SoCon Football 2026: No. 24 Furman's Blockbuster Matchup Against No. 16 South Carolina Highlights Week Three in the SoCon
WEEK 3 OVERVIEW AND PREVIEWS
For the first time in the young season, we have a lighter schedule on the docket to deal with heading into week three, with The Citadel, Tennessee Tech. and Samford all having the week off.
Chattanooga (1-2, 0-0 SoCon) will host its first Southern Conference game of the season, as the Mocs will welcome Wofford (2-1, 1-0 SoCon) Saturday evening for a Southern Conference tilt, with kickoff for that contest slated for 6 p.m. EST.
It will mark the 33rd all-time clash between the Terriers and Mocs, with the series all tied, 16-16. Wofford was able to snap a five-game losing streak in the series against the Terriers by claiming a 35-13 victory at Gibbs Stadium in Spartanburg. The game between the Mocs and Terriers will be the lone SoCon tilt of the entire weekend.
The only time a Southern Conference team will face an FBS foe this Saturday will be win Mercer (2-1, 0-1 SoCon) travels to take on winless Georgia Tech (0-2). The two-time defending SoCon Champions will be looking to rebound from a 20-13 setback in their SoCon opener, as the Bears dropped a 20-13 game on at Five Star Stadium against Furman to snap a 12-game winning streak in league games.
The Bears and Yellow Jackets are set for a noon EST kickoff at Bobby Dodd Stadium, as it will mark the 19th all-time meeting between the two programs, and just the second since Mercer resurrected its football program back in 2014, as the only other meeting came in 2016 and was Mercer's first game against an FBS upon bringing back football following a 72-year hiatus, as the Yellow Jackets claimed what was a 35-10 win at Bobby Dodd Stadium on that occasion.
The Yellow Jackets enter the contest against the Bears looking to snap a two-game losing streak of their own to start the season, with home losses to both Colorado (L, 13-10) and Tennessee (L, 45-24) in their first two games of the season. Georgia Tech holds a 16-1-1 all-time series record against the Bears, which includes having won 12-straight in the series, dating back to the only tie in series history, which was a 12-12 draw in 1896.
East Tennessee State (1-2) will be back in the friendly confines of William B. Greene Jr. Stadium for a noon kickoff against West Georgia (0-3) in what will mark just the second all-time between the two programs, with West Georgia having won the only other matchup between the two, with a 35-31 win in come-from-behind fashion last season. The Bucs will be looking to rebound from a 35-3 road loss at North Carolina in the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
West Georgia has started the season with three-straight losses, including a 24-10 setback to SoCon member Chattanooga to start the season. The Wolves then dropped back-to-back FBS games, with a 47-0 loss to Kennesaw State and a 52-7 setback to Arkansas State.
The SoCon will have a pair of games against Pioneer Football League foes, with Western Carolina hosting Presbyterian in a 2:30 p.m. EST contest at EJ Whitmire Stadium. PC is the alma mater of former WCU legendary head coach Bob Waters, and will mark the 21st time the two programs have met on the gridiron, with the Catamounts holding a narrow 11-9 series edge over the Blue Hose.
It will mark the first meeting between the two since Western Carolina posted what was a 77-21 win over the Blue Hose back during the 2022 campaign.
VMI (0-3) is set to battle Davidson (1-2) in a 1 p.m. EST contest on the road. Davidson and VMI will be meeting for the 61st time on the gridiron on Saturday, with the Keydets holding the commanding 40-17-3 all-time meeting in the all-time series between the two, with VMI having claimed a 12-7 win over the Wildcats in the most recent meeting between the two teams back in 2023. The Keydets currently own a 12-game winning streak in the series.
