GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Furman's football team is set to pull back the curtain on Southern Conference play this Saturday when it takes on AFCA 14th-ranked and defending champion Mercer in a 6:00 p.m. clash at Five Star Stadium in Macon, Ga.

The contest will be streamed via ESPN+ and aired over Furman flagship The Fan Upstate and its four powerhouse stations: 97.7 FM/1330 AM in Greenville, and 97.1 FM/950 AM in Spartanburg.  Broadcasts can be secured via Audacy.com, as well as through FurmanPaladins.com.

Fans can also follow the action through Mercer-driven StatBroadcast live stats, accessible via FurmanPaladins.com, and receive timely updates through the @FurmanPaladins "X" platform.

Furman (1-1, 0-0 SoCon), which split its first two games against Anderson (20-3 win) and FBS 18th-ranked Tennessee (56-9 loss), looks to continue its run of success in SoCon openers that has seen the Paladins claim their last four conference inaugurals.  Overall the Paladins are 6-3 in SoCon lid lifters under head coach Clay Hendrix.

Mercer (2-0, 0-0 SoCon), which will play its third home game of the young season this Saturday, steamrolled Presbyterian, 62-3, last Saturday after opening the season by edging East Texas A&M, 23-15.

Although the Paladins hold a 12-10-2 edge in the series, the Bears have had the upper hand of late, winning the last two, including a 53-28 verdict a year ago in Greenville.  That followed a 49-23 triumph  in Macon in 2024.

A bounce back by Furman will require a more productive offense under the direction of graduate transfer quarterback Jake Garcia, who has passed for 219 yards (23x45) and run for 53 yards in his two starts as a Paladin.

Garcia's primary target so far has been Dartmouth graduate transfer wide receiver Daniel Haughton (9 rec., 100 yds.).

Furman's rushing attack, which struggled the last two seasons, has displayed improved play this year, evidenced by the 5.6 ypc average posted in two outings.  Four running backs — Ben Croasdale (2 TDs), CJ Nettles (8.1 ypc), C.J. Stokes, and Isaiah Davis (8 att., 113 yds, TD vs. Tennessee) — comprise the group.

The Paladins will lean heavily on their defense to come away with a win at Mercer.  The leader is senior All-American end Joshua Stoneking, who is sure to continue to draw the attention off opponents after a 2025 season that saw him lead the FCS in sacks (14.5) and tackles for loss (23.0). The addition of sophomore bandit Eli Lipscomb, who in two starts has already posted 12 tackles, including five for loss, two sacks, and a pair of fumble recoveries, will give the Bears something else to think about other than Stoneking.  Preseason All-SoCon defensive tackle Demetrius Baldwin, Jr., and Caldwell Bussey form a very solid Paladin interior defensive front.

Preseason All-SoCon choice Raleigh Herbert (10 tackles) leads the linebacking corps, and in the secondary freshman safety Braylon Peebles has gotten off to a quality start with 12 tackles and two pass breakups.