CHARLOTTE at SOUTH FLORIDA
Friday, October 3 | 7 p.m. ET
Raymond James Stadium (65,000/Natural Grass)
Tampa, Florida
Television
ESPN2
Courtney Lyle, Rene Ingoglia and Marilyn Payne
Charlotte Radio
WZGV-AM 730
South Florida Radio
WHPT-FM 102.5
THE GAME
Friday’s game will be the third meeting between Charlotte and South Florida in a series that began with the 49ers’ joining the American in 2023 … South Florida has taken the first two meetings, including a 59-24 victory in Charlotte last season behind 140 rushing yards and two touchdowns from Bulls RB Kelley Joiner.
CHARLOTTE
1-3, 0-1 American
Head Coach
Tim Albin (Northwestern Oklahoma State ’89)
1-3, first season at Charlotte
59-30, eighth season as collegiate head coach
Notes
Charlotte looks for its first conference win of the season after the 49ers fell 28-17 to Rice Sept. 18 in their American opener … Charlotte was idle in Week 5 … The 49ers suffered a significant setback in that game as QB Conner Harrell suffered a season-ending injury against the Owls … QB Grayson Loftis, a transfer from Duke, is expected to be the starter going forward … Loftis has completed 23 of 44 passes for 296 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions in limited action in 2025 … The leading rusher is RB Rod Gainey Jr., who has 145 yards and a touchdown on 31 carries … WR Javen Nicholas has a team-high 22 receptions for 270 yards, while WR E.Jai Mason has 20 catches for 308 yards and three touchdowns … The defense is led by LB Reid Williford, who has 2.0 sacks and 17 tackles.
rv/rv SOUTH FLORIDA
3-1, 0-0 American
Head Coach
Alex Golesh (Ohio State ’06)
17-13, third season
Notes
South Florida returns from an open week following an opening gauntlet of three consecutive games against top-25 teams and a blowout win against an FCS opponent … The Bulls have won four of their last six American Conference games and are looking for their first winning season in conference play since 2017 … South Florida has gone 4-4 in the American in each of Alex Golesh’s two seasons as head coach … QB Byrum Brown has completed 73 of 116 passes for 983 yards and six touchdowns and is second on the team with 120 rushing yards and two TDs on the ground … WR Chas Nimrod has 14 receptions for a team-high 367 yards and is coming off of back-to-back 100-yard perfomrances … LB Mac Harris has 36 tackles, including 4.0 sacks to go with an interception and two forced fumbles to lead the defense.