The SoCon Spread

  The Game Furman (2-1, 0-0 SoCon) at Samford (0-4, 0-2 SoCon) Pete Hanna Stadium (6,700) 3:30 p.m. EST Preview It's extremely rare, but sometimes conference games are canceled and can't be made up. Since the COVID-19 pandemic changed the landscape of college athletics, that has been true more often than we would often wish it to be. The Furman-Samford game in 2024 is one such occasion in which the game was supposed to be the conference opener for both teams, however, when Hurricane Helene tore through the Upstate, S.C., leaving over 95% without power, it meant that the 2024 game between Furman and Samford--one that both teams was hoping could ignite a turnaround to their respective seasons--wouldn't be played and eventually couldn't be rescheduled. As a result, both missed out on the opportunity to play a 12th game last season. For Samford, it meant a 4-7 season, which included a 3-4 mark in Southern Conference play. For Furman, the Paladins would find the season to be...

Wofford and Mercer met in SoCon Thriller (photo courtesy of Wofford athletics) Week three in SoCon play once again provided more disappointment than optimism, and in particular, for how some of the league's perceived top teams--East Tennessee State and Western Carolina--both let games slip away late, while both Mercer and Furman were both able to shake off stunning losses to Pioneer Football League member Presbyterian and get back on the winning track with a pair of wins over the weekend, with the Bears claiming a 22-21 thriller over Wofford in their SoCon opener, while the Paladins claimed their second CAA win of the season, downing Campbell, 28-24, in the first-ever meeting between the two schools.  The league continues to struggle, however, against out-of-conference foes through the first three weeks of the season. Only one team in the SoCon has a winning record through the first three weeks of the season, as Furman has posted a 2-1 mark. The Paladins, who under the direction of...

Furman defensive end Joshua Stoneking sacks Campbell QB Kamden Sixkiller to clinch the win (photo courtesy of Furman athletics) Furman quarterback Trey Hedden connected on 25-of-36 passes for 316 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while freshman wideout Evan James hauled in 10 passes for 134 yards and a touchdown, as the Paladins held off Campbell in its 2025 home opener before a crowd of 4,314 on-hand at Barker Lane Stadium in the first-ever meeting between the two programs. With the win, Furman improved to 2-1 with both wins coming against CAA foes through the first three weeks, while Campbell fell to 0-3. The Paladins also defeated William & Mary, 23-21, to open the 2025 season. It also marked Furman's first win on the road vs. a CAA foe since 2017, which saw the Paladins take down Elon, 28-27, in the opening round of the FCS Playoffs.  Furman used an Evan James 30-yard scoring catch from quarterback Trey Hedden with 4:50 remaining to give Furman a 28-24 lead, and the Paladin d...