The 2026 East Carolina Pirates football team represents East Carolina University as a member of the American Conference during the 2026 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They are led by second-year head coach Blake Harrell, and play their home games at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium in Greenville, North Carolina.
Schedule
Game summaries at No. 13 Alabama
Statistics ECUALA First downs 5 28 Plays–yards 41–162 81–487 Rushes–yards 22–2 49–227 Passing yards 160 260 Passing: comp–att–int 11–19–1 19–32–0 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 21:07 38:53 Team Category Player StatisticsEast Carolina Passing Mitch Griffis 10/16, 137 yards, TD, INT Rushing Ashton Gray 6 carries, 17 yards Receiving Tyler Johnson 1 reception, 68 yardsAlabama Passing Keelon Russell 18/30, 256 yards Rushing Keelon Russell 13 carries, 86 yards, TD Receiving Ryan Coleman-Williams 5 receptions, 130 yards
Appalachian State
Statistics APPECU First downs 21 22 Plays–yards 72–396 72–417 Rushes–yards 44–129 35–187 Passing yards 267 230 Passing: –– 20–28–0 21–37–1 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 36:06 23:54 Team Category Player Statistics Appalachian State Passing Malachi Singleton 20/28, 267 yards Rushing Jaquari Lewis 17 carries, 73 yards, TD Receiving Sam Pickett III 4 receptions, 86 yards East Carolina Passing Mitch Griffis 21/37, 230 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Ashton Gray 16 carries, 99 yards Receiving Jeremiah Melvin 7 receptions, 94 yards
at Old Dominion
Statistics ECUODU First downs 17 15 Plays–yards 68–276 64–274 Rushes–yards 47–173 44–180 Passing yards 103 94 Passing: –– 11–21–0 8–20–1 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 30:37 29:23 Team Category Player Statistics East Carolina Passing Mitch Griffis 4/12, 58 yards Rushing TJ Engleman Jr. 16 carries, 99 yards Receiving Dillon Lorick 1 reception, 27 yards Old Dominion Passing Quinn Henicle 8/20, 94 yards, INT Rushing Devin Roche 18 carries, 102 yards Receiving Zialis Blackmon 1 reception, 42 yards
North Carolina Central (FCS)
Statistics NCCUECU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics North Carolina Central Passing Rushing Receiving East Carolina Passing Rushing Receiving
Rice
Statistics RICEECU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Rice Passing Rushing Receiving East Carolina Passing Rushing Receiving
at UAB
Statistics ECUUAB First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics East Carolina Passing Rushing Receiving UAB Passing Rushing Receiving
at Memphis
Statistics ECUMEM First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics East Carolina Passing Rushing Receiving Memphis Passing Rushing Receiving
Temple
Statistics TEMECU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Temple Passing Rushing Receiving East Carolina Passing Rushing Receiving
South Florida
Statistics USFECU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics South Florida Passing Rushing Receiving East Carolina Passing Rushing Receiving
at Charlotte
Statistics ECUCLT First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics East Carolina Passing Rushing Receiving Charlotte Passing Rushing Receiving
at Army
Statistics ECUARMY First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics East Carolina Passing Rushing Receiving Army Passing Rushing Receiving
Florida Atlantic
Statistics FAUECU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Florida Atlantic Passing Rushing Receiving East Carolina Passing Rushing Receiving
Personnel Roster
Transfers Outgoing Raheim JeterQBAlcorn StateO'Marion LewisSCampbellJyron WaitersWRCampbellJordy LoweryCBFloridaLondon MontgomeryRBFloridaDesirrio RilesTEFlorida StateJa'Marley RiddleSGeorgiaKatin HouserQBIllinoisKey CrowellCBIllinois StateParker JenkinsRBLamarLeivi SemaiaIOLMidwestern StateJimarion McCrimonOTNC StateJustin BentonDLNorth TexasChaston DittaQBNorth TexasDru McCloughIOLPresbyterianYannick SmithWRSMUEmmanuel PokuIOLSouth CarolinaBernard Lackey Jr.SSouthwest Mississippi Community CollegeXavier McIverDLSouthern MissSamuel Riddy Jr.OTUABJayvontay ConnerTEVanderbiltZion WilsonDLVirginiaKendric DavisLBWest GeorgiaMalik LeverettWRWest GeorgiaDaniel BakerOLWinston-Salem StateEddie Love Jr.RBUnknownJonathan StokesOLUnknownMarcus BranthooverOLUnknownTimothy PattersonDBUnknownTrenton CloudWRWithdrawnSamuel DankahLBWithdrawn
Incoming Zyeir GambleSAppalachian StateKanen HamlettTEAppalachian StateAshton Levells-MitchellCBFIUJa'Keith HamiltonWRFurmanMcCallum WrightWRHampden–SydneyBrandon BestIOLKennesaw StateRae'mon MosbyCBLouisvilleMichael AllenRBMarshallCade LawLBMemphisCrews LawLBMemphisMyles PollardSMemphisRay Ray JosephWRMiami (FL)Emory WilliamsQBMiami (FL)Jaylen BowdenCBMinnesotaAshton GrayRBNorth TexasLandon SidesWRNorth TexasEthan KramerIOLNorthern ArizonaHayes CreelOTSouthern MissElliot HuetherPSt. Thomas (MN)Mitch GriffisQBTexas TechChristian PetersonSUCFIsmael Smith FloresTEUT Rio Grande ValleyNiko PaicIOLValparaisoJeremiah MelvinWRWake ForestBlake ShirleyLSWofford
References