Auburn football's FCS opponent, Mercer, earns preseason top 25 spot
The preseason FCS Poll has been released, and it features Auburn's Nov. 22 opponent, the Mercer Bears. The Bears will begin the season ranked No. 11 at the FCS level. The Bears earn high preseason recognition after winning 11 games and ending the 2024 season ranked No. 8 in the country. Mercer is ahead of several notable programs, such as Idaho, Sacramento State, and Richmond, and trails the likes of Montana State, South Dakota, and the FCS preseason No. 1 team, North Dakota State.
Auburn will face the Bears near the end of the 2025 campaign, as Mercer will visit Jordan-Hare Stadium one week before the highly anticipated Iron Bowl. There is a great chance that the Bears could hold a higher ranking by the time they visit the Plains, as they will face two ranked FCS teams in No. 8 UC Davis and No. 18 Western Carolina during the regular season.
Last season, Mercer began the year by winning five straight games before stumbling on the road at Samford. The Bears then went on a run where they won four of their final five regular-season games, with the lone loss coming to Alabama on Nov. 9. Mercer's season ultimately ended in the second round of the FCS playoffs with a loss to eventual national champion North Dakota State.
The Tigers and Bears will square off on Saturday, Nov. 22, at Jordan-Hare Stadium. The game will begin at 1 p.m. CT and will be streamed live on SEC Network+.
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