East Carolina’s 2024 season was unpredictable, chaotic, and challenging, but the Pirates ultimately showed promise.
ECU started the year with a 3-4 overall record, which led to the firing of previous head coach Mike Houston. Blake Harrell, previously ECU’s defensive coordinator, took over as the team’s interim head coach.
Things drastically turned around from there. East Carolina won five of its next six games. That included a bowl appearance where the Pirates defeated NC State 26-21 in the Military Bowl.
Now, after showing what it could do following the coaching change, East Carolina could be one of the top programs in the American Conference in 2025.
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East Carolina Football’s American Title Betting Odds
East Carolina’s odds to make the American Conference Championship are +800, via BetMGM.
East Carolina Football’s Betting Odds & Over/Under Win Total
ECU’s win total Over/Under is 6.5, with Under 6.5 at -145 and Over 6.5 at +120.
East Carolina Football’s 2025 Schedule
8/28 @ NC State
9/6 vs. Campbell
9/13 @ Coastal Carolina
9/20 vs. BYU
9/25 vs. Army
10/9 @ Tulane
10/16 vs. Tulsa
11/1 @ Temple
11/8 vs. Charlotte
11/15 vs. Memphis
11/22 @ UTSA
11/29 @ FAU
12/5 American Conference Championship
Bold indicates American Conference contests
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Key East Carolina Football Returners
2024 All-AAC Honorable Mention
DL JD Lampley
WR Anthony Smith
East Carolina Football Seeking To Sustain Momentum
After taking over the starting role during the second half of the season, quarterback Katin Houser showed some potential and helped ECU get to its bowl game.
Houser started ECU’s last seven games of the 2024 season and was a part of the team’s mid-season turnaround. He went 5-2 as the starter.
Against NC State in the Military Bowl, Houser went 18-for-29 passing for 147 yards and two interceptions while rushing for 84 yards and two touchdowns in a win for ECU. He concluded the year with 2,006 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 11 picks on a 60.8% completion rate to go with 170 yards and four scores on the ground.
Rahjai Harris, after leading ECU with 1,166 yards and 11 touchdowns rushing in 2024, is gone. But London Montgomery (359 yards and two touchdowns) and Marlon Gunn Jr. (224 yards and three TDs) are back.
Anthony Smith, an All-AAC honorable mention wide receiver, is returning after leading the Pirates with 799 yards through the air while recording 41 catches and six receiving TDs. Yannick Smith is also back after catching 25 passes for 434 yards and three scores.
As for the offensive line, Emmanuel Poku returns after starting half of ECU’s games at right tackle to start the year and the other half of the team’s games at right guard. Left guard Darius Bell and right tackle Jimarion McCrimon both started about half of ECU’s games last season at their respective positions and are back as well.
Defensive lineman JD Lampley is expected to be another one of ECU’s leaders after making the all-conference honorable mention list. He tallied 27 tackles, five for loss, as well as 2.5 sacks, six quarterback hurries, and a fumble recovery.
ECU’s top three tacklers – and eight of its top 10 – from last year are gone. Defensive back Ja’Marley Riddle is the leading returner in that category, as he tallied 64 tackles as well as 3.5 tackles for loss and four pass breakups and tied for a team high with three interceptions.
Linebacker Ryheem Craig is also returning after recording 53 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and a pass breakup.
East Carolina Football Season Prediction
I predict East Carolina won’t win the American Championship but will go Over 6.5 wins during the regular season.
After last season ended the way it did, I could see why ECU fans would think a conference championship is possible. But I don’t think the Pirates are quite there yet.
However, I do think they’re capable of another winning record.
Looking at their non-conference schedule, I could see ECU being as good as 3-1 going into conference play. The Pirates open the season at NC State – though Week 1 is a lot different than a bowl game – but they already proved they could compete with the Wolfpack.
From there, ECU just needs a .500 record against conference foes to get to seven wins. Beating Army, Tulane, and Memphis might be tough. However, I think the other five league games are winnable for ECU.
Considering where this program was a year ago, a seven-win regular season and another bowl appearance should be deemed as a success for ECU.
