Saturday, October 10
Chattanooga, Tenn.
1 PM
Chattanooga
vs
Samford
Ryan Bell
Photo by: Laura O'Dell
PREVIEW: Mocs Host Samford Saturday for Salute to Heroes
10/7/2026 6:03:00 PM | Football
Ryan Bell and the Chattanooga Mocs are home for three of the next four games beginning with Saturday’s visit from Samford.
The Chattanooga Mocs football team readies for its next challenge Saturday with the Samford Bulldogs coming to Finley Stadium. The Mocs and Bulldogs are a historic rivalry dating back to 1906.
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It's a special day with the Mocs annual "Salute to Heroes" game as well as Hall of Fame Induction weekend. Veterans, active military members, first responders and medical personnel all receive a complimentary ticket with valid ID.
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The matchup kicks off at 1 p.m., on ESPN+ as well as over the airwaves via the Mocs Sports Network and WFLI Chattanooga.
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Resources – Game Notes | Series | Live Stats | Roster | Tickets
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2026 Chattanooga Mocs Football
Chattanooga Mocs (3-3/2-1) vs Samford Bulldogs (1-4/1-1)
Oct. 10 | Chattanooga, Tenn. | Finley Stadium (20,668)
Scheduled Start Time: 1 p.m.
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Series
Meeting: 51 | Series: 35-12-3 (Home: 21-7-2/Road: 14-5) | Streak: +1
First Meeting: 11-3-1906, L, 0-63 (Away) | Last Meeting: 10/25/2025, W, 49-13 (Away)
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Media
TV: ESPN+ (PxP: Chris Goforth, Color: Chris Barnett, Sideline: Mackenzie Johnson)
Radio: WFLI Chattanooga (96.1/100.3 FM & 1070 AM) - Jim Reynolds (PxP), Todd Agne (Analysis) & Will Poindexter (Sideline). Also available online at GoMocs.com & Varsity Network app.
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Coaches
Chattanooga: Rusty Wright (Chattanooga '96) | Record at UTC: 45-37 (8th season) | Overall: Same
Samford: John Grass (Jacksonville St. '90) | Record at SU: 1-4 (1st) | Career Record: 73-30 (9th)
Openers
About Samford
3 Notes to Know
Quotable
Coach Rusty Wright:
"You have to play to your strengths, We're playing well defensively. We have to do what gives us an opportunity to go win football games. Right now, it's what it looks like. I got to help them manage the game a little bit. I've got to be creative in some things maybe to either create some more possessions or steal some momentum for us offensively. Nobody beats themselves up more when it's over than I do, just trying to figure out a way to help those guys be successful."
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K Jude Kelley:
"Our job is to make sure that we take all the positives we can every week and improve, and I think you guys are doing a great job of that. We're excited to be at home. It feels like we've been on the road every single week, so that's exciting to try and get some momentum going into the bye week."
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DE Ryan Bell:
"We just talked about this morning about creating more takeaways. We're really good with 3-and-outs and being difficult to drive against. But we need to create more takeaways and splash plays to make things easier on the offense."
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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.
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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.
Â
It's a special day with the Mocs annual "Salute to Heroes" game as well as Hall of Fame Induction weekend. Veterans, active military members, first responders and medical personnel all receive a complimentary ticket with valid ID.
Â
The matchup kicks off at 1 p.m., on ESPN+ as well as over the airwaves via the Mocs Sports Network and WFLI Chattanooga.
Â
Resources – Game Notes | Series | Live Stats | Roster | Tickets
Â
2026 Chattanooga Mocs Football
Chattanooga Mocs (3-3/2-1) vs Samford Bulldogs (1-4/1-1)
Oct. 10 | Chattanooga, Tenn. | Finley Stadium (20,668)
Scheduled Start Time: 1 p.m.
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Series
Meeting: 51 | Series: 35-12-3 (Home: 21-7-2/Road: 14-5) | Streak: +1
First Meeting: 11-3-1906, L, 0-63 (Away) | Last Meeting: 10/25/2025, W, 49-13 (Away)
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Media
TV: ESPN+ (PxP: Chris Goforth, Color: Chris Barnett, Sideline: Mackenzie Johnson)
Radio: WFLI Chattanooga (96.1/100.3 FM & 1070 AM) - Jim Reynolds (PxP), Todd Agne (Analysis) & Will Poindexter (Sideline). Also available online at GoMocs.com & Varsity Network app.
