2025 Mercer Bears football team

Last updated

2025 Mercer Bears football
Mercer Bears wordmark.svg
Conference Southern Conference
Ranking
STATSNo. 17
FCS CoachesNo. 14
Record5–1 (4–0 SoCon)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorAnthony Soto (2nd season)
Defensive coordinatorJahmal Brown (2nd season)
Home stadium Five Star Stadium
Seasons
  2024
2026 
2025 Southern Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
No. 17 Mercer  4 0   5 1  
Western Carolina  4 0   5 3  
Chattanooga  2 1   3 4  
The Citadel  2 2   3 4  
Furman  2 2   4 3  
Wofford  1 2   2 5  
East Tennessee State  1 3   3 5  
Samford  1 4   1 6  
VMI  0 3   1 6  
As of October 20, 2025
Rankings from STATS Poll

The 2025 Mercer Bears football team represent Mercer University as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 2025 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Bears are led by second-year head coach Mike Jacobs and play at the Five Star Stadium in Macon, Georgia.

Contents

Schedule

On August 23, Mercer was set to play in the FCS Kickoff in their only nationally televised game of the season. With eight minutes left in the fourth quarter, the game was suspended due to lightning as UC Davis led 23–17. In the early morning hours of August 24, it was announced that the game would not resume, and that both teams had agreed to declare it a no contest. [1]

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
August 237:00 p.m.vs. No. 8 UC Davis *No. 11 ESPN No Contest
August 306:00 p.m. Presbyterian *No. 11 ESPN+ L 10–158,149
September 136:00 p.m. Wofford
  • Five Star Stadium
  • Macon, GA
ESPN+W 22–217,404
September 202:00 p.m.at The Citadel ESPN+W 38–011,339
September 275:30 p.m.at East Tennessee State ESPN+W 38–3410,567
October 44:00 p.m. Samford
  • Five Star Stadium
  • Macon, GA
ESPN+W 45–219,461
October 111:00 p.m.at Princeton *No. 25ESPN+W 38–142,970
October 253:00 p.m. VMI No. 17
  • Five Star Stadium
  • Macon, GA
ESPN+
November 12:00 p.m.at Furman ESPN+
November 82:30 p.m.at Western Carolina ESPN+
November 153:00 p.m. Chattanooga Dagger-14-plain.png
  • Five Star Stadium
  • Macon, GA
ESPN+
November 222:00 p.m.at Auburn * SECN+/ESPN+
  • *Non-conference game
  • Dagger-14-plain.pngHomecoming
  • Rankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time

[2] [3] [4]

Game summaries

vs. No. 8 UC Davis

No. 8 UC Davis Aggies (0-0) vs. No. 11 Mercer Bears (0-0) – Game summary – NO CONTEST
Quarter1234Total
No. 8 Aggies----0
No. 11 Bears----0

at Cramton BowlMontgomery, AL

  • Date: August 23
  • Game time: 6:00 PM CDT
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Jay Alter (play-by-play) and Rocky Boiman (analyst)
StatisticsUCDMER
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
UC DavisPassing
Rushing
Receiving
MercerPassing
Rushing
Receiving

Presbyterian

Presbyterian Blue Hose (0-0) vs. No. 11 Mercer Bears (0-0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Blue Hose063615
No. 11 Bears703010

at Five Star StadiumMacon, GA

  • Date: August 30
  • Game time: 6:00 PM EDT
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Frank Malloy and Phil Cox
Game information
First Quarter
  • 0:04 – MER – Adonis McDaniel 11 Yd pass from DJ Smith (Reice Griffith Kick). Mercer 0–7.Drive: 10 plays, 80 yards, 4:02
Second Quarter
  • 9:37 - PRE – Nathan Levicki 29 Yd pass from Collin Hurst (Jett Jackson PAT failed). Mercer 6–7 Drive: 11 plays, 75 yards, 5:27
Third Quarter
  • 8:53 – MER – Reice Griffith 22 Yd Field Goal. Mercer 6–10.Drive: 6 plays, 20 yards, 2:48
  • 3:54 – PRE – Jett Jackson 29 Yd Field Goal. Mercer 9–10.Drive: 11 plays, 61 yards, 4:53.
Fourth Quarter

