Cullowhee, N.C. – Fresh off its biggest victories of the season, Western Carolina returns to the road Saturday afternoon looking to prove last week's upset was more than a one-week statement.
The Catamounts travel to Macon, Ga., for a pivotal Southern Conference showdown between league contenders as they square off against nationally ranked Mercer. WCU carries momentum from last week's win over previously unbeaten, eighth-ranked Tennessee Tech into another matchup against a top-20 foe.
Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. at Five Star Stadium in a contest that could have an early impact on the conference race. With both teams already carrying one conference loss, Saturday's winner gains valuable early footing in what is shaping up to be another tightly contested Southern Conference race.
The challenge will be substantial. Mercer (4-2, 1-1 SoCon) returns home after a month away from Macon and has won 10 straight meetings against Western Carolina. Saturday marks Mercer's first home game since mid-September after a stretch of three consecutive road contests. The Bears won two of those games against FCS competition and enter the weekend on a two-game winning streak.
The Catamounts, meanwhile, are seeking their first victory in the series since 2016 and their first road win over the Bears in Macon since 2014.
The recent history between the two programs has produced its share of drama, including last season's 49-47 Mercer victory in Cullowhee when a potential game-winning field goal in the final seconds drifted just wide. The series has also featured several other close finishes, including a 24-21 Catamount victory in 2015 and a 35-33 Mercer win in 2017.
The game will be streamed on ESPN+ (paid subscription required), with live radio coverage available across the Catamount Sports Network beginning at 2 p.m. Officials at Mercer will continue to monitor the weather situation surrounding Hurricane Isaias, which could impact games across the Southeast on Saturday.
Game 7: Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026 • 3:02 p.m.
Location: Macon, Ga. (Five Star Stadium)
Records: Western Carolina (3-3, 1-1 SoCon) at No. 18/20 Mercer (4-2, 1-1 SoCon)
BROADCAST INFORMATION:
Broadcast: ESPN+ (subscription required) / Watch ESPN app
Announcers: Frank Malloy and Phil Cox
Radio: Catamount Sports Network
PxP: Gary Ayers
Analyst: Daniel Hooker
Producer/Host: Jeff Bryson
2026 CSN Radio Affiliates:
Sylva – 105.7 FM / 540 AM WRGC – wrgc.com
Franklin – 104.9 FM / 1050 AM WFSC – 1050wfsc.com
Asheville – 1310 AM WISE Sports Radio – wisesportsradio.com
Marion – 103.9 FM / 1250 AM Bigfoot Country (bigfoot1039.com)
Online: CatamountSports.com
Social Media: @catamounts; @catamountsfb
LINKS:
WCU Football – Media Center
Saturday's game features one of the Southern Conference's most intriguing strength-versus-strength matchups as Western Carolina's high-powered offense squares off against one of the nation's stingiest defenses.
WCU enters the weekend averaging a league-best 34.5 points and 439.5 total yards per game, ranking among the top 25 nationally in both categories. The Catamounts have shown balance offensively, averaging more than 260 passing yards and nearly 180 rushing yards per contest.
Mercer counters with a defense that has been among the nation's most consistent units through six games. The Bears are surrendering just 17.0 points per contest and rank among the FCS leaders in total defense, limiting opponents to 317.7 yards per game.
The matchup could ultimately come down to which side imposes its style. Western Carolina looks to create explosive plays through quarterback Lex Thomas and a balanced offensive attack, while Mercer seeks to control the game behind a physical defense and the conference's leading rushing offense.
Thomas enters the week leading the SoCon in total offense, responsible for 289 yards per game, 11th-most in the NCAA FCS. He is second in the league in passing with 246.3 yards per game and eighth in overall rushing with 43 yards per contest. With two 100-yard efforts among his last three games, running back Josh Perry has moved into seventh in the SoCon in rushing, averaging a team-best 67.5 rushing yards per game (46th nationally).
Mercer's ground game features three Bears – Zahmari Paiode-Gary (3rd, 85.8 yds/gm), JP Pickles (8th, 60.4 yds/gm), and Devon Caldwell (9th, 60.3 yds/gm) – among the individual top 10 in rushing this season.
Western Carolina vs. Mercer – Series History:
The Catamounts and Bears meet for the 13th time on the football gridiron on Saturday in Macon. Since winning the first two games in the head-to-head series, WCU has dropped 10 straight against Mercer to trail in the all-time series, 2-10. Four of the previous 12 meetings have been decided in one-possession games.
For the latest news, scores, highlights, and behind-the-scenes content, follow Catamount football and WCU Athletics on Facebook (FB.com/CatamountSports; FB.com/westerncarolinafootball; FB.com/CatamountSportsNetwork) and X (@Catamounts, @CatamountsFB).
