The Auburn Tigers are aiming for a 2-0 finish to the regular season, as they hope to avoid a second straight season without an appearance in a bowl game.
The Tigers can get themselves one step closer to achieving that goal on Saturday as they host Mercer in their last non-conference matchup of the regular season.
The Bears enter this one on a nine-game winning streak, sitting at 9-1 on the season. Led by head coach Mike Jacobs, Mercer is the outright champion of the Southern Conference after posting a perfect 8-0 record in conference play thus far.
Coming off a 63-17 win over Chattanooga, the Bears claimed back-to-back outright Southern Conference titles for the first time in 16 years.
Here is a look at the Tigers’ Week 13 opponent:
Don’t take them lightly
Auburn fans still carry the scar of the 2023 loss to New Mexico State – a nightmare they have no intention of reliving.
And Auburn will undoubtedly have to show up with intentions of handling its business on Saturday against a strong Mercer squad looking to put the nation on notice with a win.
The Bears boast the second-best passing offense in the Southern Conference, notching 3,447 yards on the season, and they are one game behind due to a cancellation in the Crampton Bowl to jumpstart their season. They are averaging 344.7 passing yards per game. Additionally, they have tallied 1,760 yards rushing, fourth-best in the conference, with 176 yards per game.
Defensively, Mercer is giving up just 19.7 points per game, while allowing only 314.8 yards per game. The Bears are first in their conference with 40 sacks recorded and 10 forced fumbles on the year. They have recorded 83 tackles for loss, which is second in the Southern Conference.
Offensive players to know
QB Braden Atkinson
Listed as just a 2-star recruit in last year’s recruiting class by Rivals recruiting rankings, Atkinson has exploded onto the college football scene with a whopping 3,253 yards passing this season.
That mark leads all FBS and FCS quarterbacks this season. He has thrown for over 300 yards in every game except one (187). He has thrown for 33 touchdowns, which is tied for first among quarterbacks in that same category.
Pro Football Focus gives Atkinson a 92 passer grade, which ranks eighth among all quarterbacks in the FBS and FCS.
Atkinson doesn’t pose a massive threat with his legs, however, as he has only recorded 14 yards on the ground on 11 carries.
RB CJ Miller
A bruiser-type running back, standing at 6-feet tall and weighing 230 pounds, Miller has already doubled his production as a sophomore.
This season, as a junior, Miller has rumbled for a team-high 817 yards. He has seen the endzone 13 times and averages six yards per carry.
He has surpassed the century mark in four of the Bears’ nine games this season and recorded four multi-score games.
WR Adjatay Dabbs
Dabbs, a redshirt sophomore, has established himself as one of Atkinson’s favorite targets out wide.
He has posted 782 receiving yards on the year, which leads the team and the Southern Conference. With 39 receptions, he has posted seven touchdowns, which is third in the conference.
He is averaging 20.1 yards per reception, which leads the conference, and is posting 78.2 yards per game receiving.
Defensive players to know
LB Drew Clare
Used mainly as a special teams player in 2024, Clare has excelled in an expanded role this season with the Bears.
The redshirt junior has tallied a team-high 68 tackles. He has posted 10.5 tackles for loss, which is fourth in the Southern Conference.
EDGE Andrew Zock
While he’s just sixth on the Bears’ squad in total tackles with 38, Zock has proven himself as a disruptive force on the defensive front this season.
Now a sophomore, Zock was a Southern Conference Freshman of the Year last season after recording 38 tackles and logging seven sacks while starting all 14 games as a freshman.
This year, he is tied for seventh among all edge defenders at the FCS and FBS level with 11.5 sacks on the year, with 84 sack yards recorded. He has forced two fumbles and recovered one.
Game Overview
Auburn will be heavily favored in its final tune-up before the 90th edition of the Iron Bowl takes place on November 29.
For Auburn, the biggest question heading into the week will be who takes the reins under center. Ashton Daniels has played in three games this season after taking over for a struggling Jackson Arnold. Interim head coach, DJ Durkin noted on Monday that Arnold would not play on Saturday in order to preserve his redshirt status. All eyes now point toward freshman Deuce Knight and Arnold. Durkin said both will play and they will evaluate throughout the practice week.
Defensively, can Auburn keep Atkinson and the Bears’ explosive passing attack in check? History has shown that the Tigers struggle against top-notch passers this season.
All of that remains to be seen, but Auburn should handle its business on its home turf.
The game will kick off at 1 p.m. CT on SECN+.