Auburn returns to Jordan-Hare Stadium after a bye week and since the dismissal of head coach Hugh Freeze, as the Tigers host FCS-level Mercer on Saturday.
Led by interim DJ Durkin, Auburn faces a strong Bears team that just wrapped up its second-straight Southern Conference title and sits 9-1. Mercer is led by quarterback Braden Atkinson, who leads the FCS with 359.78 passing yards per game, while the Bears' defense gives up almost nothing on the ground, allowing 73.7 rushing yards per outing.
The Tigers will be without quarterback Ashton Daniels, who is sitting out the game to preserve a redshirt season.