Mercer Ranked Highest Ever in SoCon Polls
7/28/2022 1:19:00 PM | Football
Bears picked to finish second in media poll
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – As the season gets closer to kicking off – less than a month – Mercer football's anticipation builds up as they received their highest-ever preseason projection by the league coaches and its media members.
Mercer was projected to finish second by the media and third by the league's coaches. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their teams.
In addition, Mercer made appearances in a trio of preseason polls: No. 16 in the College Football Network, 17 in AthlonSports and 18 in The Blue Bloods. These rankings are the highest-ever for the Bears in program history.
Â
2022 Preseason Southern Conference Media Poll
Team (1st-place votes)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Total
1. Chattanooga (18)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 256
t2. ETSU (7)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 226
t2. Mercer (5)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 226
4. Furman                                           175
5. Western Carolina                            125
6. VMIÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 119
7. Samford                                          106
8. Wofford                                             60
9. The Citadel                                       57
Â
2022 Preseason Southern Conference Coaches Poll
Team (1st-place votes)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Total
1. Chattanooga (5)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 60
2. ETSU (2)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 54
3. Mercer (1)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 53
4. Furman (1)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 43
5. Western Carolina                              38
6. Samford                                            26
7. VMIÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 23
8. The Citadel                                       14
9. Wofford                                             13Â
Â
Follow the Bears
For complete coverage of Mercer Football, please follow the Bears on social media at @MercerFootball (Twitter), /MercerFootball (Facebook) and @MercerFootball (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.
Â
Mercer was projected to finish second by the media and third by the league's coaches. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their teams.
In addition, Mercer made appearances in a trio of preseason polls: No. 16 in the College Football Network, 17 in AthlonSports and 18 in The Blue Bloods. These rankings are the highest-ever for the Bears in program history.
Â
2022 Preseason Southern Conference Media Poll
Team (1st-place votes)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Total
1. Chattanooga (18)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 256
t2. ETSU (7)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 226
t2. Mercer (5)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 226
4. Furman                                           175
5. Western Carolina                            125
6. VMIÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 119
7. Samford                                          106
8. Wofford                                             60
9. The Citadel                                       57
Â
2022 Preseason Southern Conference Coaches Poll
Team (1st-place votes)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Total
1. Chattanooga (5)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 60
2. ETSU (2)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 54
3. Mercer (1)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 53
4. Furman (1)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 43
5. Western Carolina                              38
6. Samford                                            26
7. VMIÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 23
8. The Citadel                                       14
9. Wofford                                             13Â
Â
Follow the Bears
For complete coverage of Mercer Football, please follow the Bears on social media at @MercerFootball (Twitter), /MercerFootball (Facebook) and @MercerFootball (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.
Â
Mercer Men's Basketball 2026 | vs. Chattanooga | Full Game Highlights
Friday, February 20
Mercer v. Georgia Southern Softball Highlight Reel: 2/18/26
Thursday, February 19
Men's Basketball Presser 2.16.26
Tuesday, February 17
Women's Basketball Presser 2.16.26
Tuesday, February 17
