Alabama football’s non-conference schedule ended Saturday without much of a challenge.
The No. 9 Crimson Tide beat Mercer, its annual FCS opponent, 52-7 at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday. 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 showcase its takeaway tendencies with two forced fumbles – one of which led to a Zabien Brown touchdown – and a Qua Russaw interception.
And by the start of 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 its Nov. 23 game against Oklahoma.
Here is what happened in Alabama’s home win against Mercer.
On 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 done. Austin Mack enters with 5:15 left to go 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 heads into 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 lasting 4:56. James Burnip pinned Mercer to its 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 a touchdown run erased. Proctor picked up a fumble and landed just short of the goal line, a call that was originally deemed a touchdown.
Minutes later, Jalen Milroe connected on his third touchdown of the day.
Alabama leads Mercer 38-7.
Alabama holds a dominant lead against Mercer at halftime. The Crimson Tide has 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 its lead right 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: The 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 takeaways in five straight games.
12:37, Q2: Jalen Milroe’s second touchdown pass of the day went to tight end Robbie Ouzts for a 44-yard score, who secured the second touchdown of his career.
Alabama leads Mercer 21-0
Alabama holds a 14-0 lead 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 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 career multi-touchdown games after scoring two touchdowns against Western Kentucky and Vanderbilt.
7:27, Q1: Jalen Milroe nearly lost possession after a 17-yard run. The Alabama quarterback was ruled down before losing possession.
10:50, Q1: Ryan Williams scores Alabama’s first touchdown of the day on a 29-yard touchdown run. Williams ends a four-play, 52-yard scoring drive for the Crimson Tide.
After Mercer extended its first drive with a DeVonta Smith pass interference, a Domani Jackson forced fumble recovered by Damon Payne Jr. gives the Crimson Tde possession at the Alabama 48-yard line.
After participating in pregame warm ups, Alabama Husky DeVonta Smith is starting for the Crimson Tide.
Alabama wins the coin toss, elects to defer. Mercer starts with the football.
No. Alabama vs Mercer is a stream-only game on SEC Network+ and ESPN+. Kickoff is at 1 p.m. CT.
No. 9 Alabama 42, Mercer 6: Alabama didn’t need much of a pass game to beat LSU last weekend. On defense, the Crimson Tide have forced six takeaways and one touchdown in its past two games against SEC opponents. Mercer is catching Alabama at the wrong time. The Crimson Tide should dominate Mercer in a game that should include game film for many second- and third-string players on the Alabama roster.
Alabama football could be without right guard Jaeden Roberts Saturday vs Mercer.
The Crimson Tide starting right guard was in uniform, but was not participating in pregame drills. Geno VanDeMark lined up as Alabama’s starting right guard.
Roberts left Alabama’s win vs LSU with an injury.
Here is everything you need to know before Alabama vs. Mercer
After leaving Alabama’s win against LSU with an injury, DeVonta Smith is warming up prior to the Crimson Tide’s matchup with Mercer.
Smith hass 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 long. According to the National Weather Service, highs should reach 70 degrees with a calm wind.
Since it is not an SEC game, Alabama did not release 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 be “fine as the week goes on” after leaving the Crimson Tide’s win against LSU.
DeBoer said Wednesday that Alabama right guard 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 ready to go in some capacity,” DeBoer said.
In four meetings with Mercer, Alabama has four wins of at least 20 points.
After two 20-0 wins against Mercer in 1939 and 1940, Alabama beat the Bears 56-0 in Tuscaloosa in 2017. The Crimson Tide allowed a Mercer score for the first time in 2021, beating the Bears 48-14.
During the Nick Saban era, Alabama had 15 wins against FCS opponents, each of which were by at least three touchdowns.
Alabama football has arrived at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Alabama vs. Mercer will be a stream-only game on SEC Network+ and ESPN+.
Alabama vs. Mercer will be broadcast live on WFFN FM (95.3) in Tuscaloosa and WBPT FM (106.9) in Birmingham.
Here are the announcers for the Alabama-Mercer game:
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Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him atcgay@gannett.com or follow him@_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter.
