QUARTER-FINALS PLAYOFFS SCHEDULE
Saturday December 14, 2024
9/8 Mercer Bears vs 4/3 North Dakota State Bison
First meeting
ABC/ESPN+ 3:30 p.m.
NOTES
• The Southern Conference champion and No. 7 national seed Mercer advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division I Football Championship for the first time in program history with a win over Rhode Island last week. • The SoCon has gone 116-84 (.610) all-time in the FCS playoffs, winning eight national titles. Furman claimed the first of those in 1988, becoming the first private school to win what was then the 1-AA championship. • Mercer is ranked in the top 10 in both the AFCA and Stats Perform polls. The Bears are No. 9 in the AFCA and No. 8 in the Stats Perform poll. • Mercer leads all of FCS football in 3rd Down Conversion Pct Defense (.249), interceptions (23) and defensive TDs (8). The Bears are ranked second in team tackles for loss (8.0). • The Bears are 5-0 versus ranked opponents this season. • Mercer defensive back TJ Moore was named a top 3 finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award last week. • Eight SoCon players were finalists for national awards. Mercer running back Dwayne McGee and Western Carolina quarterback Cole Gonzales were finalists for the Walter Payton Award. Along with Moore, Bears defensive lineman Brayden Manley and Samford linebacker Noah Martin were among the finalists for the Buchanan Award. Mercer defensive lineman Andrew Zock, Western Carolina quarterback Taron Dickens and Wofford defensive back CJ Coombes were finalists for the Jerry Rice Award. • Mercer head coach Mike Jacobs was a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award, finishing fifth in the voting. • The NCAA Division I Football Championship will be held on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025, at 7 p.m. ET.
