama, and Marshall. New defensive coordinator DJ Smith, a Mountaineer alum, inherits five returning starters, including edge rusher Thomas Davis (36 tackles, 3 sacks), linebacker Kyle Arnholt (55 tackles), and safety DJ Burks (58 tackles).