Know Your Opponent: Week Four Charlotte 49ers

Written By Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

The Indiana Hoosiers (3-0, 1-0) return home to face off against the Charlotte 49ers at Memorial Stadium. It is the Hoosiers’ final non-conference game as they look to start the year 4-0.

Head Coach: Biff Poggi (2nd Year at Charlotte)
Overall: 4-11 (.267) 2nd Year
At Charlotte:  4-11 (2-6)
Charlotte: Bowl Games: 1
Last Year’s Record: 3-9 (2-6)
This Year’s Record: 1-2 (0-0)
Mascot: Norm the Niner
Colors: Green and White
Outfitter: Nike
National Titles: 0
Conference Titles: 0
Heisman Winners: 0

FUN FACT:

•  The Charlotte football program has only been around since 2013.

1. 49ers Down to Third String Quarterback

The Charlotte 49ers have had their share of bad injury luck over the season’s first three games. Starting quarterback Max Brown went down in the loss to UNC and his backup Deshawn Purdie was injured in Charlotte’s narrow win over Gardner-Webb on Saturday. This means that third string quarterback Trexler Ivey will get the nod against Indiana.

Ivey is a redshirt junior and has starting experience with the 49ers, so they’re not throwing a freshman into the fire with no experience. Ivey played in 11 games in 2023 with five starts while putting up OK, but not great numbers. He threw for 1,263 yards and four touchdowns, but threw 10 interceptions and completed only 55.2-percent of his passes. He is not a running threat at all with negative-90 rushing yards, but does have three touchdowns.

This season Ivey led the 49ers to a comeback win last week over Gardner-Webb throwing for two touchdowns and 142 yards while completing 11-of-12 passes.

2. Henry Rutledge is a Dangerous Returner

Upsets happen in college football and many times they are sparked by a big play on special teams. Charlotte has a really explosive return man in Henry Rutlegde who has over 700 career yards in the return game. He is an All-AAC returner and the Hoosiers could be without their main kickoff specialist on Saturday. This is something to keep an eye on.

3. Victim of the ‘Big Play’

Charlotte’s defense has allowed the most plays of 30 or more yards in the AAC with 14. IU’s offense has shown it can be explosive, if given the opportunity to take shots down field. The 49ers have given up five plays over 40 yards as well.

4. Front Seven Can Create Havoc

The 49ers have three players in their front seven who can create havoc plays in the opponents’ backfield. Defensive linemen Demon Clowney and Dre Butler have a combined 5.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and a forced fumble. Linebacker Reid Williford leads the team with four tackles for loss. The Indiana offensive line has held up well early in the season, so this may be a matchup to watch in the trenches.