This is an automated archive made by the Lemmit Bot.
The original was posted on /r/cfb by /u/usffan on 2024-07-02 13:57:08+00:00.
You can find the start of this series with links to all teams here
Way before Appalachian State was America’s darling, knocking off major football teams that united the rest of college football fandom into rooting for them, there was another team from North Carolina that did that. East Carolina is kind of like their most famous alumnus Sandra Bullock. Once America’s sweetheart, and while not forgotten, she’s neither the hot new thing like Sydney Sweeney or a blue blood like Meryl Streep. 2023 was a significant backslide for Mike Houston and the Pirates, going 2-10 after consecutive winning seasons. Not surprisingly, that’s generated a fair amount of churn, with only 60% of their productivity returning, and an active transfer portal (247 ratings of 31.96, good for 3rd in the AAC) that saw 19 new players come in (16 from P4 schools) and 33 players leave (only 4 to P4 programs). Coupled with a respectable recruiting class (171.37, 73rd nationally and 6th in the conference), they’ll have an infusion of talent that should help turn last season around. FPI (-6.4) and Sagarin (59.30) have them middle of the pack in conference, but the schedule makers have blessed the Pirates by having them face the bottom 6 teams in FPI this season, which should help their record. Here’s their 2024 schedule:
8/31 NORFOLK STATE (W)
9/7 @ Old Dominion (W, coin toss)
9/14 APPALACHIAN STATE (L)
9/21 @ Liberty (L)
9/28 UTSA (L)
10/5 @ Charlotte (W, coin toss)
10/12 BYE
10/19 @ Army (W, coin toss)
10/26 TEMPLE (W)
11/2 BYE
11/7 FLORIDA ATLANTIC (W, coin toss)
11/14 @ Tulsa (W, coin toss)
11/23 @ North Texas (L, coin toss)
11/30 NAVY (W)
Outlook The Pirates absolutely right the ship this season with a very favorable schedule. They might be a bit slow out of the gate, and if they drop that coin toss at Old Dominion it could get away from them, but they figure to be bowling again in 2024.