The East Carolina Pirates have added the Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs to their 2023 football schedule, FBSchedules.com has learned.
East Carolina will host Gardner-Webb at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium in Greenville, N.C., on Sept. 23, 2023. The Pirates will pay the Runnin’ Bulldogs a $350,000 guarantee for the game, according to a copy of the contract obtained from East Carolina University via a state public records request.
The 2023 contest between East Carolina and Gardner-Webb will mark their second meeting on the gridiron. In their first-ever meeting on Sept. 7, 2019, East Carolina defeated Gardner-Webb 48-9 in Greenville.
Gardner-Webb University is located about 300 miles west of East Carolina University in Boiling Springs, N.C. The Runnin’ Bulldogs are a member of the Big South Conference in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).
The addition of Gardner-Webb completes East Carolina’s 2023 non-conference football schedule. The Pirates are slated to open the season at Michigan on Sept. 2, host Marshall on Sept. 9, and play at Appalachian State on Sept. 16 before hosting Gardner-Webb.
East Carolina is the second scheduled non-conference opponent and second Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) opponent for Gardner-Webb in 2023. The Runnin’ Bulldogs are also scheduled to play at Appalachian State to open the season on Sept. 2.
Football Schedules