It’s a big week in the Scenic City. Home opener, Southern Conference opener and top 25 matchup is all wrapped up into one special night. The 14th-ranked Chattanooga Mocs host No. 23 Mercer with a 6 p.m., kickoff on ESPN+.
The Mocs enter at 0-2 after opening with 2023 FBS Bowl winners Tennessee and Georgia State in successive weeks. The loss at GSU was a narrow 24-21 tally. The Bears are 2-0 with wins over Presbyterian and at Bethune-Cookman by a combined 94-12 score.
This is always an interesting matchup.
It also tends to provide offensive fireworks at Finley with an average score of 33.6-26.2 (168-131) going the good guys way at home.
Week 3: (23) Mercer (2-0/0-0) at (14) Chattanooga (0-2/0-0)
Game Time: 6 p.m. | Finley Stadium (20,660) | Chattanooga, Tenn.
Series: 22-11-1 (History) | Media: ESPN+; Mocs Sports Network; Live Stats
Chattanooga is 14th in the AFCA Coaches Poll and 16th in the Stats Perform Top 25.
Mercer is No. 23 in the Stats Perform Top 25 and 24th in the AFCA Coaches Poll.
Junior WR Sam Phillips is this week’s Tennessee Sports Writers Association Offensive Player of the Week. His 195 receiving yards are the fourth highest against an FBS opponent this far in 2024.
RB Lance Jackson has the lone 100-yard game (currently) in the RB room registering 135 yards on 19 carries (7.1 ypc) with two touchdowns in the spring 2021 meeting with…Mercer.
The last time facing two FBS/I-A squads to open a season was 1988 with losses at Tulane (19-33) & at Georgia Tech (10-24). Game three was also the home opener, a 13-3 loss to No. 6 Georgia Southern in Chamberlain Field.
Season Tickets are the best option for Mocs fans. Prices start at $60 for general admission. Mocs Club members have the option for reserved seats beginning at the $250 donation level which includes a season parking pass to go with the season ticket. Other choices:
3-game mini-plans
Single Game
A voucher for tickets is at each of the five branches of the Chattanooga Public Library.
There is also a skybox available for rental each game