The game of the day in the SoCon could be in Greenville, as No. 24 Furman (2-1, 1-0 SoCon) takes on No. 16 South Carolina State (3-0) in an in-state battle between two programs that have a long history against one another, which includes having met in the Division I-AA Playoffs (now referred to as FCS Playoffs) back in 1982. The meeting on Saturday evening at Paladin Stadium, which is slated for a 7 p.m. EST kickoff, will mark the 18th between the two programs, including the first since 2015 when the Paladins posted a 17-3 win in cool, windy and rainy conditions at Paladin Stadium.
The Paladins have won eight of the nine games played in Greenville, with the lone loss having been that 1982 clash in the postseason in what was Furman's first of 20 FCS Playoff appearances, as the Paladins were blanked 17-0 in that contest. Furman holds a 12-5 all-time series edge and is 13-11 against ranked foes since 2017, including having gone 11-5 against ranked teams since 2021.
Game 27: No. 16 South Carolina State (3-0, 0-0 MEAC) at No. 24 Furman (2-1, 1-0 SoCon)
Date: Sept. 19, 2026
Location: Greenville, S.C./Paladin Stadium
Time: 7 p.m. EST
How To Watch: ESPN+
Furman Head Coach: Clay Hendrix (62-44/10th Yr at Furman)
SC State Head Coach: Chennis Berry (49-13 in 6th Yr overall/22-6 in 3rd Yr at SC State)
Series: 18th Meeting/Furman Leads 12-5
Players To Watch For SC State: RB Mason Pickett-Hicks, RB Tyler Smith (Offense)/DL Ka'Von Chisholm (Defense)
Players To Watch for Furman: QB Jake Garcia (Offense)/DE Joshua Stoneking (Defense)
Previewing the Matchup: Furman and South Carolina State meet in what will be the only ranked clash involving SoCon teams, as the 24th-ranked Paladins and 16th-ranked Bulldogs will meet for the first time on the gridiron since Furman claimed a 17-3 win over South Carolina State back in 2015 at Paladin Stadium.
South Carolina State comes in as the reigning HBCU National Champions, as the Bulldogs were able to lay claim to that distinction after knocking off Prairie View A&M, 40-38, in four overtimes in come-from-behind fashion last December. The win put the finishing touches on a 10-3 season for the Bulldogs, which lost only one FCS game last season, which was a 31-24 contest against Charleston Southern. The other two losses in 2025 were to FBS programs, as the Bulldogs dropped games to South Carolina (L, 38-10) and South Florida (L, 63-14).
The Bulldogs have an 11-game winning streak dating back to that loss at Buccaneer Field to Charleston Southern last season, and have already started the 2026 season with a 3-0 mark, outscoring its first three foes an astounding 184-13. The most-recent win came against NCAA Division II Virginia State, as the Bulldogs claimed a 66-0 win in that contest. The Bulldogs opened the season with an 87-0 home win over Savannah State and that was followed by a 31-13 win over Florida A&M.
Offensively, the Bulldogs have employed the services of two quarterbacks this season, with both Keely Watson (34-of-50 passing, 456 yds, 2 TDs, 2 INTs) and Ronnie Robinson (15-of-21 passing, 182 yds, 2 TDs, 0 INTs/12 rush att., 86 yds, 1 TD, 7.2 YPC) having logged snaps under center this season for SC State. It's unclear whether or not the Bulldogs have a QB1 this season, or whether the two-QB system will continue to be a thing the remainder of the campaign in Orangeburg. It is pretty clear, however, that Watson is definitely more the threat as a passer, while Robinson is more the threat as a runner.
The top option offensively, however, has been running back Mason Pickett-Hicks out of the backfield, who has both shown he can not only run the ball, but also catch the ball out of the backfield for the Bulldogs this season. He is the Bulldogs leading rusher entering the week three matchup against the Paladins, having carried the ball 37 times for 425 yards and having scored three times via the ground in '26, averaging an incredible 11.5 YPC! As a receiving threat out of the backfield, Pickett-Hicks has hauled in six passes for 60 yards and two more scores, averaging 10.0 YPR.
