The 2026 Mercer Bears football team will represent Mercer University as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 2026 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Bears will be led by first-year head coach Joel Taylor and will play their home games at Five Star Stadium in Macon, Georgia.
Schedule
Game summaries
East Texas A&M
Statistics ETAM MER First downs 15 16 Total yards 70–383 64–352 Rushing yards 39–151 36–175 Passing yards 232 177 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 15–31–3 15–28–0 Turnovers 3 0 Time of possession 30:14 29:46 Team Category Player StatisticsEast Texas A&M Passing Eric Rodriguez 15/31, 232 yards, TD, 3 INT Rushing EJ Oakmon 14 carries, 87 yards Receiving Micah Simpson 9 receptions, 165 yards, TDMercer Passing Jaylen King 15/28, 177 yards, TD Rushing Zahmari Palode-Gary 8 carries, 87 yards Receiving Brayden Smith 9 receptions, 131 yards
Presbyterian
Statistics PRES MER First downs 19 24 Total yards 74–321 53–600 Rushing yards 39–105 33–329 Passing yards 216 271 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 21–35–0 15–20–0 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 31:51 23:43 Team Category Player StatisticsPresbyterian Passing Landon Sharpe 17/29, 184 yards Rushing 13 carries, 55 yards Receiving Brice Johnson 7 receptions, 83 yardsMercer Passing Jaylen King 12/15, 236 yards, 4 TD Rushing Devon Caldwell 11 carries, 152 yards, TD Receiving Brayden Smith 5 receptions, 132 yards, TD
Furman
Statistics FUR MER First downs 14 15 Total yards 315 361 Rushing yards 157 164 Passing yards 158 197 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 18–28–2 19–36–4 Time of possession 28:56 31:04 Team Category Player Statistics Furman PassingJake Garcia18/28, 158 yards, TD, 2 INT RushingBen Croasdale6 carries, 74 yards, TD ReceivingDaniel Haughton8 receptions, 103 yards, TD Mercer PassingJaylen King18/35, 196 yards, 4 INT RushingZahmari Palode-Gary13 carries, 87 yards ReceivingTravion Solomon6 receptions, 120 yards
at Georgia Tech (FBS)
Statistics MER GT First downs 15 20 Plays–yards 60–290 62–405 Rushes–yards 46–188 40–156 Passing yards 102 249 Passing: –– 10–14–1 15–22–0 Time of possession 32:42 27:18 Team Category Player Statistics Mercer PassingJP Pickles7/11, 82 yards, INT RushingZahmari Palode-Gary15 carries, 71 yards ReceivingBrayden Smith4 receptions, 58 yards Georgia Tech PassingAlberto Mendoza15/21, 249 yards, 3 TD RushingJustice Haynes22 carries, 141 yards, 2 TD ReceivingDalen Penson3 receptions, 58 yards
at Abilene Christian
Statistics MER ACU First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsMercer Passing Rushing Receiving Abilene Christian Passing Rushing Receiving
at VMI
Statistics MER VMI First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsMercer Passing Rushing Receiving VMI Passing Rushing Receiving
Western Carolina
Statistics WCU MER First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsWestern Carolina Passing Rushing Receiving Mercer Passing Rushing Receiving
at Samford
Statistics MER SAM First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsMercer Passing Rushing Receiving Samford Passing Rushing Receiving
The Citadel
Statistics CIT MER First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsThe Citadel Passing Rushing Receiving Mercer Passing Rushing Receiving
at Chattanooga
Statistics MER UTC First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsMercer Passing Rushing Receiving Chattanooga Passing Rushing Receiving
at Tennessee Tech
Statistics MER TNTC First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsMercer Passing Rushing Receiving Tennessee Tech Passing Rushing Receiving
East Tennessee State
Statistics ETSU MER First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsEast Tennessee State Passing Rushing Receiving Mercer Passing Rushing Receiving
Rankings
References