The 2025 college football season kicks off with a bang under the Friday night lights as the App State Mountaineers and Charlotte 49ers clash in the Duke’s Mayo Classic (7:00 PM ET). This Week 1 showdown isn’t just a battle for early-season momentum—it’s a high-stakes regional rivalry where both programs will look to set the tone for their campaigns. App State, fresh off another competitive Sun Belt season, brings its trademark physicality and big-play potential to Bank of America Stadium, while Charlotte aims to prove its growth under a new era, hungry to pull off a statement upset in front of a primetime crowd.

Expect fireworks from the opening whistle as two offenses with explosive playmakers collide. The Mountaineers’ disciplined, ball-control attack will test Charlotte’s defense early, while the 49ers’ speed on the perimeter could stretch App State’s secondary. With bragging rights, conference pride, and early-season confidence on the line, this neutral-site thriller promises drama, intensity, and a taste of what’s to come in the 2025 NCAAF landscape. Don’t blink—this one could be decided by a single, unforgettable play.