A look at Alabama Football’s Walk of Champions at Bryant-Denny Stadium
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Alabama Football’s non-conference schedule ended without much trouble on Saturday.
The No. 9 Crimson Tide defeated Mercer, its annual FCS opponent, 52-7 on Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama now has 16 straight wins against FCS opponents, dating back to coach Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide debut in 2007.
Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe picked up where he left off after the Crimson Tide’s dominant road win against LSU, recording three touchdowns and connecting with wide receiver Ryan Williams and tight end Robbie Ouzts on scores. Williams added a 29-yard end-around touchdown.
The Crimson Tide defense continued to highlight its takedown tendencies with two forced fumbles — one of which led to a Zabien Brown touchdown — and an interception by Qua Russaw.
And early in the fourth quarter, a rotating cast of second- and third-string players secured the Crimson Tide’s X-point win and turned Alabama’s focus to the Nov. 23 game against Oklahoma.
Here’s what happened during Alabama’s home win against Mercer.
In his first taste of Alabama action, Austin Mack threw a touchdown pass to Rico Scott for a 31-yard score.
Alabama leads Mercer 52-7.
Dylan Lonergan’s game is over. Austin Mack enters with 5:15 left in Alabama’s game against Mercer.
Lonergan finished 5-6 for 23 yards.
After a brief appearance on a fourth-and-1 play, Dylan Lonergan entered the game with 11:19 left in the game with a 45-7 lead.
Ty Simpson finished with 71 passing yards with five completions on 10 attempts. He also had 14 rushing yards on two carries.
12:54, Q4: Richard Young extended Alabama’s lead with a one-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter.
Ty Simpson finished the drive with two completions on five pass attempts for 45 yards, including a 43-yard pass to tight end Josh Cuevas.
Alabama enters the fourth quarter with a 38-7 lead against Mercer.
4:00, Q3: Ty Simpson’s first series ended in an Alabama punt, leading the Crimson Tide on an 11 pla7, 35-yard drive of 4:56. James Burnip pinned Mercer on his own 20-yard line
8:56 Q3: Alabama’s second-string offense has taken the field, led by quarterback Ty Simpson.
Jalen Milroe finished with 186 passing yards, 43 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
11:34, Q3: Alabama left tackle Kadyn Proctor had erased a touchdown run. Proctor picked up a fumble and landed short of the goal line, a call originally ruled a touchdown.
A few minutes later, Jalen Milroe connected on his third touchdown of the day.
Alabama leads Mercer 38-7.
Alabama has a dominant lead against Mercer at halftime. The Crimson Tide holds a 31-7 lead against the Bears, one secured by two Ryan Williams scores, a Robbie Ouzts score and a Zabien Brown fumble returned for a touchdown.
Alabama gets the ball to start the second half.
:55 Q2: Alabama extends lead just before halftime. Graham Nicholson connects on a 45-yard field goal to end a 5-play, 48-yard scoring drive. Alabama leads Mercer 31-7
1:58, Q2: Mercer is on the board. Kendall Harris scores on a 31-yard, one-handed grab from Whitt Newbauer.
Mercer trails Alabama 28-7
4:52, Q2: Alabama’s defensive success continues as a Jihaad Campbell sack forced a Mercer punt. Alabama’s defense has allowed 120 yards of offense.
8:45, Q2: Takeaways continue. Alabama cornerback Zabien Brown returns a fumble, forced by DaShawn Jones, for the Crimson Tide’s fourth touchdown of the day.
Alabama leads Mercer 28-0
Alabama has at least three points in five straight games.
12:37, Q2: Jalen Milroe’s second touchdown pass of the day went to Robbie Ouzts for a 44-yard score, which secured the second touchdown of his career.
Alabama leads Mercer 21-0
Alabama leads 14-0 against Mercer after the first quarter.
:49, Q1: Alabama has its second turnover of the day thanks to Qua Russaw. Russaw secures the second interception of his career after an interception by White Newbauer. Alabama retains possession of the ball at its own 31-yard line.
4:14, Q1: Ryan Williams has another touchdown, connecting with Jalen Milroe for a 14-yard score. Williams has three multi-touchdown games in his career after scoring two touchdowns against Western Kentucky and Vanderbilt.
7:27, Q1: Jalen Milroe nearly lost possession on a 17-yard run. The Alabama quarterback was ejected before losing possession of the ball.
10:50, Q1: Ryan Williams scores Alabama’s first touchdown of the day on a 29-yard touchdown run. Williams finishes a four-play, 52-yard scoring drive for the Crimson Tide.
