The SoCon Spread

 Can the Catamounts Snap the Curse in 2026? I know it's only May and it's early to be making SoCon predictions, so these are some of my thoughts heading into fall camp at the end of the summer, as we are now through a majority of the portal changes we will see. The SoCon's struggles since COVID really came to a head last season, potentially reaching the lowest point they have to this point. Even in the spring 2020-21 season, which was shortened to only league games as a result of the pandemic, at least league champion VMI was competitive in its playoff loss at James Madison (L, 31-24). The same cannot be said of Mercer last season, which broke through to win its second-straight SoCon crown, while becoming the first to win consecutive crowns in the league since Wofford won three-straight from 2017-19. There were three coaching changes of note during the off-season, with Chris Hatcher getting fired at Samford, while Danny Rocco left his post at VMI to join James Franklin'...

  MACON, GA--In a season that began with a 'no contest' for Mercer against UC Davis in Huntsville in the FCS Kickoff classic, also ended in a 'no contest' of sorts, as No. 11 South Dakota came to Five Star Stadium and officially delivered a TKO to the No. 6 Bears' football season, as the No. 11 Coyotes captured their second playoff win in as many weeks, blanking Mercer, 47-0, Saturday afternoon in a rainy Five Star Stadium. With the win, the Coyotes improve to 10-4 and move on to face Montana (12-1) in an FCS Quarterfinal matchup next Saturday. The Bears conclude their 2025 season with a 9-3 mark, losing their final two games of the season by a combined 99-17 margin to both Auburn and South Dakota.  The Coyotes rolled up 550 yards of total offense, which included 309 yards on the ground and were the beneficiaries of four Mercer turnovers, which all came on INTs, as the Coyotes converted those into 24 points. It was not a day to remember for freshman quarterback Brad...

Furman true freshman wideout Evan James (photo courtesy of Furman athletics) Clemson 45, Furman 10 CLEMSON, S.C.—Clemson senior  quarterback Cade Klubnik passed for 159 yards and two scores, while true freshman backup signal-caller Chris Denson added 106 rushing yards with a passing TD and a rushing TD, as the Tigers became bowl eligible with a 45-10 win over Furman on Military Appreciation Day at Memorial Stadium. With the win, Clemson improved to 6-5 overall heading into its regular-season finale next Saturday at South Carolina (4-7). Furman concludes its 2025 campaign at 6-6.  Klubnik finished his final night in front of the home faithful connecting 9-of-15 passes for 159 yards and a pair of scores to notch his 25th all-time win as Clemson's starting signal-caller. The senior helped facilitate an offense that ended the night owning a 456-272 edge in total offense. The Tigers were efficient and balanced on offense, rolling up 237 yards and four TDs through the air, while p...

  The Day and Date: Sat. Nov. 22, 2025/4:30 p.m. EST The Game: Furman (6-5, 4-4 SoCon) at Clemson (5-5, 4-4 ACC) Location and Venue: Clemson, S.C./Memorial Stadium (81,500) Promotion: Military Appreciation Day Coaches: Furman--Clay Hendrix (60-42/9th yr); Clemson--Dabo Swinney (185-52, 18th yr) Series: Clemson leads 44-10-4/Clemson has won 32-straight vs. Furman How To Watch: The CW Overview: It will a different shade of orange that the Paladins will see when they close out the 2025 season than the one, they saw in 2024, which resulted in a 49-23 road loss to now back-to-back SoCon champion Mercer. This shade of orange packs a different punch at a higher level, which is worn by FBS power Clemson--a program which owns more tradition and plays at a higher level than last season's shade of the same color, and also has national title successes, which is  no disrespect to a really good , emerging Mercer Football program...It's just a different league of elite. It's orange...