2025 Mercer Bears football | |
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Conference | Southern Conference |
Ranking | |
STATS | No. 17 |
FCS Coaches | No. 14 |
Record | 5–1 (4–0 SoCon) |
Head coach |
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Offensive coordinator | Anthony Soto (2nd season) |
Defensive coordinator | Jahmal Brown (2nd season) |
Home stadium | Five Star Stadium |
Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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.
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]
Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
August 23 | 7:00 p.m. | vs. No. 8 UC Davis * | No. 11 | ESPN | No Contest | ||
August 30 | 6:00 p.m. | Presbyterian * | No. 11 | ESPN+ | L 10–15 | 8,149 | |
September 13 | 6:00 p.m. | Wofford |
| ESPN+ | W 22–21 | 7,404 | |
September 20 | 2:00 p.m. | at The Citadel | ESPN+ | W 38–0 | 11,339 | ||
September 27 | 5:30 p.m. | at East Tennessee State | ESPN+ | W 38–34 | 10,567 | ||
October 4 | 4:00 p.m. | Samford |
| ESPN+ | W 45–21 | 9,461 | |
October 11 | 1:00 p.m. | at Princeton * | No. 25 | ESPN+ | W 38–14 | 2,970 | |
October 25 | 3:00 p.m. | VMI | No. 17 |
| ESPN+ | ||
November 1 | 2:00 p.m. | at Furman | ESPN+ | ||||
November 8 | 2:30 p.m. | at Western Carolina | ESPN+ | ||||
November 15 | 3:00 p.m. | Chattanooga ![]() |
| ESPN+ | |||
November 22 | 2:00 p.m. | at Auburn * | SECN+/ESPN+ | ||||
|
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. 8 Aggies | - | - | - | - | 0 |
No. 11 Bears | - | - | - | - | 0 |
at Cramton Bowl • Montgomery, AL
Statistics | UCD | MER |
---|---|---|
First downs | – | – |
Total yards | – | – |
Rushing yards | – | – |
Passing yards | – | – |
Passing: Comp–Att–Int | – | – |
Time of possession | – | – |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
UC Davis | Passing | – | – |
Rushing | – | – | |
Receiving | – | – | |
Mercer | Passing | – | – |
Rushing | – | – | |
Receiving | – | – |
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Blue Hose | 0 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 15 |
No. 11 Bears | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 |
Game information |
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0:56 – PRE – Zach Switzer 16 Yd Run (Two-Point Pass Conversion Failed). Presbyterian 15–10.Drive: 13 plays, 80 yards, 5:39 |
Statistics | PRES | MER |
---|---|---|
First downs | 20 | 16 |
Total yards | 416 | 241 |
Rushing yards | 113 | 87 |
Passing yards | 303 | 154 |
Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 7–55–1 | 5–41–1 |
Time of possession | 35:50 | 24:10 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
Presbyterian | Passing | Collin Hurst | 25/38, 303 yards, 1 INT, 1 TD |
Rushing | Zach Switzer | 9 carries, 33 yards, 1 TD | |
Receiving | Dominic Kibby | 9 receptions, 114 yards | |
Mercer | Passing | DJ Smith | 22/36, 154 yards, 1 INT, 1 TD |
Rushing | Micah Bell | 4 carries, 32 yards | |
Receiving | Brayden Smith | 4 receptions, 56 yards |
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Terriers | - | - | - | - | 0 |
Bears | - | - | - | - | 0 |
at Five Star Stadium • Macon, GA
Statistics | WOF | MER |
---|---|---|
First downs | ||
Total yards | ||
Rushing yards | ||
Passing yards | ||
Passing: Comp–Att–Int | ||
Time of possession | ||
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
Wofford | Passing | ||
Rushing | |||
Receiving | |||
Mercer | Passing | ||
Rushing | |||
Receiving |
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bears | - | - | - | - | 0 |
Bulldogs | - | - | - | - | 0 |
at Johnson Hagood Stadium • Charleston, SC
Statistics | MER | CIT |
---|---|---|
First downs | ||
Total yards | ||
Rushing yards | ||
Passing yards | ||
Passing: Comp–Att–Int | ||
Time of possession | ||
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
Mercer | Passing | ||
Rushing | |||
Receiving | |||
The Citadel | Passing | ||
Rushing | |||
Receiving |
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bears | 3 | 14 | 7 | 14 | 38 |
Buccaneers | 10 | 17 | 7 | 0 | 34 |
at William B. Greene Jr. Stadium • Johnson City, TN
Game information |
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|
Statistics | MER | ETSU |
---|---|---|
First downs | 22 | 33 |
Total yards | 421 | 467 |
Rushing yards | 234 | 69 |
Passing yards | 187 | 398 |
Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 18–26–1 | 29–47–2 |
Time of possession | 33:15 | 26:45 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
Mercer | Passing | Braden Atkinson | 18/26, 187 yards, 3 TD, INT |
Rushing | CJ Miller | 29 carries, 172 yards, 2 TD | |
