GameDay Ready: Mocs Make Smokies Trek - University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Athletics

The Chattanooga Mocs are back in action after a bye week to recharge and prepare for the final five games of the regular season. Four of those are in Southern Conference play starting Saturday in Cullowhee, N.C.

The Western Carolina Catamounts are also coming off a bye. Like the Mocs, they have five to play but all of them come in the league, so both teams have a lot on the line.

Game time is slated for 2:30 p.m., on ESPN+ as well as the SoCon Nexstar package, along with the Mocs Sports Network on WFLI Chattanooga, GoMocs.com and the Varsity Network.

Get GameDay Ready for the contest with us.

Resources – Preview | Game Notes | Series | Live Stats

Where to Watch
ESPN+/Nexstar – The SoCon "A Team" is on the call with Pete Yanity on play-by-play, Jay Sonnhalter with analysis and Dave Friedman on the sidelines sharing the action. Click the link here for the broadcast.

Where to Listen
Mocs Sports Network – WFLI Chattanooga (96.1/100.3 FM & 1070 AM) is the flagship for the Mocs broadcast which can be heard near and far with access on GoMocs.com and the Varsity Network app. "Voice of the Mocs" Jim Reynolds has the call. He's joined in the booth by Todd Agne (Analysis) & on the sidelines by Will Poindexter. Click the link here for the broadcast. The GoMocs app is another GREAT location to catch the game. Download it in the App Store or via Google Play depending on your provider.

Other Ways to Follow
Live stats for the contest are provided online by the Mocs statistical staff. Click the link here to follow the numbers. The Mocs communication staff is also on hand with timely posts on X and Instagram via @GoMocsFB.

Bye-ing In

37-28-1 following the bye (10-15 away).
2-2 facing Western Carolina: 1980: W, 39-14 (Week 9) | 1991: L, 24-27 (Week 6) | 2008: L, 7-27 (Week 9-Away) | 2021: W, 45-17 (Week 4)
Coach Rusty Wright is 6-1 coming off a bye week. Lone loss was at No. 8 Alabama in 2023. 5-0 against coming out of the bye into SoCon play.
8-game win streak (vs FCS) coming off the bye. The last loss was a 36-28 defeat to Wofford on Nov. 12, 2016.
Chattanooga is 10-1 coming off the last 11 bye weeks vs FCS opponents, 9-1 coming back into SoCon play:
2025: 42-38 over ETSU
2024: 45-30 win over Portland State
2022: 41-13 win over VMI
2021: 45-17 win over Western Carolina
2020-21: 20-18 win at #11 Furman
2019: 16-13 win over ETSU
2018: 34-27 win over VMI
2017: 10-3 win over ETSU
2016: 28-36 loss to Wofford
2015: 31-3 win over Furman
2014: 38-24 win over Samford
13-4 over last 17 seasons. Three of the losses were to ranked opponents: at #8 Alabama (2023), at #15 Georgia Southern (21-23, 2013) & #12 Wofford (27-28, 2011).
Western Carolina is 4-1 after a bye under Coach Kerwin Bell. The loss? 2021 at Chattanooga, 45-17.

Notes Drop:

Top 20 Nationally...
2nd, Pass Defense (140.6) - SoCon Leader
2nd, Scoring Defense (12.6) - SoCon Leader
3rd, Total Defense (259.4) - SoCon Leader
4th, Turnovers Lost (4) - SoCon Co-Leaders w/Western
5th, Sacks (3.1) - SoCon Leader | Fumbles Lost (1) - SoCon Leader | 5th, Jude Kelley, FG Made/Game (1.71)
7th, First Downs Allowed (103) - SoCon Leader | 7th, Davon Kiser, Punt Return TDs (1) - SoCon Leader
10th, Kevin Lalin, Rush Yards/Game (98.6) - SoCon Lead | Lalin, Rush Yards (690) | Jude Kelley, FG Pct. (85.7%)
11th, Pass Efficiency Defense (108.68)
12th, Passes Had Intercepted (3) | 4th Down Conversions (71.4%) | Fewest Penalties/Game (4.7)
13th, Fewest Penalties (33)
15th, 3rd Down Conversion Defense (33.3%)
Three Mocs are in the top 5 in the league in sacks: DE Orlando Daniels (T1st, 5.0), DT Isaiah Harvey (4th, 3.5) & DE CJ Smith (5th, 3.0).
Wright is four wins from 50 overall. Ranks behind: Scrappy Moore (170) & Russ Huesman (59). He also is four SoCon wins from 40. Only Huesman (42) has topped that milestone.
LB Zion Rutledge is three tackles away for 200 for his career (197).
RB Kevin Lalin needs 52 rushing yards for 3,000 (2,948). Needs 52 all-purpose yards for 3,500 (3,448).
DE Orlando Daniels needs 3.5 sacks to reach 20 in his career (16.5).
WR Ashton Schumann is 11 catches from 175 and 347 yards away from 2,500 (164-2,153).
RB Harrison Bey-Buie needs 96 rushing yards to reach 1,500 (1,404).
RB Journey Wyche needs 47 yards to reach 1,000 for career (953).

Total Defense
The Mocs defense leads the SoCon in all major categories and is among the nation's leaders.
Total Defense: 259.4 yards per game | 1st SoCon | 3rd Nationally
Pass Defense: 140.6 yards per game | 1st SoCon | 2nd Nationally
Rush Defense: 118.9 yards per game | 1st SoCon | 22nd Nationally
Scoring Defense: 12.6 points per game | 1st SoCon | 2nd Nationally

In the Chattanooga Press
The Mocs are covered like a blanket in Chattanooga with the Times Free Press, TV affiliates from ABC, CBS & NBC, along with a myriad of online outlets, podcasts and social media. Here are a few stories available leading into this week's contest.

TFP beat writer Gene Henley writes about the "full circle" journey for TE John McIntyre: click on story link here.
K Jude Kelley is climbing the charts in the Mocs record book. He tells his own tale of an amazing journey on our Meet The Mocs site in "Hey Jude": click on story link here.
DE CJ Smith found a home on the defensive edge (from Henley): click on story link here.
WDEF 12's (CBS) Rick Nyman looks at the wild nature of recent meetings between the Mocs and Cats: click on story link here.
Henley takes a look at safety Kam Baah-Slay impacting the defense in a variety of ways: click on the story link here.
NewsChannel9 (ABC) looked at rested combatants following the bye week: click on story link here.
Henley shares five things to know about Western Carolina: click on story link here.
NFL Hall of Famer Terrell Owens is excited about Homecoming 2026. So much so he's giving away 1,000 tickets: click on story link here.

Football Ticket Quick Links – Mini-Plans | Game
As always, for all Mocs and McKenzie Arena events, go to GoMocs.com/tickets. Football mini-plans and single-game tickets are available with season tickets on sale as well for men's and women's basketball along with wrestling. The Arena also has Leanne Morgan's "The Time of Our Lives" Tour available.

GoMocs.com is the official website of the Chattanooga Mocs. Wear what the teams wear in our BSN Team Store or go to the bookstore's official True Spirit Stop. The Mocs can also be followed on their official Facebook, X & Instagram accounts. Find out how to join the Mocs Club and support more than 300 student-athletes by clicking here & by checking out NIL possibilities here.

Players Mentioned

Kam Baah-Slay

Harrison Bey-Buie

Orlando Daniels

Isaiah Harvey

Jude Kelley

Davon Kiser

Kevin Lalin

John McIntyre

Zion Rutledge

Ashton Schumann

Journey Wyche

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