According to College Football News, East Carolina has the seventh toughest strength of schedule among 14 teams in the American Athletic Conference.

The Pirates are coming off a unique 8-5 season in which they switched quarterbacks and coaches at midseason.

Before ECU looks to improve on a 5-3 performance in the AAC, there are four nonconference contests that will keep the Pirates in the Carolinas until October.

ECU will be at home for the league opener with Army on Thursday, Sept. 25, (7:30 p.m., ESPN) as well.

Here’s a look at the schedule before the Pirates host the Black Knights:

Thursday, Aug. 28, 7 p.m.

at N.C. State

TV: ACC Network

The 2025 season will get started as 2024 ended — with a matchup against the Wolfpack. ECU coach Blake Harrell culminated a 5-1 finish with a 26-21 win over N.C. State in the Military Bowl in Annapolis with Michigan State transfer Katin Houser directing an offense that produced 473 yards, including 86 on a decisive scoring run by Rahjai Harris with 1:33 remaining.

The final seconds of the contest were marred by a skirmish and State coach Dave Doeren recently recounted his disappointment in the incident in a post on WRAL.com.

“The way we finished the season, like I said in our press conference at the end, I was embarrassed by that, the way our guys behaved on the field after the game,” he said. “So we have a lot to prove in that football game.”

Apart from the payback motive, the Wolfpack has to hit the ground running with its Atlantic Coast Conference opener in Week 2 against Virginia.

State has made changes in its coordinators since a 6-7 season (3-5 ACC) with Kurt Roper calling the offense and D.J. Eliot directing the defense. There will be some system innovations in store for the Pirates.

“We’ve been in the same system for a while and so change can sometimes inspire the guys to learn because they knew what was going on in the old scheme,” Doeren said. “It pushes them a little bit mentally and it allows us to do some things schematically that may help our guys.”

Roper has six returning starters to work with including quarterback C.J. Bailey and running back Hollywood Smothers. Bailey threw for 2,413 yards and 17 touchdowns as a freshman. Receivers Noah Rogers and Wesley Grimes stayed in the program.

There are four starters back on defense.

Saturday, Sept. 6, 6 p.m.

Campbell

TV: ESPN+

The Pirates have played Campbell only once since the Camels reinstated football in 2008.

That was a 49-10 win for ECU in 2022 as Holton Ahlers accounted for four touchdowns.

Campbell has changed athletic directors, coaches and conferences in the interim.

Hannah Bazemore is the new AD. She has moved the Camels from the Big South Conference to the Colonial Athletic Association. Mike Minter was the coach in 2022. Braxton Harris will be in his second season in 2025.

Campbell was 3-9 overall and 1-7 in the CAA in 2024. The Camels play their league opener at Rhode Island before venturing to Greenville,

Lamar transfer Mike Chandler II played in 12 games for Campbell last season, throwing for 1.118 yards and 12 TDs.

Saturday, Sept. 13

at Coastal Carolina, 7:30 p.m.

TV: ESPN+

ECU’s lone meeting with the Chanticleers was a 53-29 win for the Pirates in the Birmingham Bowl in 2022 in Ahlers’ final game to complete an 8-5 season.

Coastal is coming off a 6-7 season in which it finished 3-5 in the Sun Belt Conference under coach Tim Beck in his second season.

Tad Hudson, a transfer from North Carolina, is the projected starter at quarterback for new offensive coordinator Drew Hollingshead, who ran an up tempo, pass-oriented attack at Western Kentucky.

Hudson has plenty of competition, including former N.C. State quaterback M.J. Morris. There is a veteran offensive front for whoever is taking snaps.

The Chanticleers will have a trip to Virginia and a home game with Charleston Southern to get things worked out before ECU comes to Conway.

New defensive coordinator Jeremiah Johnson has only three starters back after transfer exits.

Saturday, Sept. 20, TBA

Brigham Young

TV: TBA

ECU has a 2-1 series lead by virtue of a 46-yard field goal by Andrew Conrad as time expired in Provo for a 27-24 win in 2022.

This meeting will be the first since BYU joined the Big 12.

The Cougars were 11-2 overall and 7-2 in league play last season after a 9-0 start.

Jake Retzlaff is back at quarterback among five returning starters on offense. He threw for 2,947 yards and 20 scores as a junior. Leading receiver Chase Roberts and top rusher L.J. Martin provide skill support.

Only three return on defense but Utah transfer Keanu Tanuvasa should bolster the front.

The Cougars host Portland State and Stanford with an open date before traveling to Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.