Overall, Troy Hillman and Malaqhi Jones are the lone two receivers to top 100 yards catching the football this season. Hillman has seven catches for 116 yards (16.6 YPR) and Jones has seven catches for 100 yards (14.3 YPR) and one receiving score so far this season. The Bulldogs' offensive line has yet to surrender a sack this season and as an offensive unit, SC State enters the matchup with the Paladins averaging 545.0 YPG. The Bulldogs' offensive line is anchored by one of the top centers in all of HBCU football, in 6-1, 320-lb Kiande Marsh.
Defensively, the Bulldogs bring with them to Greenville a strong front seven, which is highlighted by one of the better defensive lines in the FCS, led by Ka'Von Chisholm (7 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 3.0 sacks, 1 FR), Jordan Dollard (11 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks) and Joshua Barker (4 tackles. 2.0 TFL, 2.0 sacks), giving the Bulldogs an excellent inside-outside trio with complimentary skills, both stuffing the run and getting pressure on opposing QBs. Through three games, that trio has largely been responsible for the Bulldogs having already racked up 10 sacks and 28 tackles-for-loss in only three games.
The second level of the Bulldogs defense is also solid, led by Jordan Franklin (8 tackles, 1.0 TFL, 0.5 sack, 2 FFs) and RJ Kelly (5 tackles, 2.0 TFL). Both have been solid in providing run support and have had the freedom of being able to make plays thanks to a defensive line that garners so much heavy attention from the opposition on blocking assignments.
The Bulldogs secondary has largely been untested to this point in the season, but all indications are that it is also a solid unit, featuring guys with playmaking abilities. Look no further than leading tackler and safety Shamari Reed (12 tackles, 2.0 TFL, 1.0 sack, 1 FR).
Furman counters with an offense that has been both up and down through the first three weeks of the season, but did manage to show some big play capabilities last time against Mercer, with quarterback Jake Garcia (41-of-73 passing, 377 yds, 1 TD, 2 INTs/35 rush att, 73 yds, 2.1 YPC) tossing a 46-yard touchdown to leading wideout Daniel Haughton (17 rec, 203 yds, 1 TD, 11.9 YPR) late in the third quarter of last Saturday's 20-13 win at Mercer. Senior running back Ben Croasdale (19 rush att, 148 yds, 3 TDs, 7.8 YPC) then sealed the win with his 47-yard scamper with 47 seconds remaining, as Furman, which gained a solid 315 yards of total offense in the win, relied heavily on its defensive unit to bring home the seven-point win over 14th-ranked and two-time defending SoCon champion Mercer.
Defensively, Furman is strong at every level. Like SC State, the Paladins feature one of the top defensive line units in all of FCS Football, with depth allowing it to platoon each position along the defensive front, which has become a unique feature that helps this unit standout among its FCS and SoCon brethren. Joshua Stoneking (13 tackles, 3.0 TFL, 0.5 sack, 3 QBHs, 1 PBU, 1 FF) is a guy that causes problems even when he is schemed against, which has proven the case in the first three games of the season.
The Buck Buchanan Award finalist of a year ago might not be putting up the same type numbers this season, but he's arguably had a better season because of the problems he's created through the first three weeks, and that has allowed other playmakers like 'Bandits' Eli Lipscomb (17 tackles, 5.0 TFL, 2.0 sacks, 2 FRs) and Trevor Short (7 tackles, 2.0 TFL, 2.0 sacks, 4 QBHs, 1 FR, 1 FF) to wreak havoc off the edge with their athleticism and ability to get home to the quarterback. That was evident last Saturday, as four of the five turnovers forced by the Furman defense were a direct result of pressure on the quarterback.
The second level of the Furman defense has also been solid, as Raleigh Herbert (18 tackles, 2.0 TFL, 1.5 sacks), Caleb Ellison (10 tackles) and Ryan Earl (11 tackles, 1 QBH, 1 FR) all have made some plays through the early portion of the season. It's also a position that could see the Paladins need to utilize, some of its quality depth early in the season, as it has been the unit most affected by injury. Nick Simmons (3 tackles) and Braylon Hood could be asked to step into bigger roles moving forward, but Earl and Herbert are certainly the veteran leaders of the unit.
