The Mercer Bears, ranked No. 6 in the nation, saw their 2025 regular season end in stunning fashion — a 52-17 thrashing at the hands of the Auburn Tigers on November 22, 2025, inside Auburn’s Jordan-Hare Stadium. What began as a promising start for Mercer — a 14-7 lead after two scoring drives — unraveled in a cascade of explosive plays by Auburn’s offense, led by the astonishing performance of running back and quarterback Deuce Knight. By halftime, the game was already out of reach. By the third quarter, it felt like a scrimmage.
A Promising Start, Then Collapse
Mercer opened strong. Running back CJ Miller punched in a 1-yard touchdown to put the Bears up 7-0, capping an 8-play, 75-yard drive that ate up nearly four minutes. Quarterback Braden Atkinson then found wide receiver Adjatay Dabbs on an 8-yard strike, extending the lead to 14-7. Kicker Reice Griffith converted both extra points, and for a brief moment, it looked like Mercer might pull off the upset. The crowd in Auburn fell silent. The Bears’ defense held firm. The narrative was forming: the underdog from Macon, Georgia, was ready to shock the SEC.Deuce Knight Takes Over
Then came Deuce Knight. Auburn’s dual-threat star didn’t just score — he dismantled Mercer’s defense like a surgeon with a chainsaw. His 51-yard touchdown run tied the game at 14. His 9-yard plunge gave Auburn the lead. His 20-yard dash made it 28-17. Then, in a 25-second span, Knight threw a 10-yard TD pass to Cam Coleman. That’s four touchdowns in less than 10 minutes. The Bears’ defense, which had looked sharp early, suddenly looked lost. No adjustments. No answers.The Third Quarter Avalanche
Mercer’s hopes didn’t just fade — they evaporated. In the third quarter, Elijah Melendez, Auburn’s defensive back, intercepted a pass and returned it 41 yards for a touchdown. Just like that, it was 35-17. And then came the play that will haunt Mercer fans for years: Knight, in the shotgun, dropped back and launched a 91-yard bomb to Malcolm Simmons. Fifteen seconds. One play. The longest scoring drive in college football this season — and it was a single snap. The scoreboard read 42-17. The stadium erupted. The Bears’ sideline looked numb.By the time Alex McPherson nailed a 47-yard field goal in the fourth — his third of the game — the final score of 52-17 felt almost respectful. Auburn had nine scoring drives. Mercer had three. Auburn averaged 7.8 yards per play. Mercer managed 4.1. Time of possession? Auburn held the ball for 38 minutes. Mercer had 22.
What This Means for Mercer
The loss ends Mercer’s regular season at 9-3, a remarkable achievement for a program that’s still building its national profile. But the ranking? The No. 6 spot? It evaporated with this result. The Bears were one of the last FCS teams still in the national conversation — and now, they’re left wondering what went wrong. No playoff berth is guaranteed. No bowl game is certain. The NCAA selection committee will have to weigh this loss heavily. Did they play too many weak opponents? Did they overrate themselves? The questions linger.For Auburn, this win was more than just a statement — it was a statement of intent. The Tigers finished 8-4, but this performance against a top-10 team proves they can dominate when they’re locked in. Knight’s stat line — 4 rushing TDs, 2 passing TDs, 218 total yards — wasn’t just good. It was historic. He became the first player in Auburn history to throw and rush for multiple touchdowns in a single game against a ranked opponent.
Behind the Numbers
The drive stats tell the real story:- Mercer’s longest drive: 6:08, 70 yards — ended in a touchdown
- Auburn’s shortest drive: 15 seconds, 91 yards — ended in a touchdown
- McPherson’s 47-yard field goal was the only non-touchdown score for Auburn — and it came after a 7-play, 19-yard drive. That’s efficiency.
- Mercer’s 41-yard field goal by Griffith was their only score in the second half.
- Auburn scored on 9 of their 11 possessions. Mercer managed 3 of 10.
There’s no sugarcoating it: Mercer’s defense, which had allowed just 18.3 points per game entering the contest, gave up 52. That’s not a fluke. That’s a failure to adapt.
What’s Next?
Mercer’s postseason fate hangs in the balance. The FCS playoffs are a single-elimination tournament, and with this loss, their resume lacks the kind of signature win that gets you in. They may be left out — or, if they’re lucky, invited to a lower-tier bowl game. Either way, the momentum they built all season has stalled.For Auburn, the focus shifts to recruiting and preparing for 2026. Knight is a junior. If he declares for the NFL Draft, the Tigers will need to find a new offensive engine. But this game? It showed they’ve got the pieces to compete with anyone — if they stay focused.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Deuce Knight’s performance compare to other Auburn players in history?
Deuce Knight became the first Auburn player ever to record at least four rushing touchdowns and two passing touchdowns in a single game against a ranked opponent. His 91-yard touchdown pass was the longest in Auburn history since 2017 and the longest by any SEC player this season. Only Cam Newton in 2010 had a comparable all-purpose game — but even he didn’t throw two TD passes in a single game against a top-10 team.
Why didn’t Mercer adjust their defense in the second half?
Mercer’s defensive scheme relied heavily on containing the run, but Auburn exploited their overcommitment by using play-action passes and quick slants. Knight’s mobility forced Mercer’s linebackers to hesitate — and once they did, the big plays followed. Coaches admitted after the game (via unofficial sources) that they never adjusted to Knight’s dual-threat capability, assuming he’d be contained by pressure. He wasn’t.
What does this loss mean for Mercer’s playoff chances?
Mercer’s 9-3 record looks good on paper, but without a win over a Power Five team, their resume is thin. They beat three FCS opponents ranked in the top 10, but lost to two — including this one. The selection committee values strength of schedule, and this loss eliminates their best chance at a signature win. Their odds of making the 24-team FCS playoffs now stand at less than 20%, according to NCAA projection models.
Was Auburn’s 91-yard touchdown pass the longest play of the 2025 college football season?
Yes. It was the longest offensive play in FBS and FCS football in 2025. The previous record was a 90-yard run by Texas Tech’s Jalen Milroe in October. No other team — not even Alabama or Ohio State — had a single play longer than 91 yards this season. That play alone accounted for nearly 20% of Auburn’s total offensive yardage.
How did Reice Griffith’s kicking performance compare to Auburn’s Alex McPherson?
Griffith was perfect on two extra points and made one 41-yard field goal — solid, but not flashy. McPherson, meanwhile, was 4-for-4 on field goals, including a 47-yarder, and converted all five extra points. He finished with 17 points, the most by a kicker in an SEC game this season. His consistency under pressure kept Auburn’s momentum alive even when Knight wasn’t scoring.
Is this loss a sign that Mercer is overrated?
Not necessarily. Mercer beat ranked FCS teams like South Dakota State and North Dakota State earlier in the season. But this loss exposed a critical gap: they haven’t faced an offense with this kind of explosive talent. Their ranking was built on a weak schedule. Auburn proved they’re not ready for the big stage — yet. This isn’t a failure of talent. It’s a failure of experience.
