College Preview: What is a ‘good’ season for the 49ers?
The Charlotte 49ers open Year 2 of the Tim Albin Era on Saturday afternoon at home against The Citadel.
And perhaps the biggest question surrounding the 49ers’ program is, “What would a successful season look like?”
Certainly nobody surrounding the program wants a repeat of last year, when Charlotte finished 1-11, its only victory coming against an FCS opponent by a seven-point margin.
“I know that we’ve closed the gap,” Albin, starting his second season at the reins, said earlier this week, in advance of Saturday’s 3:30 p.m. season-opener at Jerry Richardson Stadium.
“But I don’t know that that gap is,” Albin added.
Many people outside the program apparently feel the gap is still big.
Charlotte was picked by media members to finish last again this season in the American Conference. ESPN’s Power Index has Charlotte at 128th of 138 schools.
But there is hope.
In both of Albin’s previous head coaching gigs – at Northeastern Oklahoma and then at Ohio – his teams showed considerable improvement in Year 2.
The offensive line averages 5-6 pounds more than a year ago. Last year, 14 Charlotte players were timed at 20 mph or faster in drills. This year, 40 players reached that mark.
Albin hit the transfer portal for 25 players and has a considerable number of returnees from the 2025 defense.
“Defensively, we return quite a few guys,” Albin said. “We started four freshman in our front seven last year. Guess what? Those guys aren’t freshmen any more.
Albin said he’s convinced the defense will fare well.
“Offensively, it’s all new faces,” he said.
Albin said Cole Gonzales has won the starting quarterback job. Gonzales started at Western Carolina, then went to Oklahoma, and saw some action last season at Pittsburgh.
“Cole has game experience, and we feel confident with him,” Albin said.
Connor Harrell, formerly of North Carolina, and Grayson Loftis are the backups. Chance Williams, a backup running back the past two seasons at Cincinnati, will start at that position for the 49ers.
So … back to the original question … What does a successful season look like?
Albin addressed that question earlier this week.
“I know we will be better,” he said.
“I want the last game to mean something,” he said. “That’s my goal.”
Here’s a quick look at this weekend’s college football for Charlotte-area teams:
Appalachian State
Opponent: Maine
Info: 3:30 p.m., Kidd Brewer Stadium, Boone. ESPN+. The game is a sellout..
About Maine (1-0): The Bears opened with a 21-18 Coastal Athletic Association victory over Towson. Maine had six sacks and forced two turnovers. Towson missed a potential tying field goal late in the game.
About Appalachian State (0-0): The Mountaineers embark on Season 2 under head coach Dowell Loggins. They will be quarterbacked by Malachi Singleton, a former backup at Arkansas and then at Purdue. Loggins overhauled the roster, bringing in 43 players via the transfer portal. There are 73 new players in all.
Note: The teams have met twice before, in the 2002 and 2011 FCS playoffs. Maine won each time.
Catawba
Opponent: North Greenville
Info: 6 p.m., Shuford Stadium, Salisbury.
About North Greenville (0-0): The Trailblazers are coming off the program’s most successful season, which ended with North Greenville reached the Division 2 playoffs. QB Dylan Ramirez, who threw for 3,000-plus yards, has graduated. But the Trailblazers return much of their defense and several key offensive players and are the preseason No. 1 pick in Conference Carolinas.
About Catawba (1-0): The Indians opened with a 13-7 victory at Ferrum. Sophomore QB Mason Fortune was a bright spot, completing 27-of-40 passes for 290 yards and two touchdowns (and a 137.4 quarterback rating). Defensive back Elijah Barber of Myers Park led the defense, with four tackles, an interception, and two pass break-ups.
Davidson
Opponent: Elon
Info: 6 p.m., Davidson College Stadium, Davidson.
About Elon (1-0): The Phoenix blitzed Glenville State 42-7 last week. Their quarterback is Brady Stober, who set passing records for several seasons at Hickory High. He threw for 260 yards and a pair of touchdowns last week.
About Davidson (0-1): The Wildcats showed plenty of firepower but had defensive issues in last week’s 41-35 loss to Concord. QB Casey Bullock was sharp, throwing for 241 yards and three touchdowns and running for another 81 yards
Note: Davidson would like to forget about its last meeting with Elon. The Wildcats lost 55-7 a year ago to the Phoenix. Davidson is 16-4 all-time against Elon but has lost the last four meetings. Elon has won six straight games against FCS teams from North Carolina.
Gardner-Webb
Opponent: Wofford
Info: 3:30 p.m., Gibbs Stadium, Spartanburg.
