Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina and Charlotte have agreed to a nonconference football game on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2030, at Jerry Richardson Stadium in the Queen City. The contest will come in week one of the 2030 campaign. This will be the first meeting on the gridiron between Western Carolina and Charlotte, which revived its football program back in 2013.
 
Charlotte marks WCU's third opponent out of The American all-time, previously facing East Carolina (14-18) and one trip to Tampa, Fla., to face USF. For the Niners, it marks just the second game against a current member of the SoCon, previously facing The Citadel in 2014 in the Niners' second season of competition, a thrilling 63-56 double-overtime road loss to the Bulldogs despite overcoming an 18-point deficit.
 
The Niners additionally announced the addition of Wofford to their upcoming slate of games on Friday afternoon.
 
No. 19/18 Western Carolina opens its 2025 season at home, under the lights on Labor Day Weekend against Gardner-Webb on Saturday, Aug. 30. It's the first season-opening home game for the Catamounts since 2021 in Kerwin Bell's first season in Cullowhee, which also represented WCU's most recent night game at Whitmire Stadium. Postgame fireworks as part of the First Bank First Weekend will illuminate the western North Carolina sky following the game, presented by Ingles, 99.9 Kiss Country, and Star 104.3 FM.
 
Additionally, the Catamount women's soccer team hosts Tennessee on Sunday evening (6 p.m.) to cap the First Bank First Weekend festivities.
 
Following Friday morning's helmet-only workout, the Catamounts will hold their second preseason scrimmage of fall camp on Saturday, Aug. 16, moving to an evening session in preparation for the home opener. The team will take the field at 6 p.m. Western Carolina students returning to campus for the start of the fall semester are invited out for this special preseason scrimmage on the turf of Whitmire Stadium / Waters Field.
 
A reminder that WCU's preseason football practices are open to the public. It is respectfully requested, though, that spectators observe from the stadium seating area and avoid being either on the field or on the sidelines for safety. Also, please be aware of the construction fencing around the West side of the stadium, which will limit access points as construction on the Western Skybox and Whitmire West projects continues this summer and into the fall season.
 
Both season and single-game tickets for the six home dates in #CatamountCountry – the most since 2019 – remain on sale now through the WCU Athletics Ticket Office, located on the first floor of the Ramsey Center, or by phone at (828) 227-2401. Fans can also purchase tickets and game day parking in advance online at CatamountSports.com/BuyTickets. Season tickets still remain the best bet for securing tickets to each of WCU's highly anticipated six home dates, as preseason ticket sales remain brisk.
 
2025 Catamount Football Preseason Practice Schedule:
Fri., Aug. 15 – WCU Freshman Student Convocation, 5 pm (Ramsey Center)
Sat., Aug. 16 – Practice #15 – 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm (scrimmage, full – student day)
Sun., Aug 17 – Athletics Welcome Back Event at Catamount Soccer – 12:30 pm
Sun. Aug. 17 – Catamount Football Team Building Event – 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Mon., Aug. 18 – First Day of Classes at WCU – No Practice (Off-Day)
Tues., Aug. 19 – Begins in-season practice schedule – 4:30 pm
Mon., Aug. 25 – First Catamount Football Weekly Coaches Show at Catamount Jaxe – 6 p.m.
 
Keep track of everything related to Catamount football and WCU Athletics through its social media outlets on Facebook (FB.com/CatamountSports, FB.com/WesternCarolinaFootball), Twitter (@catamounts, @CatamountsFB), and Instagram (wcu_catamounts, catamountsfb).
 
Important Dates in Catamount Athletics & Catamount Football:
Sun., Aug. 17 – Catamount Soccer vs. High Point – 1 p.m.
Fri., Aug. 22 – Catamount Volleyball vs. UNC Pembroke (Exhibition) – 6 p.m.
Sat., Aug. 30 – Catamount Football vs. Gardner-Webb – 6 p.m. (Postgame Fireworks)
Sun., Aug. 31 – Catamount Soccer vs. Tennessee (First Bank Beach Night) – 6 p.m.
Tues., Sept. 9 – Catamount Volleyball vs. UNC Asheville (First Bank Beach Night) – 6 p.m.
Fri., Sept. 12 – The Bob Waters Memorial Golf Tournament – Sequoyah National in Cherokee, N.C.
Sat., Sept. 13 – Catamount Football vs. Elon – 2:30 p.m. (White Out Whitmire! Wear White!)