The 2023 FCS Kickoff will feature Mercer and North Alabama.
A Week 0 matchup slated for Saturday, Aug. 26, the ninth annual FCS Kickoff is at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama. It will air on an ESPN network.
Mercer finished 7-4 last season and 5-3 in the SoCon, ranking No. 24 in the final Stats Perform Media Poll. North Alabama went 1-10 overall and 0-5 in the ASUN.
North Alabama parted ways with head coach Chris Willis in the middle of the season. Former FAU offensive coordinator Brent Dearmon has been hired as the new HC.
“Our staff and players are excited about the opportunity to play on a national stage in Montgomery for the FCS Kickoff game,” Dearmon said. “This will help us in so many ways as a program for years to come. Playing a first-class opponent will be a great challenge for us as well.”
Mercer eyes a playoff appearance as a Top 3 SoCon team in 2023.
“We’re excited to be playing in the first college football game of the season,” Mercer head coach Drew Cronic said. “This is a great opportunity to showcase our football program and the entire FCS.”
Past FCS Kickoff Games
2014:
No. 1 Eastern Washington 56, No. 17 Sam Houston 35
Home Site: Cheney, WA
Attendance: 10,310
2015:
No. 13 Montana 38, No. 1 North Dakota State 35
Home Site: Missoula, MT
Attendance: 26,472
2016:
No. 1 North Dakota State 24, No. 7 Charleston Southern 17
Home Site: Fargo, ND
Attendance: 18,881
2017:
No. 6 Jacksonville State 27, No. 12 Chattanooga 13
Neutral Site: Montgomery, AL
Attendance: 12,952
2018:
No. 14 North Carolina A&T 20, No. 6 Jacksonville State 17
Neutral Site: Montgomery, AL
Attendance: 13,500
2019:
Youngstown State 45, Samford 22
Neutral Site: Montgomery, AL
Attendance: 12,560
2020:
No. 11 Central Arkansas 24, No. 13 Austin Peay 17
Neutral Site: Montgomery, AL
Attendance: 2,000 (COVID capacity)
2022:
Jacksonville State 42, No. 10 Stephen F. Austin 17
Neutral Site: Montgomery, AL
Attendance: 5,235
