2021 East Carolina Pirates football team

2021 East Carolina Pirates football
ConferenceAmerican Athletic Conference
Record7–5 (5–3 The American)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorDonnie Kirkpatrick (3rd season)
Offensive schemeSpread
Defensive coordinatorBlake Harrell (2nd season)
Base defense3–4 or 4–2–5
Home stadiumDowdy–Ficklen Stadium
Seasons
← 2020
2022 →
2021 American Athletic Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 4 Cincinnati y$^   8 0     13 1  
No. 17 Houston y   8 0     12 2  
UCF   5 3     9 4  
East Carolina   5 3     7 5  
Tulsa   5 3     7 6  
SMU   4 4     8 4  
Memphis   3 5     6 6  
Navy   3 5     4 8  
Tulane   1 7     2 10  
South Florida   1 7     2 10  
Temple   1 7     3 9  
Championship: Cincinnati 35, Houston 20
  • ^ – College Football Playoff participant
  • $ – Conference champion
  • y – Championship game participant
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2021 East Carolina Pirates football team represented East Carolina University in the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Pirates, led by third-year head coach Mike Houston, play their home games at Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium as members of the American Athletic Conference.

After compiling a 7–5 regular season record, the Pirates received a bid to the Military Bowl,[1] where they were due to face the Boston College Eagles. On December 26, the Eagles withdrew from the game, due to COVID-19 issues; the bowl was subsequently canceled.[2]

  1. ^ "East Carolina To Play In 2021 Military Bowl". ecupirates.com (Press release). November 27, 2021. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  2. ^ Adelson, Andrea (December 26, 2021). "Military, Fenway Bowls Canceled Because of COVID-19 Issues". ESPN. Retrieved December 26, 2021.