Auburn Prepares for Mercer in Critical Nonconference Showdown

AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn football is gearing up for a crucial game against Mercer on Saturday after a hard-fought overtime match against Vanderbilt. Interim head coach DJ Durkin praised the team’s preparation during the bye week. “I want to commend our guys,” he said. “We got a lot of work done, and I feel like we got better.”

The Tigers (4-6), who are looking to improve their season record, will face the Mercer Bears, who come into the game with a nine-game winning streak and a perfect 5-0 record on the road. “Mercer does a tremendous job,” Durkin noted, highlighting their offense’s effectiveness. The Bears lead the nation in total offense and scoring, creating a formidable challenge for the Tigers.

Auburn plans to utilize both of their quarterbacks, keeping freshman Ashton Daniels on the sidelines to maintain his redshirt status. “We’re going to put together a great plan for both these guys to have success,” Durkin said, emphasizing the importance of team unity.

With the iconic Iron Bowl against Alabama looming next week, Durkin insists the focus remains on Mercer. “It’s critically important, but I don’t think it’s going to be a problem for them,” he stated. “We’ve been game planning and preparing for this game.”

Linebacker Xavier Atkins shared his perspective, stating, “We’re worried about going out there and playing a complete football game. We have to focus on this week.”

Auburn holds a 13-0 all-time series advantage over Mercer, including eight wins at home. The last meeting in 2022 ended with a convincing 42-16 victory for the Tigers.

The game kicks off at 1 p.m. CT at Jordan-Hare Stadium and will be broadcast on SEC Network+.