Furman's improvement in its defensive backfield have been a notable improvement over the previous two seasons, with the biggest upgrade coming at cornerback, where the Paladins feature another playmaker wearing the No. 1 jersey, as Richmond Hill, GA product Caleb Easterling (15 tackles, 2 INTs, 1 PBU, 1 FF) is looking a lot like former Paladin standout corner and Savannah, GA, native Travis Blackshear as being that lockdown corner for the Paladins. He is the reigning SoCon Defensive Player of the Week, picking off a pair of passes in Furman's win at Mercer.
The Paladins are also solid at safety, with leading tackler and true freshman Braylon Peebles (19 tackles, 2 PBUs) already making a lot of noise early in his collegiate career, while AK Burrell (10 tackles) and Billy Lewis (11 tackles) are two reliable mainstays.
As far as I can tell this game will come down to Furman's offensive line and its ability to both establish running alleys for a comprehensive running back unit, which features three or four capable ground-gainers, but more importantly passing situations and blocking SC State's front three or four in passing situations.
The Paladins have surrendered 10 sacks over the past two weeks, with six against Tennessee and five coming against Mercer. In a game in which the run game will be featured more prominently than most any this season for the Paladins, it will be how Furman is either able to stay ahead of down and distance or be playing from behind it that will determine the outcome of this game.
I expect an extremely close game in Greenville, but Furman playing in Paladin Stadium gets the job done ending an 11-game winning streak against FCS foes by the Bulldogs.
FINAL PREDICTION: FURMAN 21, SC STATE
19
Game 28: Wofford (2-1, 1-0 SoCon) at Chattanooga (1-2, 0-0 SoCon)
Date: Sept. 19, 2026
Location: Chattanooga, TN/Finley Stadium
Time: 6 p.m. EST
How To Watch: ESPN+
Wofford Head Coach: Shawn Watson (29-48 8th Yr/18-26 in 4th Yr at Wofford)
Chattanooga Head Coach: Rusty Wright (43-36 in 7th Yr at Chattanooga)
Series: 33rd meeting/Series tied 16-16
Players To Watch For Wofford: QB JT Fayard (Offense)/DB Eli Coleman (Defense)
Players To Watch for Chattanooga: QB Battle Alberson (Offense)/LB Zion Rutledge (Defense)
The Mocs are reeling a bit coming off a two-game losing skid, with back-to-back setbacks against league favorite Tennessee Tech in their home opener (L, 24-9) and also dropped a game on the road this past weekend at Eastern Kentucky (L, 22-17) in what was the Colonels' home opener.
Through the first three weeks of the season, the offense has been a work in progress from Rusty Wright's Mocs team. The Mocs come in ranking 97th overall in total offense (270.0 YPG), and have struggled throwing the football this season, ranking 111th out 116 teams ranked in the FCS in passing offense, averaging just 117.3 YPG.
Leading the offense under center once again Saturday will be junior signal-caller Battle Alberson (27-of-60 passing, 352 yds, 2 TDs, 3 INTs/25 rush yds, 1 TD), who's had his share of both ups and downs through the first three weeks of the season.
Against the Terriers last season, Alberson was making just his third start under center, and it's one he played decently enough, however, the Mocs couldn't generate enough consistency throughout the afternoon in the 25-point loss. Alberson himself finished the day connected on 21-of-31 passes for 215 yards, with one INT.
The top option in the passing game has been Ashton Schumann (11 rec, 212 yds, 1 TD, 19.3 YPR), while Limestone transfer running back Kevin Lalin (60 rush att, 290 yds, 2 TDs, 4.8 YPC) has been one of the top running backs in the early portions of the 2026 SoCon season. Lalin has also proven to be UTC's second-leading receiving option through the first three games, as he has hauled in five passes for 21 yards. Lalin currently ranks ninth nationally and is the SoCon's leader in rushing yards so far through the first three games.