After Mercer extended its first drive with a DeVonta Smith pass interference, a forced fumble by Domani Jackson, recovered by Damon Payne Jr., gives the Crimson Tth possession at the Alabama 48-yard line.
After participating in pre-game warmups, Alabama Husky DeVonta Smith will start for the Crimson Tide.
Alabama wins the coin toss and elects to postpone. Mercer starts with the football.
No. Alabama vs Mercer is a game streaming only on SEC Network+ and ESPN+. Kickoff is at 1:00 PM CT.
No. 9 Alabama 42, Mercer 6: Alabama didn’t need much to beat LSU last weekend. On defense, the Crimson Tide has forced six takeaways and one touchdown in the past two games against SEC opponents. Mercer catches Alabama at the wrong time. The Crimson Tide should dominate Mercer in a game that should feature game film for many second- and third-string players on Alabama’s roster.
Alabama football could be without right guard Jaeden Roberts on Saturday against Mercer.
The Crimson Tide’s starting right guard was in uniform but did not participate in pregame drills. Geno VanDeMark was lined up as Alabama’s starting right guard.
Roberts left Alabama’s win over LSU with an injury.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of Alabama vs. Mercer
After leaving Alabama’s win against LSU with an injury, DeVonta Smith is warming up ahead of the Crimson Tide’s game with Mercer.
Smith has 20 tackles and five pass deflections in nine games.
Mercer is one of the best teams in the FCS. The Bears are the No. 7 team according to the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 with a 9-1 record.
Alabama football vs. Mercer should see clear skies all afternoon. Highs should reach 70 degrees with calm winds, according to the National Weather Service.
Because it is not an SEC game, Alabama has not released a conference availability report.
Wide receiver Cole Adams and linebacker Que Robinson are both out for the season. Safety Keon Sabb is also expected to miss his third straight game.
On Monday, Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer said he expects Husky DeVonta Smith to “do well as the week progresses” after the Crimson Tide’s win against LSU.
DeBoer said Wednesday that Alabama judge Jaeden Robetrs “could have come back” after leaving with an injury against LSU, but “we just didn’t want to push it.”
“He’ll be prepared to go in some capacity,” DeBoer said.
In four meetings with Mercer, Alabama has four wins by at least 20 points.
After two 20-0 wins against Mercer in 1939 and 1940, Alabama defeated the Bears 56-0 in Tuscaloosa in 2017. The Crimson Tide allowed a Mercer score for the first time in 2021, defeating the Bears 48-14.
During the Nick Saban era, Alabama recorded 15 wins against FCS opponents, each by at least three touchdowns.
- August 29: Mercer 63, Presbyterian 10
- September 7: Mercer 31, Bethune-Cookman 2
- September 14: Mercer 10, Chattanooga 3
- September 21: Mercer 38, the Citadel 21
- September 28: Mercer 22, Wofford 3
- October 12: Mercer 34, Princeton 7
- October 19: Samford 55, Mercer 35
- October 26: Mercer 44, Western Carolina 34
- November 2: Mercer 37, East Tennessee State 31
- November 9: Mercer 34, VMI 0
- November 16: Mercer at Alabama; 1 p.m., SEC Network+, ESPN+
- November 23: Mercer vs. Furman; 2 p.m., ESPN+
Alabama football has arrived at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
- August 31: Alabama 63, Western Kentucky 0
- September 7: Alabama 42, South Florida 16
- September 14: Alabama 42, Wisconsin 10
- September 28: Alabama 41, Georgia 34
- October 5: Vanderbilt 40, Alabama 35
- October 12: Alabama 27, South Carolina 25
- October 19: Tennessee 24, Alabama 17
- October 26: Alabama 34, Missouri 0
- Nov. 9: Alabama 42, LSU 13
- November 16: Alabama vs. Mercer; 1 p.m., SEC Network+
- November 23: Alabama at Oklahoma; 6:30 p.m., ABC
- November 30: Alabama vs. Auburn
Alabama vs. Mercer time today
- Date: Saturday November 16th
- Time: 1:00 PM CT
- Location: Bryant-Denny Stadium; Tuscaloosa, AL
What channel is the Alabama vs Mercer football game on today?
Alabama vs. Mercer will be a stream-only game on SEC Network+ and ESPN+.
Listen to Alabama football vs. Mercer on the radio
Alabama vs. Mercer airs live on WFFN FM (95.3) in Tuscaloosa and WBPT FM (106.9) in Birmingham.
Here are the announcers for the Alabama-Mercer game:
- Chris Stewart (play by play)
- Tyler Watts (analysis)
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Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him out [email protected] or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter.
