The 2025 Mercer Bears football team represented Mercer University as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 2025 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Bears were led by second-year head coach Mike Jacobs and played at the Five Star Stadium in Macon, Georgia.
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.
Game summaries
vs. No. 8 UC Davis
Statistics UCD MER First downs – – Total yards – – Rushing yards – – Passing yards – – Passing: Comp–Att–Int – – Time of possession – – Team Category Player StatisticsUC Davis Passing – – Rushing – – Receiving – –Mercer Passing – – Rushing – – Receiving – –
Presbyterian
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 StatisticsPresbyterian 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 yardsMercer 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
Wofford
Statistics WOF MER First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsWofford Passing Rushing Receiving Mercer Passing Rushing Receiving
at The Citadel
Statistics MER CIT First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsMercer Passing Rushing Receiving The Citadel Passing Rushing Receiving
at East Tennessee State
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 StatisticsMercer 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, TDEast 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
Samford
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 StatisticsSamford 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, TDMercer Passing Braden Atkinson 22/35, 365 yards, 5 TD Rushing Ty Doughty 19 carries, 105 yards Receiving Ty Doughty 2 receptions, 77 yards, TD
at Princeton
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 StatisticsMercer Passing Braden Atkinson 27/42, 347 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Tyrell Coard 7 carries, 54 yards Receiving Adjatay Dabbs 3 receptions, 78 yardsPrinceton Passing Kai Colón 13/21, 124 yards, 2 TD Rushing Kai Honda 8 carries, 39 yards Receiving Josh Robinson 6 receptions, 60 yards
VMI
Statistics VMI MER First downs 7 30 Total yards 155 829 Rushing yards 50 248 Passing yards 105 581 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 11–29–0 33–39–0 Time of possession 25:47 34:13 Team Category Player StatisticsVMI Passing Collin Shannon 10/25, 104 yards Rushing Aslin Shipe 8 carries, 57 yards Receiving Owen Sweeney 3 receptions, 56 yardsMercer Passing Braden Atkinson 29/35, 533 yards, 5 TD Rushing CJ Miller 9 carries, 102 yards, TD Receiving Brayden Smith 9 receptions, 150 yards, 2 TD
at Furman
Statistics MER FUR First downs 36 8 Total yards 628 227 Rushing yards 202 72 Passing yards 426 155 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 28-49-0 12-18-1 Time of possession 37:59 22:01 Team Category Player StatisticsMercer Passing Braden Atkinson 28/49, 426 yards, 4 TD Rushing CJ Miller 20 carries, 111 yards, 2 TD Receiving Adonis McDaniel 7 receptions, 139 yards, TDFurman Passing Trey Hedden 12/18, 155 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing CJ Nettles 15 carries, 105 yards, TD Receiving Ja'Keith Hamilton 1 reception, 64 yards, TD
at No. 24 Western Carolina
Statistics MER WCU First downs 23 33 Total yards 568 599 Rushing yards 125 48 Passing yards 443 551 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 23–39–0 33–49–1 Time of possession 30:32 29:28 Team Category Player StatisticsMercer Passing Braden Atkinson 23/39, 443 yards, 3 TD Rushing CJ Miller 21 carries, 91 yards, 3 TD Receiving Adjatay Dabbs 4 receptions, 147 yards, TDWestern Carolina Passing Taron Dickens 33/49, 551 yards, 7 TD, INT Rushing Patrick Boyd Jr. 12 carries, 17 yards Receiving Malik Knight 5 receptions, 141 yards, 2 TD
Chattanooga
Statistics UTC MER First downs 12 32 Total yards 198 545 Rushing yards 138 333 Passing yards 60 212 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 11–25–2 29–38–1 Time of possession 29:55 30:05 Team Category Player StatisticsChattanooga Passing Battle Alberson 11/25, 138 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Journey Wyche 11 carries, 44 yards Receiving Markell Quick 3 receptions, 75 yards, TDMercer Passing Braden Atkinson 28/37, 326 yards, 5 TD, INT Rushing CJ Miller 14 carries, 91 yards, 2 TD Receiving Adonis McDaniel 6 receptions, 68 yards, TD
at Auburn (FBS)
Statistics MER AUB First downs 19 21 Plays–yards 77–338 56–547 Rushing yards 115 277 Passing yards 223 270 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 21–36–2 18–25–0 Turnovers 3 0 Time of possession 37:20 22:40 Team Category Player StatisticsMercer Passing Braden Atkinson 20/33, 210 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing CJ Miller 14 carries, 38 yards, TD Receiving Adjatay Dabbs 6 receptions, 74 yards, TDAuburn Passing Deuce Knight 15/20, 239 yards, 2 TD Rushing Deuce Knight 9 carries, 162 yards, 4 TD Receiving Malcolm Simmons 5 receptions, 149 yards, TD
No. 12 South Dakota
Statistics SDAK MER First downs 20 20 Total yards 549 277 Rushing yards 308 129 Passing yards 241 148 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 13–18–0 18–39–4 Time of possession 31:28 28:32 Team Category Player StatisticsSouth Dakota Passing Aidan Bouman 13/18, 241 yards, 2 TD Rushing L.J. Phillips Jr. 15 rushes, 159 yards, 2 TD Receiving Tysen Boze 2 receptions, 108 yards, TDMercer Passing Braden Atkinson 18/39, 148 yards, 4 INT Rushing CJ Miller 18 rushes, 105 yards Receiving Travion Solomon 4 receptions, 52 yards
Ranking movements
References