Receiving | Adjatay Dabbs | 3 receptions, 76 yards, TD | |
East Tennessee State | Passing | Cade McNamara | 29/46, 398 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT |
Rushing | Jason Albritton | 14 carries, 39 yards | |
Receiving | Hakeem Meggett | 5 receptions, 119 yards, 3 TD |
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bulldogs | 0 | 0 | 14 | 7 | 21 |
Bears | 14 | 14 | 14 | 3 | 45 |
at Five Star Stadium • Macon, GA
Game information |
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|
Statistics | SAM | MER |
---|---|---|
First downs | 14 | 24 |
Total yards | 342 | 557 |
Rushing yards | 61 | 192 |
Passing yards | 281 | 365 |
Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 22–33–1 | 22–37–1 |
Time of possession | 28:19 | 31:41 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
Samford | Passing | Brady Stober | 14/22, 234 yards, 2 TD, INT |
Rushing | Cameron Bland | 11 carries, 52 yards, TD | |
Receiving | Samuel Pickett III | 3 receptions, 112 yards, TD | |
Mercer | Passing | Braden Atkinson | 22/35, 365 yards, 5 TD |
Rushing | Ty Doughty | 19 carries, 105 yards | |
Receiving | Ty Doughty | 2 receptions, 77 yards, TD |
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. 25 Bears | 14 | 7 | 14 | 3 | 38 |
Tigers | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
at Princeton Stadium • Princeton, NJ
Game information |
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|
Statistics | MER | PRIN |
---|---|---|
First downs | 28 | 18 |
Total yards | 503 | 257 |
Rushing yards | 156 | 66 |
Passing yards | 347 | 191 |
Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 27–42–1 | 18–34–0 |
Time of possession | 31:43 | 28:17 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
Mercer | Passing | Braden Atkinson | 27/42, 347 yards, 3 TD, INT |
Rushing | Tyrell Coard | 7 carries, 54 yards | |
Receiving | Adjatay Dabbs | 3 receptions, 78 yards | |
Princeton | Passing | Kai Colón | 13/21, 124 yards, 2 TD |
Rushing | Kai Honda | 8 carries, 39 yards | |
Receiving | Josh Robinson | 6 receptions, 60 yards |
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Keydets | - | - | - | - | 0 |
No. 17 Bears | - | - | - | - | 0 |
at Five Star Stadium • Macon, GA
Statistics | VMI | MER |
---|---|---|
First downs | ||
Total yards | ||
Rushing yards | ||
Passing yards | ||
Passing: Comp–Att–Int | ||
Time of possession | ||
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
VMI | Passing | ||
Rushing | |||
Receiving | |||
Mercer | Passing | ||
Rushing | |||
Receiving |
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bears | - | - | - | - | 0 |
Paladins | - | - | - | - | 0 |
at Paladin Stadium • Greenville, SC
Statistics | MER | FUR |
---|---|---|
First downs | ||
Total yards | ||
Rushing yards | ||
Passing yards | ||
Passing: Comp–Att–Int | ||
Time of possession | ||
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
Mercer | Passing | ||
Rushing | |||
Receiving | |||
Furman | Passing | ||
Rushing | |||
Receiving |
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bears | - | - | - | - | 0 |
Catamounts | - | - | - | - | 0 |
at Bob Waters Field at E. J. Whitmire Stadium • Cullowhee, NC
Statistics | MER | WCU |
---|---|---|
First downs | ||
Total yards | ||
Rushing yards | ||
Passing yards | ||
Passing: Comp–Att–Int | ||
Time of possession | ||
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
Mercer | Passing | ||
Rushing | |||
Receiving | |||
Western Carolina | Passing | ||
Rushing | |||
Receiving |
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mocs | - | - | - | - | 0 |
Bears | - | - | - | - | 0 |
at Five Star Stadium • Macon, GA
Statistics | UTC | MER |
---|---|---|
First downs | ||
Total yards | ||
Rushing yards | ||
Passing yards | ||
Passing: Comp–Att–Int | ||
Time of possession | ||
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
Chattanooga | Passing | ||
Rushing | |||
Receiving | |||
Mercer | Passing | ||
Rushing | |||
Receiving |
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bears | - | - | - | - | 0 |
Tigers | - | - | - | - | 0 |
at Jordan–Hare Stadium • Auburn, AL
Statistics | MER | AUB |
---|---|---|
First downs | ||
Total yards | ||
Rushing yards | ||
Passing yards | ||
Passing: Comp–Att–Int | ||
Time of possession | ||
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
Mercer | Passing | ||
Rushing | |||
Receiving | |||
Auburn | Passing | ||
Rushing | |||
Receiving |
Week | |||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | Final |
STATS FCS | 11 | 23 | RV | RV | RV | RV | 25 | 24 | 17 | ||||||
Coaches | 11 | 21 | 22 | 25 | 23 | 22 | 19 | 16 | 16 |