Charlotte Unveils 12-Game 2026 Schedule, Week 0 vs The Citadel
Charlotte opens with a Week 0 home date vs FCS The Citadel, then hits Ole Miss and App State back-to-back — early Power/Group-of-Six tests that will shape the 49ers’ AAC trajectory.
1. Sept. 5 — vs. The Citadel (Jerry Richardson Stadium, Charlotte, N.C.)
The 49ers kick off what Charlotte Athletics released as a full 12-game slate with a home opener against The Citadel on Sept. 5; the American Athletic Conference called it a Week 0 game while some schedules label that date Week 1. Playing an FCS opponent at Jerry Richardson Stadium (capacity 15,314) is a standard early-season tune-up on paper — Charlotte’s site lists the kickoff time as TBA — but every Week 0/1 opener matters structurally: it’s a live-game chance to iron out personnel and protect starters ahead of two difficult road trips. The Citadel’s official schedule corroborates Sept. 5 as “at Charlotte,” so there’s no venue ambiguity even if week-numbering conventions differ.
2. Sept. 12 — at Ole Miss (Oxford, Miss.)
A true national measuring stick follows: Charlotte travels to Ole Miss, a Power Four opponent, on Sept. 12. Herosports explicitly lists 9/12 as “@ Ole Miss,” and Underdogdynasty’s weekly map similarly notes Charlotte “travels to Ole Miss in Week 2,” so this game is locked in as a high-exposure, high-stakes nonconference test. Beyond the on-field challenge, this road trip should draw increased scouting and TV interest — the type of early-season opponent that can make or break transfer-room narratives and NFL tableside looks for standout 49ers.
3. Sept. 19 — at Appalachian State (Boone, N.C.)
Charlotte’s third game is another road test at App State — Herosports lists 9/19 as “@ App State” and Charlotte’s official schedule mirrors that. Labeled a Group of Six matchup by Herosports, App State is the kind of regional, physical test that tells you more about Charlotte’s front seven and run-game chops than any spring scrimmage could. Back-to-back true road games after Ole Miss create a compressed window for scheme evaluation and depth checks before the squad returns home.
4. Sept. 26 — vs. Louisiana (Jerry Richardson Stadium)
The nonconference slate closes with a home game against Louisiana on Sept. 26; both the Charlotte site and Herosports list this as a 9/26 home contest. Herosports groups Louisiana with the other Group of Six opponents on Charlotte’s slate, meaning Charlotte faces three non-AAC FBS tests and one FCS test before conference play settles in. That mix — one FCS, two Group of Six and a Power Four — is the exact breakdown Herosports called out, and it gives Tim Albin’s staff varied game films to show NFL camps and recruits.
5. Oct. 3 — vs. Memphis (Jerry Richardson Stadium)
Conference play opens in earnest with Memphis at home on Oct. 3; Charlotte’s official schedule and Herosports both list 10/3 vs. Memphis. Herosports explicitly summarized Charlotte’s slate as featuring eight American Conference games, and Memphis is one of those AAC tests that will be a barometer for Charlotte’s midseason standing. Hosting Memphis provides a chance to build momentum in front of the home crowd and pad the conference resume before a two-game road swing.
6. Oct. 10 — at North Texas (Denton, Texas)
Charlotte heads to Denton on Oct. 10 to face North Texas; Herosports lists 10/10 as “@ North Texas” and Charlotte’s site confirms the date and location. That trip is also notable in conference context: Underdogdynasty’s notes show North Texas’ season includes a tough nonconference opener (at Indiana), so the Mean Green will arrive battle-tested. For Charlotte, North Texas represents a stylistic and travel challenge that can expose depth issues — road wins in places like Denton are often the difference in tighter AAC division races.
7. Oct. 17 — at Temple (Philadelphia, Pa.)
The 49ers’ October road swing continues with an Oct. 17 trip to Temple; both Herosports and Charlotte’s schedule list 10/17 “@ Temple.” Philadelphia games are traditionally about handling noise, weather and opponent aggression late in the fall; this is another conference test that will reveal how Charlotte’s scheme holds up under sustained road pressure. Winning in Philly would be a resume-builder; losing would put more weight on the late November stretch.
8. Oct. 30 — vs. Tulane (Jerry Richardson Stadium — Friday)
Charlotte returns home to host Tulane on Oct. 30, with the Charlotte site specifically listing Oct. 30 as a Friday game and Herosports including the matchup in its 10/30 entry. Underdogdynasty flagged that Tulane is the only American team avoiding an FCS opponent in the nonconference slate, underscoring the Green Wave’s own scheduling philosophy; meeting them at Jerry Richardson Stadium on a Friday creates a potential national-television window and a rare weekday crowd dynamic. This contest sits in the middle of the AAC season and could be pivotal for momentum heading into November.
9. Nov. 7 — at UAB (Birmingham, Ala.)
Charlotte travels to UAB on Nov. 7; Herosports lists 11/7 “@ UAB” and the Charlotte schedule confirms the Birmingham location. UAB is a familiar AAC foe whose style typically tests linebacker play and third-down defense; playing there late in the season is an early litmus test for depth and late-game situational execution. Road preparation, special teams and turnovers will be emphasized — games in conference tightness like this often decide who’s still in the AAC race come late November.
10. Nov. 14 — vs. East Carolina (Jerry Richardson Stadium)
Charlotte hosts East Carolina on Nov. 14 (11/14 listed by both Herosports and Charlotte’s site), another conference matchup with a program that will bring Power Five-caliber nonconference experience to the table (Underdogdynasty notes ECU’s nonconference slate includes a trip to Alabama in Week 1). For the 49ers, this home date is a chance to defend Richardson Stadium, collect valuable conference wins, and show recruits how Charlotte performs in November — a period NFL evaluators watch for physicality and late-season improvement.
11. Nov. 21 — at Tulsa (Tulsa, Okla.)
The penultimate regular-season trip is to Tulsa on Nov. 21; Herosports lists 11/21 “@ Tulsa” and Charlotte’s schedule matches that. A late-season road trip to Tulsa is the kind of game where roster depth and midseason injuries make themselves felt; conference wins away from home are often the tiebreakers when AAC standings tighten. For Charlotte, winning in Tulsa would set up a favorable final-week scenario at home and potentially position the program for a run toward the AAC title game line Herosports included in its calendar.
12. Nov. 28 — vs. Navy (Jerry Richardson Stadium)
Charlotte closes the listed regular season at home against Navy on Nov. 28 — Herosports lists 11/28 “vs. Navy” and Charlotte’s site confirms the date and venue (kick times remain TBA on the official site). Herosports’ published schedule also includes “12/5 | American Conference Championship” as a season calendar item; that date appears as context on their page but Charlotte would only play it if the team qualifies. Ending the scheduled slate against Navy gives the 49ers a final chance at home to secure AAC positioning and send seniors out in front of their fans at Jerry Richardson Stadium, with the program’s metadata (Stadium: Jerry Richardson Stadium, Capacity: 15,314; Mascot: Norm the Niner) noted on Charlotte’s site for those planning game-day travel.
Final note: Charlotte Athletics released its 2026 football schedule on Feb. 26, 2026, and the combined sourcing from Charlotte’s official site, the American Athletic Conference announcement, Herosports’ schedule breakdown (which states “Charlotte’s 2026 schedule features eight American Conference games”), Citadel’s posted slate, and Underdogdynasty’s week-by-week mapping establishes the dates and opponents above — kickoff times and TV designations remain TBA on the Charlotte49ers site and should be monitored as the season approaches.
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