Things on the defensive side of the ball have been much better for Rusty Wright's Mocs this season, as Chattanooga ranks eighth nationally and second in the SoCon in total defense, surrendering just 283.3 YPG. The Mocs have one of the top defensive line units in the SoCon, as Montrell Henderson (6 tackles, 1.0 TFL), Ky Tayo (5 tackles, 1.0 TFL, 1.0 sack) and Orlando Daniels (11 tackles, 2.0 TFL, 1.0 sack, 1 PBU, 1 FF) continue to highlight the unit.
The unquestioned leader of the entire unit is linebacker Zion Rutledge (24 tackles, 1.0 TFL, 1.0 sack, 1 PBU), who is on pace to challenge for postseason All-America honors this fall and leads the team in total tackles through the first three games. Kam Baah-Slay (12 tackles, 1.0 TFL, 2 PBUs) is another All-America candidate in the secondary unit, which might be the strongest aspect of the Mocs defensive unit this season, as the Mocs rank 11th nationally and first in the SoCon in yardage allowed through the air (154.0 YPG) per game this season.
Like Chattanooga, Wofford's offense has also been a work-in-progress, and the Terriers employed the services of both Ethan Drumm (9-of-16 passing, 100 yds, 2 INTs) and J.T. Fayard (33-of-59 passing, 311 yds, 2 TDs, 3 INTs) in last Saturday's FBS 35-16 loss to Kent State. Fayard is expected to start under center once again Saturday against the Mocs, but if things aren't going well, it could be that Drumm could be introduced into the game. Both were locked in a heated battle for the starting job in fall camp.
As far as Wofford's offense as a whole through its first three games, the Terriers 106th out of 116 ranked FCS programs in total offense through the first three games, averaging just 241.3 YPG. The Terriers prefer the airways these days offensively, but they have actually rushed the ball a little better than they have passed it through the first three weeks, ranking 92nd nationally in rushing offense (102.7 YPG) and 102nd nationally in passing offense (138.7 YPG).
Leading the ground game has been Gerald Modest Jr. (53 rush att, 248 yds, 4 TDs, 4.7 YPC), who is off to a strong start this season. Through the air, the top wideout for Wofford this season has been Colby Alexander (7 rec, 64 yds, 2 TDs, 9.1 YPR), but both Terrance Honeywood (5 rec, 81 yds, 16.2 YPR) and Isaiah Scott (5 rec, 56 yds, 11.2 YPR) are also homerun hitters in the passing game for the Terriers.
Wofford has traditionally continued to be tough on the defensive side of the football under head coach Shawn Watson, and this season is no different. The Terriers enter the matchup with the Mocs, although those rankings are skewed a little by the loss to the FBS Kent State. Still Wofford ranks 73rd in the nation in total defense (412.3 YPG) and the unit is led by outstanding linebacker Wyatt Ward (27 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 1 INT, 1 PBU) and Elijah Washington (15 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 FF, 1 QBH) at the second level, while free safety Eli Campbell (15 tackles, 1 TFL, 3 PBUs, 1 blkd kick) anchors a secondary that might be among the best in the SoCon.
This one will be another close one but give me the Terriers in a mild upset on the road over Chattanooga.
FINAL PREDICTION: WOFFORD
24, CHATTANOOGA 21
Game 29: No. 23 Mercer (2-1, 0-1 SoCon) at Georgia Tech (0-2, 0-0 SoCon)
Date: Sept. 19, 2026
Location: Atlanta, GA/Bobby Dodd Stadium
Time: 12 p.m. EST
How To Watch: ACC Network
Mercer Head Coach: Joel Taylor (14-11 in 3rd Yr/2-1 IN 1st Yr at MU)
Georgia Tech Head Coach: Brent Key (27-22 4th full season)
Series: 19th meeting/Georgia Tech leads 16-1-1
Players To Watch For Mercer: WR Brayden Smith (Offense)/DE Kobe McInnis (Defense)
Players To Watch for Georgia Tech: QB Alberto Mendoza (Offense)/LB Kyle Efford (Defense)
Previewing the Matchup: For the first time since 2016, Mercer heads to Georgia Tech with upset on its mind, as the Bears tangle with the Yellow Jackets in one of several early kickoff times around the SoCon on Saturday.
