Mercer (1-0) hosts Presbyterian (1-0). The market has Mercer (1-0) favored by 21.
What’s at stake
Mercer
- Mercer is the reinstatement program that shocked the SoCon with back-to-back titles and a perfect 2025 conference record — the bears that went from FCS reinstatement to conference dynasty in a decade.
Presbyterian
- Presbyterian went 10-2 in 2025 -- its first double-digit-win season since 2005 and its first undefeated home record since 1998 -- nearly two decades after the Bronze Derby, the century-old rivalry that once defined the program, went dormant.
The series
Mercer leads the series 4-2
6 meetings since 1934 · Presbyterian won the last meeting
- 2025Presbyterian 15–10
- 2024Mercer 63–10
- 2019Mercer 45–7
- 1936Mercer 19–7
- 1935Mercer 14–7
Face-off
What each fanbase carries into this one.
Presbyterian
The chip · vs the national mediaPresbyterian fans know their program wins without the benefit of athletic scholarships, in the Pioneer Football League, largely outside the sport's national attention -- the 2025 season was real, earned success most of the country never saw.
What this game touches
The Bronze Derby went dormant. Presbyterian and Newberry College played the Bronze Derby rivalry for 93 seasons (1913-2006), 95 games, Presbyterian leading 57-33-5. It ended in 2006 when Presbyterian moved out of Division II, leaving the program without a defining annual game for nearly two decades.
Mercer
The chip · vs the blue bloodsFans here believe mercer came out of nowhere in 2024 to win a SoCon championship. Furman has 1988, Wofford has ten playoff runs, the Citadel has tradition. The bears have momentum — and they're using it to prove reinstatement programs can build real dynasties.
What this game touches
The Mike Jacobs resignation. Mercer's legendary coach Mike Jacobs resigned in December 2025 after building the program into a back-to-back SoCon champion and three-time FCS playoff contender. The Jacobs era (20 wins in 2 years) seemed like the foundation of dynasty; his departure leaves the bears without their architect and scrambling to prove the success wasn't dependent on one man.
The line, and the room
The model and the market don’t fully agree on Mercer’s chances here.
Home −21 · O/U 56.5
Conditions
90°F · 7 mph wind · Rain Shower
Mercer is 69% at home, 52% on the road since 2018 (29-13 home, 23-21 away).
Recent games
Mercer
- Wk 1Wvs East Texas A&M23-15
Presbyterian
- Wk 1Wvs UVA Wise47-37
The market
Spread: −21.5 → −21
Book hold: 5.4%