The Chattanooga Mocs and Memphis Tigers square off Saturday afternoon in their season-opening matchup.
Second straight year opening with an FBS opponent. Since the start of FCS Football in 1982, Chattanooga has opened the season against an FBS opponent 14 times (1-13). 20-9 in all other matchups.
The Mocs schedule is as challenging as any in the FCS. It opens with arguably the premier group of five program in FBS at Memphis. Trips to OVC (Tennessee Tech) and United (Tarleton State) favorites bookends the home opener against Stetson.
Four opponents open the season nationally ranked: Tarleton State (8-Coaches/10-Stats Perform), Mercer (11/11), Western Carolina (19/18) and Tennessee Tech (T22/21). Three more are receiving votes: Memphis (AP & Coaches), ETSU (Stats Perform & Coaches) and Samford (Coaches).
The Mocs and Tigers are in similar positions roster-wise with more than 100 new players between the two programs. A combined total of eight position players with six or more starts at their respective schools are back with five for the Mocs (OL Will Buchanan, DB Jeremiah Batiste, TE John McIntyre, OL Tyrell Ragland & QB Luke Schomburg) and three for the Tigers (OL Chris Adams, OL Malachi Breland, DE William Whitlow, Jr.).
The last time the Mocs started on the road in Memphis and Cookeville was 2006. That began with a 31-7 win at Tech before dropping a 33-14 decision at Memphis.
Despite returning just five starters, the Mocs pre-game 2 deep predicts just four new players penciled into the starting lineup - one on offense (OL Ryan Merklinger) and three on defense (DE Orlando Daniels, DB Nick Coates & DB Kaelin Drakeford).
This year’s starting QB will be the fifth different on opening day under Wright as the competition winds up between Luke Schomburg and Camden Orth:
2019: Nick Tiano vs. Eastern Illinois
2020-21: Drayton Arnold at Western Kentucky
2021: Drayton Arnold vs. Austin Peay
2022: Preston Hutchinson vs. Wofford
2023: Chase Artopoeus at North Alabama
2024: Chase Artopoeus at Tennessee
Tickets are on sale now for the 2025 campaign. Season tickets provide the best value beginning at $60. Mini-packs and single game are available as well. Purchases can be made here on GoMocs.com.
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Game Day Details:
Week 1: (RV) Chattanooga (0-0) at (RV) Memphis (0-0)
Game Time: 4:30 p.m. (ET) | Liberty Stadium (58,325) | Memphis, Tenn..
Series: 5-12-0 (History) | Media: ESPN+; Mocs Sports Network; Live Stats
TV: ESPN+. Announcers: Chris Carlin (PxP), Jay Sonnhalter (Analysis)
Radio: Mocs Sports Network (WFLI Chattanooga – 96.1 FM, 100.3 FM & 1070 AM). Announcers: Jim Reynolds (PxP), Todd Agne (Analysis), Will Poindexter (Sideline). The game can also be listened to on GoMocs.com & the Varsity Network app.