The Charlotte 49ers started a busy week by announcing their first Division 1 FBS transition schedule yesterday. They will sign their first recruiting class as a member of Conference USA today.
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As we witnessed with Appalachian State last year, scheduling the first year schedule in FBS is a balancing act. The Mountaineers included two FCS foes on their new schedule, Campbell and Liberty, but found their stride in the middle of conference play.
Charlotte will be moving into the Eastern Division of Conference USA. They will slot into the spot vacated by the Alabama-Birmingham Blazers when they dropped football earlier this year. The 49ers will be playing Marshall, Middle Tennessee, Western Kentucky, Old Dominion, FIU, and Florida Atlantic every year in football.
Betsided
The 49ers will add Southern Miss and Texas- San Antonio from the Western Division to round out their first conference schedule.
The non-conference slate for Charlotte is admirable for a team in their position. They will play Sun Belt member Georgia State to open the season in the Georgia Dome. The Presbyterian Blue Hose, an FCS member, will make a trip to Charlotte. The Temple Owls will be the first nonconference FBS foe to come visit the 49ers. The biggest name on Charlotte’s schedule is a road trip to Lexington to play Kentucky.
Given the up and down campaign of the Charlotte 49ers last year, this schedule offers the 49ers the opportunity to test themselves. Temple and Kentucky will be big challenges and wins over either will constitute a big win for the 49ers. No one should judge the success of the 49ers this season on wins.
Tomorrow the 49ers are expected to sign a 15 man class. Due to their transitional status, they are not yet able to carry the full scholarship amount. They will also be ineligible for a bowl berth this year.