Mercer University Athletics

Mercer competes in NCAA Division I, meaning big-time college sports with full athletic scholarships and serious competition. The Bears field 18 varsity sports teams with 469 total athletes, representing about 10% of the student body. The university awards over $10.5 million in athletic scholarships annually. Mercer plays in the Southern Conference alongside schools like Furman and Wofford. The football program returned in 2013 after a 73-year hiatus, creating excitement on campus. Basketball generates the most buzz, with both men's and women's teams competing at high levels. The Bears made headlines in 2014 when their men's basketball team upset Duke in the NCAA Tournament as a 14-seed. This Baptist university in Macon has built a respectable athletic program that balances competitive success with academic achievement.