The Bears suffered their first defeat of the Joel Taylor era in Macon last weekend, as Furman handed the Bears a 20-13 loss on their home field. Georgia Tech is still looking for its first win of the 2026 season under fourth-year head coach Brent Key, and despite losses to Colorado (L, 14-13) and No. 18 Tennessee (L, 45-24), the Yellow Jackets are tabbed to be in the mix for a trip to the ACC Championship game this fall.
Alberto Mendoza (43-of-63 passing, 458 yds, 1 TD, 2 INTs) has looked solid as Haynes King's replacement under center to this point early in the 2026 campaign, despite losses to the Buffaloes and Volunteers. His counterpart, Jaylen King (47-of-80 passing, 621 yds, 5 TDs, 4 INTs), had fared pretty well up until last Saturday, as he threw four INTs in the setback to Furman.
Both defenses have aggressive linebacking units, with the Bears being led by Jyarius Carter (29 tackles, 1 TFL, 0.5 sack, 1 PBU) and CJ Favors (16 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 FR, 3 QBHs) lead a talented group for the Bears, while Georgia Tech counters with a veteran trio, with Kyle Efford (21 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 sack), EJ Lightsey (17 tackles, 1 TFL) and Cayman Spaulding (5 tackles, 1.5 TFL) representing the Yellow Jackets own version of a 'wrecking crew' in the middle of the unit.
As with most FBS power four matchups with an FCS team these days, I don't expect this one to be all that close with the Yellow Jackets getting win No. 1 of the season.
FINAL PREDICTION: GEORGIA TECH 41,
MERCER 10
Game 30: West Georgia (0-3) at East Tennessee State (1-2)
Date: Sept. 19, 2026
Location: Johnson City, TN/William B. Greene Jr. Stadium
Time: 12 p.m. EST
How To Watch: ESPN+
West Georgia Head Coach: Steve Englehart (91-74 overall/0-0 at West Georgia)
ETSU Head Coach: Will Healy (36-52 in 9th Yr/8-7 in 2nd Yr at ETSU)
Series: 2nd Meeting/UWG leads 1-0
Players To Watch for West Georgia: QB Colton Fitzgerald (Offense); DE Elijah Barnes (Defense)
Players To Watch for ETSU: QB Mason Mims (Offense); LB Dre Delinois (Defense)
Previewing the Matchup: West Georgia looks for its first win of the Steve Englehart era, but to do that, the Wolves will have to try for a third time in a row on the road after having faced a pair of FBS opponents in the previous two, dropping games to both Arkansas State (L, 52-7) and Kennesaw State (L, 47-0).
In each of the past two weeks, the Wolves have been outscored 99-7. UWG already opened the season with some SoCon competition, facing off against Chattanooga in a game the Mocs spoiled in what had been a streak of 13-straight wins in home openers for the Wolves, as Chattanooga came away from Carrolton with a 24-10 win.
The Bucs are looking for a measure of revenge after surrendering a 17-point fourth quarter lead against the Wolves in Carrolton last season, dropping what ended up being one of the cruelest defeats of the season for ETSU, dropping a 35-33 contest to the Wolves.
ETSU's offense has looked really good against FCS competition this season, especially quarterback Mason Mims (69-of-93 passing, 793 yds, 5 TDs, 2 INTs), who is among the top passers in all of the subclassification entering Saturday's showdown. I like the Bucs to win big in this one.
FINAL PREDICTION: ETSU 45, WEST
GEORGIA 21
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