Mercer football (9-2, 8-0 Southern Conference) lost to Auburn University (5-6, 1-6 SEC) 62-17 on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. The following day, the Bears were awarded the No. 6 seed in the FCS Playoffs, and they will receive a first-round bye in their third-straight playoffs appearance. It will be their first Saturday off since Oct. 19.
The No. 6 Bears were heavy underdogs against the SEC side, but turned out a promising offensive performance before the Tigers' offensive talent left its mark on the game.
While the Bears were not expected to win in Jordan-Hare Stadium against a historic SEC powerhouse, Mercer reeled off two straight scoring drives after allowing a 75-yard rushing touchdown on the first play from scrimmage to lead 14-7 early.
"For 25 minutes of the game, we were about as competitive as anybody has been against them," Head Coach Mike Jacobs said after the game.
After taking the lead and forcing a three-and-out, the Bears' defense, a key part of their SoCon success, gave up massive plays to quarterback Deuce Knight, who made his first collegiate start Saturday. Knight gashed Mercer's run defense, who had given up less than 100 rushing yards per game up to that point, for 126 yards and two scores in the first quarter.
Knight's success against the Bears' typically solid run defense, Jacobs said, was due in large part to "broken plays" by the defense.
"We had good coverage, we didn't finish tackles," he said.
Auburn took the lead in the second quarter off of Knight's third touchdown run and never looked back. Mercer quarterback Braden Atkinson '29, who had only given up five interceptions leading up to the game, threw two against the Tigers, including one that was returned for a touchdown by the Auburn defense in the third quarter. The turnovers, as well as the struggles from Mercer's run defense, eventually led to the team's first loss in nine games.
Linebacker Tommy Bliss '27 and safety Drew Clare '27 led the team with seven tackles each, and Isaac Prince '27 and Dan Hicks '26 each registered a sack against the SEC offensive line and shifty quarterbacks.
Looking ahead
Despite the loss, Mercer will move into the FCS Playoffs with their highest postseason ranking ever. The team will face either No. 11 University of South Dakota (8-4, 6-2 Missouri Valley Football Conference) or Drake University (8-3, 7-1 Pioneer League) in the following second round. South Dakota and Drake will face off on Nov. 29, and the winner will head to Macon to face the Bears on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025.
No. 11 South Dakota is the favorite in those teams' first round matchup and has one of the best rushing attacks in the FCS. The team leans on running back L.J. Phillips Jr., who is averaging over six yards per carry and nearly 130 yards per game, good for 13th and fourth in the FCS, respectively. The Coyotes rely heavily on Philips, who is third in the FCS in rush attempts. The team's passing offense, while less prolific, is efficient and tidy, giving up only nine turnovers all season. Mercer's formidable defensive line, helmed by Andrew Zock '28, who ranks fourth in sacks in the FCS, would face a difficult opponent in South Dakota, who has given up just over one sack per game this season.
South Dakota has also experienced some of the FCS' best teams this year, going up against five ranked FCS teams and coming out with a 3-2 record against them, including No. 8 South Dakota State University. Mercer's two games against ranked opponents this year have come against the University of California–Davis – which was declared a no contest due to weather – and a close win against Western Carolina University.
Drake would present another aggressive run attack for the Bears to stop. The Bulldogs are averaging nearly 200 rush yards a game on the back of freshman running back sensation Nick Herman. Herman is averaging over seven yards a carry this season, including a 253-yard performance against Morehead State University on Nov. 22. Drake also presents a defensive threat to the pass-happy Bears offense. The Bulldogs' secondary ranks among the top 15 teams in passing yards and total yards allowed in the FCS. However, the team is more susceptible to allowing yardage on the ground, landing 99th in rushing yards allowed per game out of 126 FCS schools.
Mercer will likely be favorites against whichever team they face in the second round. The Bears are well-rounded, fielding one of the best passing offenses in the FCS off of Atkinson's stellar play and chemistry with wide receiver Adjatay Dabbs '28 and Brayden Smith '27. The rushing attack of CJ Miller '27, who has gone for 125 yards or more from scrimmage in Mercer's last four conference games, adds a second wrinkle to the high-flying offense.
The Bears also possess one of the league's best run defenses, giving up the fourth-least yards per game and per rush in the entire FCS. Defensive end Zock is always a significant threat, while linebackers Clare and Julian Fox '28 are playing their best football yet.
With a win, Mercer will advance to the quarterfinals for the first time in program history. If the Bears' drop the game at home, it will be the second straight year that Mercer loses in the second round.
Jacob Hossler '28 is an English and Law and Public Policy double major at Mercer University. While not serving as the Sports Editor at The Cluster, he enjoys running, writing and photography.
