East Carolina has officially announced its 2016 schedule. They have to navigate a slate that includes eight teams that went bowling last fall.
Heading into its first season since 2009 without Ruffin McNeill on the sidelines, the East Carolina Pirates will face off versus one of the tougher schedules of any Group of Five program.
The Pirates face off versus 2015 bowl teams in eight of their 12 regular season games. Only opponents Western Carolina, South Carolina, Central Florida, and Southern Methodist did not make it to a bowl game last season.
One thing that East Carolina has been known for in recent years is an ambitious non-conference slate.