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Coaches
Chattanooga: Rusty Wright (Chattanooga '96) | Record at UTC: 45-37 (8th season) | Overall: Same
Samford: John Grass (Jacksonville St. '90) | Record at SU: 1-4 (1st) | Career Record: 73-30 (9th)
- Wright is 4-2 against the Bulldogs.
- Grass is 5-0 against the Mocs from his 2014-21 run at Jacksonville State.
- He is five wins from becoming the third Mocs ball coach with 50 career wins (170-Scrappy Moore & 59-Russ Huesman) and second with 40 SoCon triumphs (42-Russ Huesman).
Openers
- Tied for second in the league at 2-1 with Tennessee Tech, a half-game behind ETSU (2-0). There are eight teams within a game of the top spot in the standings.
- Samford is one of four programs that Chattanooga has beaten 30+ times: The Citadel (37), Samford (35), Western Carolina (31) and Tennessee Tech (30).
- 51 meetings ranks tied for third most (60-The Citadel, 56-Furman, 51-Western Carolina).
- Series started in 1906. Two schools matched up 23 times from 1906-45 (14-6-2) and just 10 times from 1962-2003 (8-2) before the Bulldogs joined the SoCon in 2008 (13-4).
- The Mocs have won nine of the last 11 in the series.
- 119th season (50-DI) of football at Chattanooga and game number 1,189: 584-569-35 (.506) all-time record.
- 50th season in SoCon for the Mocs and game number 360: 181-176-2 (.507).
- After four six on the road to start the season, Chattanooga is home for three of the next four.
- 1-1 at home in 2026. 22-13 (.629) under Wright, 17-10 (.630) in the SoCon.
- The Mocs lead the league in scoring defense (14.2), rush defense (135.3), pass defense (144.5), total defense (279.8) & sacks (3.0).
- Individual leaders: Kevin Lalin, rushing yards (534); Zion Rutledge, tackles/game (9.5); Orlando Daniels, forced fumbles (2); Davon Kiser, punt return TDs (1).
About Samford
- 1-4 on the season, 1-1 in the league.
- The win over VMI was the 500th in school history.
- Common opponent: Tennessee Tech. Chattanooga lost a hard-fought 24-9 non-conference matchup in game week 2, while Samford dropped a 45-19 SoCon road decision.
- Scored a defensive touchdown in last two games: LaShon Young, 45-yard pick 6 vs VMI. Jalen Nelson 95-yard fumble return at UAB.
- UTC OL Coach Kevin Revis worked for Samford head coach John Grass at Jacksonville State (2014-21).
- K Ty Ippolito hit the two longest field goals in Samford history, making kicks of 54 and 58 yards at Tennessee Tech. The previous record was 52 by Cameron Yaw at Chattanooga in 2012.
- SoCon leaders: Blocked Punts (1), Defensive TDs (2), 1st Downs Allowed (86) & TFLs (7.6).
- Individuals: Spencer Conn, TFLs (1.2).
3 Notes to Know
- 26.0 TFLs & 13.0 sacks over the last three weeks. Included 7.0 sacks against Wofford and 10.0 TFLs at The Citadel.
- 85 points (14.2 ppg) allowed through six games are the fewest since 73 in 2016. The school record for a season is just 9.1 point per game in 1951. In the modern era? 2021 (17.1 ppg).
- 29 points allowed in last three games (7-Wofford/8-at The Citadel/14-at ETSU). Fewest in SoCon play since 2024: 25(10-at Furman, 5-Wofford & 10-VMI). The 10 given up to ETSU prior to that stretch made it 35 over four (8.8 ppg).
Quotable
Coach Rusty Wright:
"You have to play to your strengths, We're playing well defensively. We have to do what gives us an opportunity to go win football games. Right now, it's what it looks like. I got to help them manage the game a little bit. I've got to be creative in some things maybe to either create some more possessions or steal some momentum for us offensively. Nobody beats themselves up more when it's over than I do, just trying to figure out a way to help those guys be successful."
Â
K Jude Kelley:
"Our job is to make sure that we take all the positives we can every week and improve, and I think you guys are doing a great job of that. We're excited to be at home. It feels like we've been on the road every single week, so that's exciting to try and get some momentum going into the bye week."
Â
DE Ryan Bell:
"We just talked about this morning about creating more takeaways. We're really good with 3-and-outs and being difficult to drive against. But we need to create more takeaways and splash plays to make things easier on the offense."
Â
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.
Â
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
DL
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DE
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K
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WR
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RB
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LB
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