The No. 14 Mercer Bears host The Citadel in their first Southern Conference home game after a three-week absence from Macon. The game will begin at 6:02 p.m. EDT at Five Star Stadium and will be broadcast on ESPN+. Mercer will look to extend its four-game winning streak against The Citadel after a 17-0 victory in their last game together. The Bulldogs, under new coach Maurice Drayton, come with a 2-1 record and a strong defense.

In numbers

• Mercer has won the last four meetings against The Citadel.
• The Citadel has the sixth-best defense in the country and leads the team in punting average with 47.7 net yards per punt.

Current status

• Mercer holds a 4-6 record in Southern Conference home openers, but has won its last four games.
• The Bears have the second-best total defense in the NCAA FCS, allowing just 193.7 yards per game.

What’s next

If Mercer wins, it will extend its winning streak to five games against The Citadel and improve on its home opener performance in the Southern Conference, which could significantly strengthen its playoff position as the season progresses.

Conclusion

The matchup is crucial for both teams as Mercer looks to cement its undefeated status and The Citadel looks to continue to improve after a tough season last year. Attendance and fan support will play a key role in Mercer’s home performance.