SB Nation: Can Blake Harrell, Pirates do it again in 2025?

by | Jul 4, 2025

The previews for the upcoming college football season continue with SBNation’s Underdog Dynasty and its look at East Carolina.

The main question that writer Steve Halwick asks about the 2025 Pirates is whether they can repeat what the 2024 team did. We all know about the run the team made with Blake Harrell named interim coach when Mike Houston was fired. It ended with a dramatic win over NC State in the Military Bowl.

The 2025 season begins with the Wolfpack and the chance for Harrell and the Pirates to prove they have NC State’s number. The two teams are 5-5 since 2006, but the Wolfpack had won three straight before the Military Bowl. The preview also looks at ECU’s other big games like the home contests with BYU (Sept. 20) and Army (Sept. 25).

The preview also takes a look at what’s different about the 2025 team, such as finding a replacement for Military Bowl MVP and running back Rahjai Harris. It also highlights the top returning players like Katin Houser, London Montgomery and Anthony Smith.

“The AAC doesn’t have a dominant frontrunner at the moment, and ECU has longed to qualify for the conference title game since it joined the league in 2014. The Pirates have a wealth of experience across the roster and a coaching staff that features decent continuity, despite this being Harrell’s first full-time head coaching gig.”

Click here to read more.

Photo credit: ECU football coach Blake Harrell (Pirate Radio photo)

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