0:56 – PRE – Zach Switzer 16 Yd Run (Two-Point Pass Conversion Failed). Presbyterian 15–10.Drive: 13 plays, 80 yards, 5:39

StatisticsPRESMER
First downs2016
Total yards416241
Rushing yards11387
Passing yards303154
Passing: Comp–Att–Int7–55–15–41–1
Time of possession35:5024:10
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
PresbyterianPassingCollin Hurst 25/38, 303 yards, 1 INT, 1 TD
RushingZach Switzer 9 carries, 33 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingDominic Kibby 9 receptions, 114 yards
MercerPassingDJ Smith22/36, 154 yards, 1 INT, 1 TD
RushingMicah Bell 4 carries, 32 yards
ReceivingBrayden Smith4 receptions, 56 yards

Wofford

Wofford Terriers (0-2) vs. Mercer Bears (0-1) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Terriers----0
Bears----0

at Five Star Stadium • Macon, GA

  • Date: September 13
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m. EDT
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Frank Malloy (play-by-play) and Phil Cox (analyst)
StatisticsWOFMER
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
WoffordPassing
Rushing
Receiving
MercerPassing
Rushing
Receiving

at The Citadel

Mercer Bears (1-1) vs. The Citadel Bulldogs (1-2) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Bears----0
Bulldogs----0

at Johnson Hagood StadiumCharleston, SC

  • Date: September 20
  • Game time: 2:00 PM EDT
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Dave Weinstein (play-by-play), Vad Lee (analyst) and Matison Little (sideline)
StatisticsMERCIT
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
MercerPassing
Rushing
Receiving
The CitadelPassing
Rushing
Receiving

at East Tennessee State

Mercer Bears (2-1) vs. East Tennessee State Buccaneers (2-2) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Bears31471438
Buccaneers10177034

at William B. Greene Jr. StadiumJohnson City, TN

  • Date: September 27
  • Game time: 5:30 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 72 °F (22 °C) • Wind: E at 6 miles per hour (9.7 km/h)
  • Game attendance: 10,567
  • Referee: Jason Graham
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Keith Brake (play-by-play), Mark Hutsell (analyst) and Kennedy Story (sideline)
Game information
First Quarter
  • (10:09) MER – Reice Griffith 49-yard field goal (Drive: 5 plays, 18 yards, 0:56; Mercer 3–0)
  • (8:59) ETSU – Hakeem Meggett 14-yard pass from Cade McNamara, Ewan Johnson kick (Drive: 3 plays, 71 yards, 1:03; East Tennessee State 7–3)
  • (1:41) ETSU – Ewan Johnson 21-yard field goal (Drive: 15 plays, 71 yards, 5:44; East Tennessee State 10–3)
Second Quarter
  • (11:10) MER – Adonis McDaniel 3-yard pass from Braden Atkinson, Reice Griffith kick (Drive: 11 plays, 75 yards, 5:31; Tied 10–10)
  • (7:52) ETSU – Charlie Browder 20-yard pass from Cade McNamara, Ewan Johnson kick (Drive: 8 plays, 86 yards, 3:12; East Tennessee State 17–10)
  • (5:54) MER – Adjatay Dabbs 29-yard pass from Braden Atkinson, Reice Griffith kick (Drive: 4 plays, 75 yards, 1:58; Tied 17–17)
  • (1:28) ETSU – Hakeem Meggett 35-yard pass from Cade McNamara, Ewan Johnson kick (Drive: 11 plays, 75 yards, 4:26; East Tennessee State 24–17)
  • (0:00) ETSU – Ewan Johnson 32-yard field goal (Drive: 6 plays, 16 yards, 0:26; East Tennessee State 27–17)
Third Quarter
  • (7:42) MER – CJ Miller 1-yard run, Reice Griffith kick (Drive: 9 plays, 61 yards, 5:11; East Tennessee State 27–24)
  • (5:29) ETSU – Hakeem Meggett 22-yard pass from Cade McNamara, Ewan Johnson kick (Drive: 6 plays, 75 yards, 2:13; East Tennessee State 34–24)
Fourth Quarter
  • (11:29) MER – Brayden Smith 17-yard pass from Braden Atkinson, Reice Griffith kick (Drive: 10 plays, 46 yards, 4:54; East Tennessee State 34–31)
  • (5:40) MER – CJ Miller 1-yard run, Reice Griffith kick (Drive: 8 plays, 65 yards, 4:22; Mercer 38–34)
StatisticsMERETSU
First downs2233
Total yards421467
Rushing yards23469
Passing yards187398
Passing: Comp–Att–Int18–26–129–47–2
Time of possession33:1526:45
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
MercerPassingBraden Atkinson18/26, 187 yards, 3 TD, INT
RushingCJ Miller29 carries, 172 yards, 2 TD
ReceivingAdjatay Dabbs3 receptions, 76 yards, TD
East Tennessee StatePassing Cade McNamara 29/46, 398 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT
RushingJason Albritton14 carries, 39 yards
ReceivingHakeem Meggett5 receptions, 119 yards, 3 TD

