Mercer football faces the Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, Ala. this Saturday, Nov. 16, in their penultimate game before their now-clinched FCS Playoffs berth. Alabama is the No. 9 team in the Associate Press' ranking of FBS teams, while Mercer is currently ranked No. 7 among all FCS teams.
The Bears are coming off of a dominant win against the Virginia Military Institute last week, adding a third game to their win streak. Their only defeat of the seasonthe hands of Samford. Mercer currently sits at 9-1, atop the SoCon standings with a 6-1 record.
Alabama has been a formidable force throughout their own FBS games, achieving a record of 7-2, defeating the likes of top-25 teams LSU, Missouri, South Carolina and Georgia. The Crimson Tide lost at unranked Vanderbilt and No. 6 Tennessee, and in their last five games, they are 3-2.
Alabama has had an unusually non-dominant 4-2 start within the SEC following the departure of legendary head coach Nick Saban. The Tide made headlines after losing to an unranked Vanderbilt team, casting public doubt on their ability to make a dominant run in the playoffs, as was the norm under Saban’s leadership.
However, their offense is led by Heisman candidate and SEC touchdown leader, quarterback Jalen Milroe. Milroe leads the team in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. Through nine games, Milroe has a total quarterback rating of 159.2, according to ESPN analytics, and since their defeat to Tennessee, Alabama has outscored their opponents by a whopping 76-13. Further, the Tide has 17-year-old phenom, Ryan Williams, who has 731 yards, seven touchdown receptions and a rushing touchdown.
The Bears will have to count on forcing multiple stops on the Tide’s offense to stand a chance. Mercer's defense is one of the best in the FCS, and the team will rely heavily on it remain in the game. Currently, Mercer leads the conference in run defense, sacks, interceptions and defensive touchdowns, as well as allowing a league-low in points allowed.
Head-to-head statistics between the two teams heavily favor Alabama; the Crimson Tide holds a 4-0 record against Mercer, the most recent win being their 48-14 rout in September 2021. According to Sports Illustrated, Alabama had 54 players on its 2021 roster join the NFL in the time since the Bears played them. This year is similar: Alabama’s recruiting class ranks No. 2 in the nation and the team will field many future NFL draft picks on Saturday. On the other hand, Mercer has just two former players who have been signed to an NFL team as undrafted free agents, but they did not make the team.
Las Vegas is not optimistic for Mercer, putting the Crimson Tide as 41.5-point favorites heading into the game. While the Bears have shown to be a dangerous team within the FCS conference, they will face an uphill battle in Tuscaloosa.
Staff score predictions
Staff writer, Jacob Hossler: Alabama 58, Mercer 10
Staff writer, Nevaeh Wilson: Alabama 50, Mercer 10
Staff writer, Pariss Nicholson: Alabama 52, Mercer 7
Co-Editor-in-Chief, Gabriel Kopp: Alabama 38, Mercer 13
Jacob Hossler '28 is majoring in Biology with a potential English minor. In his free time he enjoys photography, writing, and playing tennis and soccer.
