There’s little doubt that the Charlotte 49ers are beginning a new chapter on Saturday night. The Biff Poggi era begins with a visit from the South Carolina State Bulldogs of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in the first meeting between the two schools.
Marking the first of four nonconference games on the schedule, Poggi and the Niners will have a few weeks to assess their revamped roster before their inaugural season in the American Athletic Conference begins on Sept. 30.
The Game
South Carolina State at Charlotte
Charlotte
Saturday, 6 p.m., ESPN+
Records
Charlotte: 3-9 (2-6 C-USA) in 2022
SC State: 0-1 (0-0 MEAC) in 2023; 3-8 (1-4 MEAC) in 2022
Head-to-head
First meeting
Players to Watch
Charlotte quarterback Jalon Jones: The senior transfer from Bethune-Cookman is one of 69 new players on the team and one of eight transfer additions who have already earned a starting role on offense. Jones played his junior year of high school at Saint Frances Academy (under Poggi) where he totaled 1,025 passing yards and 11 touchdowns with 819 rushing yards and nine touchdowns.
SC State quarterback Corey Fields Jr.: It’s been five years since Fields first stepped on the field for the Bulldogs, and the redshirt senior is now in his sixth campaign with the team. He completed only seven of his 20 pass attempts and managed just 60 yards in SC State’s season-opening loss to Jackson State in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge on Aug. 26.
Odds
N/A