Samford

Samford Bulldogs (0-5) vs. Mercer Bears (3-1) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Bulldogs0014721
Bears141414345

at Five Star Stadium • Macon, GA

  • Date: October 4
  • Game time: 4:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 79 °F (26 °C) • Wind: NE at 9 miles per hour (14 km/h)
  • Game attendance: 9,461
  • Referee: Jeff Page
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Frank Malloy (play-by-play) and Phil Cox (analyst)
Game information
First Quarter
  • (12:18) MER – Samuel Albee 64-yard pass from Braden Atkinson, Reice Griffith kick (Drive: 1 play, 64 yards, 0:09; Mercer 7–0)
  • (2:36) MER – Antonio Butts Jr. 1-yard run, Reice Griffith kick (Drive: 6 plays, 48 yards, 2:37; Mercer 14–0)
Second Quarter
  • (11:09) MER – Javarius George 3-yard pass from Braden Atkinson, Reice Griffith kick (Drive: 13 plays, 97 yards, 5:36; Mercer 21–0)
  • (6:00) MER – Brayden Smith 7-yard pass from Braden Atkinson, Reice Griffith kick (Drive: 9 plays, 63 yards, 4:01; Mercer 28–0)
Third Quarter
  • (12:50) SAM – Preston Bird 63-yard pass from Brady Stober, Jake Garner kick (Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards, 2:10; Mercer 28–7)
  • (10:57) MER – Brayden Smith 38-yard pass from Braden Atkinson, Reice Griffith kick (Drive: 5 plays, 76 yards, 1:47; Mercer 35–7)
  • (5:30) MER – Ty Doughty 66-yard pass from Braden Atkinson, Reice Griffith kick (Drive: 1 play, 66 yards, 0:10; Mercer 42–7)
  • (2:44) SAM – Cameron Bland 13-yard run, Jake Garner kick (Drive: 9 plays, 75 yards, 2:46; Mercer 42–14)
Fourth Quarter
  • (11:29) SAM – Samuel Pickett III 77-yard pass from Brady Stober, Jake Garner kick (Drive: 3 plays, 74 yards, 0:27; Mercer 42–21)
  • (5:36) MER – Reice Griffith 34-yard field goal (Drive: 4 plays, 1 yard, 1:26; Mercer 45–21)
StatisticsSAMMER
First downs1424
Total yards342557
Rushing yards61192
Passing yards281365
Passing: Comp–Att–Int22–33–122–37–1
Time of possession28:1931:41
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
SamfordPassingBrady Stober14/22, 234 yards, 2 TD, INT
RushingCameron Bland11 carries, 52 yards, TD
ReceivingSamuel Pickett III3 receptions, 112 yards, TD
MercerPassingBraden Atkinson22/35, 365 yards, 5 TD
RushingTy Doughty19 carries, 105 yards
ReceivingTy Doughty2 receptions, 77 yards, TD

at Princeton

No. 25 Mercer Bears (4-1) vs. Princeton Tigers (2-1) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
No. 25 Bears14714338
Tigers070714

