Fcs Week 11 Game Of The Week: Mercer Bears @ Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles: How To Watch, Preview, Predictions

Date: Saturday, November 14

Time: 2:30 PM (ET)

TV: ESPN+

The Quick Hits

The de facto SoCon championship will take place on Saturday afternoon in Cookeville with Tennessee Tech (9-1, 6-1 SoCon) hosting Mercer (8-2, 5-1 SoCon). The #9 Golden Eagles are looking to win the conference in their first year in it but standing the way is the Bears squad that’s taken it the last two seasons. The two newfound league mates both were in the playoffs a year ago but both got bounced right away. They’ve each used their early exits to fuel what has been a terrific run in 2026 up to this point.

TTU likes to let it rip a score a lot of points. Mercer is more than happy getting into a low-scoring dogfight (as was evident by last week’s 14-7 overtime win over Chattanooga). Which of these clashing styles will prove to be the winning formula this weekend? Whoever has it may not only be in line for a league title but also a top eight playoff seed in a few weeks.

The Coaches

Mercer has not seen a drop off in success even through the coaching transition into the Joel Taylor era. Taylor is in his first season in Macon, at least as the head coach, after a great year leading West Georgia to an 8-3 run last fall. Taylor spent two years with the Wolves going 12-10 in that span. But he has also been with the Bears before as well, serving as the team’s defensive coordinator from 2020 to 2023. Now back in Macon, he’s already a frontrunner for SoCon Coach of the Year and is one win away from tying the team’s total from last year. Taylor is a South Carolina State alum and former defensive back.

Bobby Wilder, meanwhile, is in his third season in charge of the Golden Eagles and the turnaround has been an impressive one. Wilder, who was Old Dominion’s head man for 11 years, has completely overhauled the Tennessee Tech program and turned them into a contender. Last year was a watershed moment as he got them back to the playoffs for only the second time in school history. Wilder’s team went 11-2 last fall and is on pace to at least match that mark again.

Mercer Offense vs. Tennessee Tech Defense

Mercer has had some trouble figuring out who their main quarterback is this year but lately it’s been junior J.P. Pickles. Pickles has thrown for 10 touchdowns this year and just two interceptions. Where’s been quiet in passing, though, he’s more than made up for with his running ability. Pickles has nearly 600 yards on the ground with another nine TDs with his legs. The Bears rely heavily on that rushing attack and he’s a big part of it.

Also a big component of the ground game are running backs Zahmari Palode-Gary and Devon Caldwell. The standout senior Palode-Gary leads the team with 623 yards and averages 6.6 per tote while Caldwell checks in with 574 yards and a 6.2-yard-per-carry average. Those two will see a lot of the tough work up the gut and they’ll have a tall task against a Tennessee Tech defense that is allowing 155.2 rushing yards per game right now.

The biggest threat to Mercer’s ball carriers on Saturday will surely be senior defensive lineman Hudson Tucker. Tucker is the game-wrecker up front for the Golden Eagles with six sacks and eight tackles for loss (team highs in both). His ability to bully his way through the offensive line is excellent but he also won’t be the only one that the Bears’ backfield will have to be concerned with. Ameer Johnson and Tyrese Whitaker are also very sound in the trenches.

Tennessee Tech’s linebacking corps is stout as well. Greg Turner III and Kaleb Brown head up the group and have been a formidable duo over the middle for opposing offenses this year. The pair has combined for 126 total tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. It will be strength-on-strength when Mercer opts to run the ball. And that might be exactly why they’ll need to tap into their passing game which has, at times, gone dormant this season.

Fortunately for the Bears, receiver Brayden Smith will be on the outside. Smith has been the bright spot for the aerial attack, hauling in 51 passes for 734 yards and six scores. He could have a big day if the the Golden Eagles are too focused on stopping the run. It’s not unheard of for TTU’s defense to give up some big passing numbers either. If Pickles can get some time to sling it to Smith, Mercer might be in business.

Tennessee Tech Offense vs. Mercer Defense

This game will really be won or lost on the matchup between the high-scoring Golden Eagles offense and the stifling Mercer defense and Tennessee Tech has to like their chances with quarterback Jax Leatherwood under center. Leatherwood has been terrific this season, throwing for 2,629 yards and 26 touchdowns along with just four interceptions. He’ll let the ball rip but also takes good care of it. That, however, will be tested against a defense that ranks near the top of the FCS in picks.

Mercer has intercepted 12 passes this year and the majority of those have come from their talented secondary. That secondary is composed of some truly special corners, the best perhaps being senior Cameron Goggins. Goggins leads the team with five picks on his own and six pass breakups. Behind him are Justin Ferguson (three interceptions) and Evin McDowell (two interceptions). Leatherwood will have danger all around him when he throws in this one.

He will also have some lethal receivers, though. Tre’ Holloway, Gabe Nunez and Eric Weatherly are as deadly of a receiving trio as the Bears will see all season. Holloway has 656 yards, Nunez has 599 and Weatherly has 518. Between them there are 17 touchdowns through the air. Leatherwood will have his pick of the litter every time he wants to throw.

That being said, Tennessee Tech simply cannot pass all game without it coming back to bite them against those cornerbacks. That means that running backs M.J. Flowers and Qua Ashley will need to relieve some of the pressure off the pass game. Flowers is the team’s leading rusher with 655 yards and seven touchdowns while Ashley has 357 yards and five scores. Those two may end up being the X factors if the Golden Eagles are able to win.

The Bears will look to slow them down with stud linebacker Jyarius Carter. Carter has 86 tackles this year as well as 2.5 sacks and an interception. He’s done a little bit of everything for the Mercer D that gives up just 16.3 points per game. He and fellow linebacker Ronin Dangler will be flying around at the heart of the defense. Dangler is also the team leader with 5.5 sacks.

Prediction

Mercer will simply not be able to completely stop Tennessee Tech’s offense from making big plays. The key for them will be to mitigate the damage. Even if they do slow down the Golden Eagles, though, there are serious questions about their own offense being able to make enough plays to stay in it. TTU has not scored under 20 points once this year. The Bears have done it four times. There will be a ton of pressure on the Mercer defense to make this a slugfest because they are not built to win a track meet style game that Tennessee Tech will want to play. The Golden Eagles will have more trouble with this Mercer defense than most they’ve seen this year but Leatherwood and the offense have too many weapons at their disposal. Try as they might, the Bears just won’t be able to keep pace.

Score Prediction: Tennessee Tech: 34 – Mercer: 20