About Wofford (1-0): The Bulldogs opened with a 42-14 rout of The Citadel in a Southern Conference game. The Citadel had more than 350 total yards, but Wofford repeatedly make key stops. The Bulldogs showed a balanced attack, with Gerald Modest Jr. rushing for 105 yards.
About Gardner-Webb (0-1): The big story, obviously, is this week’s firing of head coach Kris McCullough. Pete Bennett will coach the Runnin’ bulldogs for the rest of the season. Getting the team focused on the game, amid all the turmoil, has been Bennett’s big job. Charlotte Christian’s Christian Vann is starting RB for the Runnin’ bulldogs.
Johnson C. Smith
Opponent: Albany State
Info: 4 p.m. Sunday, Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, Canton, Ohio. NFL Network.
About Albany State (0-1): The Golden Rams opened with a 20-7 loss to Florida A&M and totaled only 3 yards rushing. But they are defending Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference champions and are expected to contend again this season.
About Johnson C. Smith (0-1): The Golden Bulls are coming off a 32-10 loss to Benedict. The Golden Bulls moved the ball well on the ground, but the passing game was an issue. They totaled 94 yards in the air.
Note: This is the annual Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic, which matches the CIAA champion (Johnson C. Smith) and the SIAC champion. It’s played at the stadium adjacent to the NFL Hall of Fame – the same stadium where the Carolina Panthers played last month.
Lenoir-Rhyne
Opponent: West Alabama
Info: 3:30 p.m., Moretz Stadium, Hickory.
About West Alabama (1-0): The Tigers beat Tuskegee 27-14 last week in the Red Tails Classic. Stopping West Alabama means stopping quarterback Luther Richesson, who passed for 216 yards and ran for 93 more.
About No. 22 Lenoir-Rhyne (1-0): The Bears are nationally ranked in Division 2 after pounding then-No. 14 Virginia Union 45-3 last week. The Bears had 500-plus yards of offense, with quarterback Wells Bettenhausen completing passes to seven different receivers. The Bears’ defense was relentless, compiling five sacks.
Wingate
Opponent: Delta State
Info: 7 p.m., Parker Field at McCool Stadium, Cleveland, MS.
About Delta State (0-1): The Statesmen were roughed up in their opener, losing 52-0 to Northeastern Oklahoma. They’ll be looking for some offensive success this week, after totaling just four first downs and 69 yards’ total offense a week ago.
About Wingate (0-1): The Bulldogs had only 68 passing yards last week in a 21-13 loss at UNC Pembroke. They also were hurt by three turnovers. One bright spot was RB Ethan Wallace, who carried 14 times for 86 yards and a touchdown.
Note: These teams met once before, in 2024. Delta State, then ranked No. 7 in Division 2, lost 21-7 at Wingate.
Carolinas college schedule
Friday
Nonconference
N.C. A&T at Georgia State, 7 pm (ESPN+)
Shenandoah at Methodist, 6 pm
Saturday
CIAA
Livingstone at Virginia Union, 6 pm
Nonconference
Benedict at Shorter-GA, 3 pm
Charleston Southern at Georgia Southern, 7 pm (ESPN+)
Chowan at UVA Wise, 6 pm
Clemson at LSU, 7:30 pm (ABC)
Coastal Carolina at West Virginia, noon (TNT)
Elizabeth City State at N.C. Central, 6 pm
Elon at Davidson, 6 pm
Fayetteville State at UNC Pembroke, 6 pm
Florida Memorial at Allen, 4 pm
Furman at Tennessee, 3:30 pm (SEC Network)
Gardner-Webb at Wofford, 1:30 pm (ESPN+)
Guilford at Greensboro College, 6 pm
Keiser-FL at Anderson, 6 pm
Kent State at South Carolina, 12:45 pm (SEC Network)
Maine at Appalachian State, 3:30 pm (ESPN+)
Mars Hill at Winston-Salem State, 6 pm
North Greenville at Catawba, 6 pm
Presbyterian at Mercer, 6 pm
Shaw at Barton, 7 pm
S.C. State at Florida A&M, 3 pm
The Citadel at Charlotte, 3:30 pm (ESPN+)
Tulane at Duke, 3:30 pm (ACC Network)
West Alabama at Lenoir-Rhyne, 3 pm
Western Carolina at Campbell, 3:30 pm
Wingate at Delta State, 7 pm
Sunday
Nonconference
Johnson C. Smith vs. Albany State, at Canton, OH, 4 pm
OFF: Brevard, Erskine, North Carolina, N.C. State
