The Charlotte 49ers and Appalachian State will meet for the third straight season after the two schools agreed to a game at Appalachian State, Sept. 12, in what is now the 49ers’ 2020 season-opener.
The schools decided to play the game in Boone due to the larger seating capacity at Kidd Brewer Stadium in a year in which attendance may be limited due to the pandemic.
The Mountaineers recently lost all four of their originally scheduled 2020 non-conference opponents, which were Morgan State, Wisconsin, Wake Forest, and Massachusetts.
“This game has been our number one scheduling priority,” said 49ers Director of Athletics Mike Hill. “We have tremendous respect for App State’s football program and look forward to another great game against them. Without a doubt, we have our most exciting non-conference schedule in history.”
“I would like to thank Mike Hill and his team for working with us to get this scheduled in what is a very fluid situation for all of us,” App State Director of Athletics Doug Gillin said. “This matchup makes sense for both schools. The safety, health, and well-being of our student-athletes remains our priority, and we continue to follow guidance from health officials, university leadership, and the Sun Belt Conference to provide the safest environment for the return of sports on our campus. We hope to safely welcome App State students, season ticket holders, and visiting teams to Kidd Brewer Stadium this fall, following the latest public health protocols.”
Last week, Charlotte confirmed a pair of ACC games would be part of the 2020 non-conference schedule. The 49ers’ originally scheduled road game at Duke remained on the schedule but was moved to Oct. 31. A road game at 19th-ranked North Carolina, Sept. 19, was added as well, as the two ACC schools identified their one non-conference opponent. Appalachian State and Duke are both receiving votes in the Amway Coaches Poll presented by USA Today. Charlotte will also host Georgia State, Sept. 26, in non-conference play.
“We know the history of that program and what kind of team they have coming back,” said 49ers head coach Will Healy. “Shawn Clark is a really, really good person and he does a great job. I know he’s going to keep them rolling.”
“We look forward to playing Charlotte on September 12,” App State head coach Shawn Clark said. “Our team wants to play. Our medical staff, coaching staff, and administration have been working tirelessly to implement protocols that provide a safe environment for our players, and we will continue to put their health and safety first as we prepare for the 2020 season.”
The move gives Charlotte its 11th game of the season, despite the loss of three previously scheduled games. Charlotte’s season-opener at Tennessee and its home-opener vs. Norfolk State were both been canceled due to respective conference decisions surrounding the pandemic. Conference USA foe Old Dominion recently announced the cancellation of their fall season, removing that league game from the 2020 slate.
“I really appreciate Mike and our athletic department for their work to adapt and set up this schedule,” added Healy. “It’s definitely going to challenge us, but it’s also something that should be really fun and memorable for our fans and team.
As part of the agreement, Charlotte will host App State in 2030. Charlotte and Appalachian State already had a four-game series from 2026 to 2029 on the schedule for upcoming campaigns, so the two teams will be set to play in five straight seasons, beginning in 2026.
The Mountaineers defeated the 49ers in their first two meetings – 45-9 in Charlotte in 2018 and 56-41 in Boone last year.
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