No.25 Florida broke into the AP Poll rankings for the first time since Sep. 18, 2022, after upsetting No.11 Tennessee 29-16 in a sold-out Swamp in week three. Next up for the Gators is the Charlottee 49ers, who enter the contest holding a 1-2 record, with their lone win coming against SC State in week one.
DATES, TIMES, AND BROADCAST INFO
Florida and Charlotte will meet for the first time on the gridiron at 7:00 PM inside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. The game will air on SEC Network+.
Play-by-Play: Clay Matvick
Analyst: Aaron Murray
Channel (Cox): stream only
Channel (DirecTV): stream only
Gator Sports Network from LEARFIELD
Play-by-Play: Sean Kelley
Analyst: Shane Matthews
Reporter: Tate Casey
Channel: Local Affiliates
SiriusXM Channel: 104 or 202
SCOUTING REPORT
Charlotte’s two-deep is filled with transfers as the 49ers added 23 players during the offseason, 14 of which coming from P5 programs.
First-year Head Coach Biff Poggi has done a great job flipping their roster over since his hiring on November 15th, 2022. Prior to his first FBS head coaching job, Poggi was a successful high school football coach in Maryland, working at both Gilman High School and St. Frances Academy throughout his 20+ year coaching career. Poggi then moved into the college ranks, spending three seasons at Michigan as an analyst under Jim Harbaugh.
OFFENSE
Charlotte’s offense has struggled through three games under Poggi, ranking 100th in the FBS in total offense while averaging 23 points per game.
The 49ers have played two QBs frequently this season, with both showing inconsistences in their game.
Jalon Jones, the former Florida Gator, has completed 24 of 41 passes (58.5%) for 252 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions. The dual-threat QB can cause issues with his legs as the 6-3, 205-pound QB has posted 80, 67, and 49 rushing yards in each of game this season. Jones has found the endzone twice using his legs and is averaging 6.2 yards per carry.
The other QB you could see on Saturday night is sophomore Trexler Ivey, who has appeared in two games this season, completing 25 of 33 passes (75.8%) for 330 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Ivey is the more consistent passer of the two, while Jones’ athleticism provides a spark in the rushing game. I expect to see both on Saturday night. Collectively, Charlotte’s passing offense ranks 101st in the FBS, averaging 194 yards per game.
Florida should be able to capitalize on Charlotte’s offensive line, who has allowed nine sacks through three games and grades as one of the worst pass protection teams in the country, according to Pro Football Focus.
Charlotte’s run game has been effective at times this season as the 49ers are averaging 144.3 yards per game with four rushing touchdowns. A large part of their success on the ground has come from QB Jalon Jones, who is averaging over 63 rushing yards per game and was Charlotte’s leading rusher in two games.
KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH
- QB Jalon Jones #4
- QB Trexler Ivey #11
- RB Durell Robinson #0 (26 carries, 124 yards, 1 TD)
- WR Jack Hestera #19 (14 receptions, 194 yards, 1 TD)
DEFENSE
The 49ers rank 107th in total defense and are allowing an average of 6.43 yards per play. Charlotte’s secondary has been gashed this season, allowing 270.7 passing yards per game, which ranks 110th in the FBS. Their coverage grade of 67.9 ranks 92nd in college football, according to PFF.
Against the only power five team they’ve played in the 2023 season, the 49ers allowed 530 yards of offense and 38 points.
Florida shouldn’t have any issue getting the run game going, even with three starting offensive linemen out, as Charlotte allows over 150 rushing yards per game, allowing 243 against Maryland in week two.
Missed tackles have been a real problem for Charlotte’s defense as they’ve totaled 39 missed tackles through three games and grade as the 112th best tackling defense in the FBS, according to PFF.
KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH
- DB Wayne Jones #9 (21 tackles, .5 sacks)
- DB Kameron Howard #16 ( 6 tackles, two INTs)
- LB Prince Bemah #25 (19 tackles, 1 sack)
- LB Nikai Hill-Green #41 (17 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss)
THE STORYLINE
- The Florida-Charlotte game marks the second-annual Tom Petty Day in The Swamp, as the Gators honor the legendary music icon and Gainesville native.
- A win over Charlotte would give Florida its first winning streak of three games or more since rattling off six-straight
SEC victories from Oct. 31 – Dec. 5, 2020 (def. Missouri, Georgia, Arkansas, Vanderbilt, Kentucky, Tennessee). - Charlotte will be the 63rd opponent that UF has faced just once. Among games with unique opponents (one meet- ing), Florida has a record of 52-9-1.
- The Gators recently defeated the 49ers on the pitch, posting a 1-0 victory in soccer on Sept. 7, 2023.
• Florida is a combined 17-3 against Charlotte across five sports: baseball (2-0), men’s basketball (4-2), soccer (1-0),
women’s basketball (8-1) and softball (17-3).
• Florida’s last game against an AAC opponent came in the form of a 31-28 win over USF on Sept. 17, 2022.
• The Gators have won 16 of their last 18 regular-season non-conference games since the start of the 2018 season.
• In those 18 games, UF has outscored its opponents, 733-331, equating to an average score of 40.7 to 18.4 (22.3 points).
• Florida has totaled 300-plus yards in 19-consecutive regular-season non-conference tilts. - In year one under DC Austin Armstrong, Florida ranks first in the SEC, sixth in the Power Five and 10th in the FBS in to- tal defense with 256.3 yards allowed per game. Through three games last year, UF had allowed 373.3 yards per game.
• The Gators have also limited opponents to 15.7 points per game, a 13.2-point improvement from last season (28.9).
• In Week 2, UF posted its best defensive performance (112 yards allowed) in 86 games – Sept. 17, 2016 vs. North Texas (53).
• Florida ranks 16th in the P5 and second in the SEC in passing defense with 172.7 passing yards allowed per game.
• Florida boasts a 357-113-13 (.753) all-time record at The Swamp, holding the second-highest home winning percent- age in the nation since 1990 with a 176-34 (.838) record. - The Gators have outscored opponents, 7,906 to 3,392 in 210 games inside The Swamp since 1990, putting the average outcome at 37.6 to 16.2 (21.4 points).
• Florida has scored in 439-consecutive games dating back to 1988 – an NCAA record and 54 games longer than any other college football team in the history of the sport.