The undefeated Mercer Bears jumped into the top 10 this week as they prepare to take on Princeton at 3:30 p.m. Oct. 12 at Five Star Stadium. Here are three things to know before you go.
Bears get first top 10 ranking
For the first time in Mercer football history, the Bears are ranked among the top 10 in two national polls. Mercer jumped up four spots to No. 7 in the American Football Coaches Association Football Championship Series Coaches Poll, while also moving up three spots to No. 8 in the Stats Perform ranking.
The Bears were the highest ranked of four SoCon teams mentioned in either poll. Chattanooga ranked No. 23 in the Stats Perform listing and received votes for consideration in the coaches poll. Western Carolina and East Tennessee State received votes in both polls. Mercer’s Oct. 12 rival, Princeton, is unranked.
To celebrate the Bears’ rise in the polls, we have a limited number of tickets for the Princeton game on sale for $7. Buy now.
Eli Young Band to headline Ford Football Concert Series
The Mercer football game day experience starts when gates open at 10 a.m. on Black Field. At 11 a.m., the Fall Line Beer Garden opens, followed by Dr Pepper Fansville and inflatables at noon. Also at noon, the Ford Football Concert Series kicks off with country music singer-songwriter Megan Fowler. Raised in Middle Georgia, Fowler is a two-time Georgia Female Country Artist of the Year and two-time Georgia Music Awards Female Country Artist of the Year.
Music will break at 1 p.m. for the Bear Walk as the Bears — led by Toby and Tot, the Mercer University Marching Band, and cheerleaders — make their way toward Five Star Stadium. This is a great time to high five your favorite player! The concert resumes at 1:15 p.m. with country music’s Eli Young Band. The band has had two songs, “Crazy Girls” and “Even If It Breaks Your Heart,” hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country chart.
This is the Bears’ first time facing Princeton
The Bears will welcome Princeton to Five Star Stadium for the first time in program history. Ivy League teams don’t travel much outside of their league, so a trip this far south makes it a big day for Mercer football.
While the Bears are 5-0, Princeton, 1-2, comes to Macon fresh off a 17-point loss to Columbia.
“Princeton is kind of similar to maybe The Citadel and some of those other teams where there’s a bit of that service academy component,” Mercer football head coach Mike Jacobs said during a news conference. “Obviously, they have smart kids, and so they’re able to do a little bit more because of their kids’ mental capacity, so you see them do quite a bit both offensively and defensively.
“I think they play extremely hard, and I think they’re well disciplined, so we expect a good football team to come in here this weekend.”
Mercer vs. Princeton
When: 3:30 p.m. Oct. 12
Where: Five Star Stadium
Tickets: $7-$25, buy online at mercerbears.tixr.com
On TV: ESPN+
On Radio: Mercer Sports Network — 100.9 The Creek FM or sportsmic.com
Feature photo: Mercer cheerleaders hype up the crowd during the game against Presbyterian College on Aug. 29, 2024, in Five Star Stadium. Photo by Jessica Gratigny
