JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Oct. 2, 2026) – The ETSU football team will open the month of October with the annual Rail Rivalry game against Chattanooga on Saturday afternoon. Kickoff between the Buccaneers and Mocs is set for 3:30 p.m. from Bank of Tennessee Field at William B. Greene Jr. Stadium.
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Date: Saturday, October 3
Time: 3:32 p.m. ET
Location: Johnson City, Tenn. | Bank of Tennessee Field at William B. Greene Jr. Stadium
Teams: (RV) Chattanooga (3-2, 2-0 SoCon) vs. ETSU (3-2, 1-0 SoCon)
Weather: 74 degrees, overcast
Live Video: ESPN+
TV Crew: Keith Brake (pbp), Mark Hutsell (analyst), Kennedy Story (sideline)
Live Audio: WXSM-AM 640
Radio Crew: Jay "Voice of the Bucs" Sandos (pbp), Matt Wilhjelm (analyst), Robert Harper (sideline), Don Helman (stats)
Live Stats: ETSUBucs.com (Statbroadcast)
X:
@ETSUFootball
THINGS TO KNOW – Please click
HERE for all the "Things to Know" for Saturday's matchup with the Mocs, presented by Citizens Bank.
LAST TIME OUT – ETSU started conference play off on a high note on Saturday with a 58-31 victory over Western Carolina. The Bucs improve to 3-2 on the season with Saturday's win.
HIGH-FLYING OFFENSE - The 58-point performance by the Bucs on Saturday was tied for the fourth-most the team has scored in a single game and the most in a game against a Division I opponent since they scored a school record 68 points against Chattanooga in 2003.
BIG DAY FOR BUCCANEER RUSHERS - ETSU also ran for a season-high 233 yards against Western Carolina with six rushing touchdowns. The six rushing scores were one shy of tying the program's single-game record of seven. The quartet of
TJ Peyton,
Jason Albritton,
Jaiden Daniels, and
D'Marius Rucker have rushed for a combined 880 yards on 154 carries (5.7 yards per carry) with 15 rushing touchdowns. In the FCS, only South Dakota State's running backs have found the endzone more times than ETSU's backs have. SDSU's tailbacks have scored 18 rushing touchdowns.
QUITE THE START TO A SEASON FOR THE FRESHMAN QB – Quarterback
Mason Mims has made the most of his opportunity on being ETSU's starter this season. Mims, who is still considered a freshman after redshirting at Louisville last season, leads all NCAA freshmen quarterbacks (FBS, FCS, D2, D3) with 1,211 passing yards this season. Additionally, Mims is also completing 72.2 percent of his passes this season, which ranks fifth in the FCS.
STREAK IN THE SOCON - With a win on Saturday, it'll not only secure ETSU's second straight win over a conference rival but it will also clinch ETSU's first 2-0 start in SoCon play since 2021. That 2021 season saw the Bucs win the SoCon Championship and reach the Quarterfinals of the FCS Playoffs. Additionally, the Bucs have won five straight SoCon games dating back to last season, which is the program's longest streak since the program returned in 2015. The last time that the Bucs have won six SoCon games in a row was in 1996.
SCOUTING THE MOCS - Chattanooga will come to Johnson City on Saturday with an overall record of 3-2 and 2-0 in SoCon play. The Mocs improved to 2-0 in SoCon play with a dominant 27-8 win at The Citadel on Saturday afternoon. Chattanooga's strength has been its defense. The Mocs are among the top 10 teams in the FCS in passing defense (5th – 136.2), total defense (7th – 266.6), and scoring defense (T-9th – 14.2 PPG). Opposing teams are averaging 5.49 yards per pass attempt against Chattanooga's defense. Among FCS squads that have played in five games this season, that mark ranks fourth behind only Elon (4.53), South Carolina State (4.98), and Colgate (5.42). In their two SoCon wins over Wofford and Citadel this season, the Mocs' defense has allowed just 15 points (7.5 per game). Chattanooga also held current league leader Tennessee Tech to its season-low point total (24) in a non-conference matchup.
SERIES REWIND AGAINST CHATTANOOGA – Chattanooga holds the edge in the all-time series against the Bucs, with a record of 28-19-1 in the Rail Rivalry. Since ETSU football returned in 2015, the Mocs are 8-1 against the Bucs, with ETSU's lone win coming in 2018, 17-14. ETSU has been close, though, as six of the last seven losses have been by one score, including the Mocs' 42-38 win last season in Chattanooga.
For more information on Buccaneer football, visit
ETSUBucs.com and click on the football tab.
