The Chattanooga Mocs are hard at work preparing for the 2026 football season. Camp is just over a week old as the 100-plus member squad looks towards the second weekend of practice. Here are a few notes about the 50th edition of the program's DI (and Southern Conference) era.

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Game 1 Looms
Today marks three weeks until the Mocs suit up on a Thursday night, August 27, in Carrollton, Ga., at West Georgia. It's the first meeting between the two schools despite the relatively close distance between campuses (120+ miles). It's the program's earliest start date since August 26, 2017 in Montgomery, Ala., versus Jacksonville State.
 
Did You Know?
That August 27 start date is the second earliest all-time in school history. The first August contest came on August 31, 1991, a 21-14 win over UT Martin on Chamberlain Field.  
 
Mocs in August
The Mocs are 6-10 all-time during the month, 2-0 at an FCS opponent:
8/26/2017: L, 13-27, vs. Jacksonville State (Montgomery, Ala.)
8/28/2003: L, 23-31, Samford
8/28/2014: L, 16-20, at Central Michigan
8/29/2013: L, 21-31, UT Martin
8/29/2019: W, 24-10, Eastern Illinois
8/30/2001: W, 28-14, at Samford
8/30/2007: L, 17-29, Carson-Newman
8/30/2008: L, 2-57, at Oklahoma
8/30/2018: W, 34-10, Tennessee Tech
8/30/2025: L, 10-45, at Memphis
8/31/1991: W, 21-14, UT Martin
8/31/1996: L, 19-61, at Colorado State
8/31/2000: W, 23-6, Samford
8/31/2002: L, 7-56, at West Virginia
8/31/2006: W, 31-7, at Tennessee Tech
8/31/2024: L, 3-69, at Tennessee
 
Experience Part 1
As previously reported, 13 starters and 59 letter winners return from last year. That's regular starters. All-in-all, 39 different Mocs made at least one start in 2025 (offensively/defensively), 29 for the first time in a Chattanooga uniform. Out of those 39, 10 return on the offensive side of the ball, while 11 are back defensively.
 
There are 18 transfers added to the mix with starting experience at every 4-year level of collegiate football (DI, DII, DIII & NAIA). That gives us a total of 39 current Mocs position players with starting experience. All four specialist positions are well seasoned with kicker Jude Kelley, punter Heath Jehu, long snapper Will Davidson and kickoff specialist Gray Kelley. Jude has four years in his role, Heath three and Gray two-plus. Davidson was a 2-year starter at Southeastern Louisiana before transferring this past spring.
 
Experience Part 2
A lot is made about these turbulent times in college athletics in regards to the transfer portal, and the enormous changes it can bring to rosters year-to-year. The program has consistently valued high school signees with 23 new Mocs this season directly from the high school ranks.
 
There are 28 "O.M.'s" in camp as well. That's the number of Mocs who signed out of high school and are still in program for three years or more. Fourteen of those have started a game while six more have seen extensive action either offensively or defensively as well as special teams.
 
Look Who's Back
This weekend is the third annual "Back to Camp" event with alums returning to the Murphy-Haugerud Football Practice Complex at Scrappy Moore Field. Interested alumni can sign up here. The alums are invited to check in at the practice field in the morning and stay through lunch and a tour of the Wolford Center.
 
Ticket Quick Links – Season Tickets | Mini-Plans | Game
As always, for all Mocs and McKenzie Arena events go to GoMocs.com/tickets. All football options are available with season tickets on sale as well for men's and women's basketball. 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.