at Princeton StadiumPrinceton, NJ

  • Date: October 11
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: Sunny • Wind: SW at 5 miles per hour (8.0 km/h)
  • Game attendance: 2,970
  • Referee: Henry Wimberg
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Cody Chrusciel (play-by-play), Dave Giancola (analyst) and Steven Cusumano (sideline)
Game information
First Quarter
  • (9:31) MER – Malik Simmons 2-yard pass from Braden Atkinson, Reice Griffith kick (Drive: 13 plays, 72 yards, 5:29; Mercer 7–0)
  • (1:11) MER – CJ Miller 5-yard run, Reice Griffith kick (Drive: 9 plays, 47 yards, 4:20; Mercer 14–0)
Second Quarter
  • (7:49) MER – Samuel Albee 23-yard pass from Braden Atkinson, Reice Griffith kick (Drive: 3 plays, 84 yards, 0:58; Mercer 21–0)
  • (0:33) PRIN – Aidan Besselman 2-yard pass from Kai Colón, Esteban Nunez Perez kick (Drive: 6 plays, 43 yards, 2:56; Mercer 21–7)
Third Quarter
  • (10:33) MER – Brayden Smith 10-yard pass from Braden Atkinson, Reice Griffith kick (Drive: 7 plays, 46 yards, 2:56; Mercer 28–7)
  • (4:39) MER – Adjatay Dabbs 10-yard run, Reice Griffith kick (Drive: 7 plays, 81 yards, 3:48; Mercer 35–7)
Fourth Quarter
  • (14:04) MER – Reice Griffith 30-yard field goal (Drive: 7 plays, 52 yards, 1:23; Mercer 38–7)
  • (8:54) PRIN – Jackson Green 11-yard pass from Kai Colón, Esteban Nunez Perez kick (Drive: 11 plays, 75 yards, 5:10; Mercer 38–14)
StatisticsMERPRIN
First downs2818
Total yards503257
Rushing yards15666
Passing yards347191
Passing: Comp–Att–Int27–42–118–34–0
Time of possession31:4328:17
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
MercerPassingBraden Atkinson27/42, 347 yards, 3 TD, INT
RushingTyrell Coard7 carries, 54 yards
ReceivingAdjatay Dabbs3 receptions, 78 yards
PrincetonPassingKai Colón13/21, 124 yards, 2 TD
RushingKai Honda8 carries, 39 yards
ReceivingJosh Robinson6 receptions, 60 yards

VMI

VMI Keydets (1-6) vs. No. 17 Mercer Bears (5-1) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Keydets----0
No. 17 Bears----0

at Five Star Stadium • Macon, GA

  • Date: October 25
StatisticsVMIMER
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
VMIPassing
Rushing
Receiving
MercerPassing
Rushing
Receiving

at Furman

Mercer Bears (0-0) vs. Furman Paladins (0-0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Bears----0
Paladins----0

at Paladin StadiumGreenville, SC

  • Date: November 1
StatisticsMERFUR
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
MercerPassing
Rushing
Receiving
FurmanPassing
Rushing
Receiving

at Western Carolina

Mercer Bears (0-0) vs. Western Carolina Catamounts (0-0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Bears----0
Catamounts----0

at Bob Waters Field at E. J. Whitmire StadiumCullowhee, NC

  • Date: November 8
StatisticsMERWCU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
MercerPassing
Rushing
Receiving
Western CarolinaPassing
Rushing
Receiving

Chattanooga

Chattanooga Mocs (0-0) vs. Mercer Bears (0-0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Mocs----0
Bears----0

at Five Star Stadium • Macon, GA

  • Date: November 15
  • Game time: 3:00 PM EST
StatisticsUTCMER
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
ChattanoogaPassing
Rushing
Receiving
MercerPassing
Rushing
Receiving

at Auburn

Mercer Bears (0-0) vs. Auburn Tigers (0-0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Bears----0
Tigers----0

at Jordan–Hare StadiumAuburn, AL

  • Date: November 22
  • Game time: 1:00 PM CST
StatisticsMERAUB
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
MercerPassing
Rushing
Receiving
AuburnPassing
Rushing
Receiving

Ranking movements

Ranking movements
Legend:██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre12345678910111213Final
STATS FCS 1123RVRVRVRV252417
Coaches 112122252322191616

References

  1. "UC Davis-Mercer deemed no contest after delay". ESPN.com. August 24, 2025. Retrieved August 24, 2025.
  2. Kelley, Kevin (January 10, 2025). "Mercer announces 2025 football schedule". FBSchedules. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
  3. Wilson, Nevaeh (January 25, 2025). "2025 Mercer football schedule announced". The Mercer Cluster. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
  4. "Mercer and UC-Davis set to play in the 2025 FCS Kickoff Game". WAKA (TV). February 26, 2025. Retrieved May 5, 2025.