MACON, Ga. — Mercer football’s home games officially have kickoff times, with its first two kicking off at night.
The Bears’ season opener against Presbyterian will kick off at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 29 at Five Star Stadium.
Both teams will get an opportunity to start the season off right in a Thursday, primetime slot. The lights will come on at Five Star Stadium for an anticipated start of the season.
The Bear's last game was against FCS champions South Dakota State, where they were shut out 41-0. A strong opener against the Blue Hose could set the Bears up for another winning season.
The two teams last faced off in 2019, where Mercer won handily. Presbyterian didn’t score until the fourth quarter and Mercer won 45-7. However, it’s been half a decade since then, so time will tell if the Bears can stay undefeated against the Blue Hose.
Mercer returns to Five Star Stadium three weeks later to play The Citadel on Saturday, Sept. 21 at 6 p.m. Both of the team’s first home games will kick off at night, which may lead to an exciting atmosphere in Macon. Unlike the previous night's game, this one will take place on Saturday.
The Bears hold a 9-11-1 record against the Bulldogs, but they won the most recent matchup last season 38-16.
Mercer’s next two home games, against Princeton on Sat. Oct. 12, and Western Carolina on Saturday, Oct. 26, are both scheduled for 3:30 p.m. This will be the first time Mercer has faced off against Princeton in football.
The Catamounts have only defeated Mercer twice since they’ve been facing off since 2014. Mercer defeated them 45-38 last season and holds an 8-2 series record.
The Bears will remain home for back-to-back weeks, as they’ll face East Tennessee State on Saturday, Nov. 2 after Western Carolina. This game will also serve as Mercer’s annual homecoming game.
East Tennessee State is currently down 5-4 all-time to Mercer in their series. The two teams faced off last season, with Mercer taking a one-game advantage after a 24-6 win.
Mercer’s final home game is the last game of their regular season. They face Furman at home on Saturday, Nov. 23 at 3 p.m. to close out the year.
Furman took down Mercer last season 38-14 and currently has the advantage in the series. The two teams have been facing off since 1914, and Furman holds a 12-8-2 record against the Bears.
A few of Mercer’s road opponents have also had their kickoff times revealed. The team will spend back-to-back games on the road after its first game of the season. The Bears will first face Bethune-Cookman in Daytona Beach, Florida on Saturday, Sept. 7 at 3 p.m.
They’ll face Chattanooga in Chattanooga, Tennessee the next week on Saturday, Sept. 14 at 6 p.m. Mercer will play at 6 p.m. in back-to-back games, as the team faces The Citadel the following week.
After a face-off against The Citadel Bulldogs, Mercer will take on the Wofford Terriers in Spartanburg, South Carolina. They’ll play on Saturday, Sept. 28 at 1:30 p.m., which is currently the team’s earliest scheduled game.
While the road games against Samford on Saturday, Oct. 19 and Virginia Military Institute on Saturday, Nov. 9, don’t have kickoff times yet, the Bear’s matchup against Alabama does. They’ll travel to Tuscaloosa on Saturday, Nov. 16 and face the new-look Crimson Tide at 2 p.m.
The Bears last played Alabama in 2021, where they lost 48-14. 14 was the highest points Mercer scored in the four times the two have played.
However, this time around, Mercer will take on new head coach Kalen DeBoer after legendary head coach Nick Saban’s retirement this past offseason. This is the first time since taking on an Alabama coach not named Saban since 1940.
Below is a full list of the team's schedule.
* - Southern Conference Matchup
Week 1 - vs Presbyterian
Thursday, Aug. 29 at 7 p.m.
At Five Star Stadium
Week 2 - @ Bethune-Cookman
Saturday, Sept. 7 at 3 p.m.
At Daytona Stadium in Daytona Beach, Florida
Week 3 - @ Chattanooga*
Saturday, Sept. 14 at 6 p.m.
At Finley Stadium in Chattanooga, Tennessee
Week 4 - vs The Citadel*
Saturday, Sept. 21 at 6 p.m.
At Five Star Stadium
Week 5 - @ Wofford*
Saturday, Sept. 28 at 1:30 p.m.
At Gibbs Stadium in Spartanburg, South Carolina
Week 6 - Bye Week
No game week of Oct.5
Week 7 - vs Princeton
Saturday, Oct. 12 at 3:30 p.m.
At Five Star Stadium
Week 8 - @ Samford*
Saturday, Oct. 19 at TBA
At Pete Hanna Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama
Week 9 - vs Western Carolina*
Saturday, Oct. 26 at 3:30 p.m.
At Five Star Stadium
Week 10 - vs East Tennessee State* (Homecoming)
Saturday, Nov. 2 at 3 p.m.
At Five Star Stadium
Week 11 - @ Virginia Military Institute*
Saturday, Nov. 9 at TBA
At Foster Stadium in Lexington, Virginia
Week 12 - @ Alabama
Saturday, Nov. 16 at 2 p.m.
At Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Week 13 - vs Furman*
Saturday, Nov. 23 at 3 p.m.
At Five Star Stadium
Postseason - Start of FCS Playoffs
Saturday, Nov. 30