Saturday, September 26
Charleston, S.C.
2 PM
Chattanooga
at
The Citadel
Kristian Ozane
Photo by: Ben Dodds
PREVIEW: SoCon Journey Continues Saturday in Charleston
9/23/2026 9:13:00 AM | Football
Kristian Ozane and the Chattanooga Mocs prepare for a new Southern Conference challenge with a trip to the Holy City.
The Chattanooga Mocs football team shifts its focus to the next challenge with The Citadel Bulldogs looming Saturday afternoon. The Mocs travel to Charleston, S.C., for the second of an 8-game in 9-week stretch of league play. The matchup kicks off at 2 p.m., on ESPN+ as well as over the airwaves via the Mocs Sports Network live from Finley Stadium.
Resources – Game Notes | Series | Live Stats | Roster | Tickets
2026 Chattanooga Mocs Football
Chattanooga Mocs (2-2/1-0) at The Citadel Bulldogs (1-2/0-1)
Sept. 26 | Charleston, S.C. | Johnson Hagood Stadium (11,427)
Scheduled Start Time: 2 p.m.
Series
Meeting: 60 | Series: 36-21-2 (Home: 20-9-1/Road: 16-12-1) | Streak: -1
First Meeting: 10-9-1926, W, 6-3 (Away) | Last Meeting: 9/27/2025, L, 10-28 (Home)
Media
TV: ESPN+ (PxP: Dave Weinstein, Color: JJ Jones & Graeson Underwood, Sideline: Matison Little)
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.
Coaches
Chattanooga: Rusty Wright (Chattanooga '96) | Record at UTC: 44-36 (8th season) | Overall: Same
The Citadel: Maurice Drayton (Citadel '82) | Record at The Citadel: 10-28 (4th) | Career Record: Same
Openers
About The Citadel
3 Notes to Know
Quotable
Coach Rusty Wright on the win over Wofford:
"We took advantage of some opportunities. We played well in all three phases, but there's a lot of things we've got to clean up on both sides of the ball and in the kicking game. It was good to play some guys that hadn't been playing. Every Saturday is completely different, and this one will be completely different than last Saturday, and we'll have to go get it figured out."
Coach Wright on transitioning to the next opponent:
"I heard somebody say the other day that humility is a week away. It's staring us in the face. I don't think we practiced very well today, so we're going to have to get better Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. We have to see if we can figure out a way to go down to Charleston and find a way to win because it's going to be a 4-quarter game and always is there. We got to play a lot better than we did against these guys last year."
Nick Paul on how satisfying the performance was for the offense last Saturday:
"Rushing for 300 yards? You don't see that often, especially at this level. I think the last time we did that was in 2019, so it's obviously great to be part of that. Offensive linemen really don't get stats, but we knew at the end of the day it took all of us, and it just feels great."
Keyshawn Jackson on the morale of the team:
"Really just being us, getting back to our basics. We don't want to get too high over last weekend. We want to stay levelheaded, stay ready for the opponent ahead, because we know this is a tough place to play and the triple option can get out of hand if we're not ready every snap. We know we just got to stay us and play our keys."
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.
Resources – Game Notes | Series | Live Stats | Roster | Tickets
2026 Chattanooga Mocs Football
Chattanooga Mocs (2-2/1-0) at The Citadel Bulldogs (1-2/0-1)
Sept. 26 | Charleston, S.C. | Johnson Hagood Stadium (11,427)
Scheduled Start Time: 2 p.m.
Series
Meeting: 60 | Series: 36-21-2 (Home: 20-9-1/Road: 16-12-1) | Streak: -1
First Meeting: 10-9-1926, W, 6-3 (Away) | Last Meeting: 9/27/2025, L, 10-28 (Home)
Media
TV: ESPN+ (PxP: Dave Weinstein, Color: JJ Jones & Graeson Underwood, Sideline: Matison Little)
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.
Coaches
Chattanooga: Rusty Wright (Chattanooga '96) | Record at UTC: 44-36 (8th season) | Overall: Same
The Citadel: Maurice Drayton (Citadel '82) | Record at The Citadel: 10-28 (4th) | Career Record: Same
- Wright is 5-2 against the Bulldogs. His five wins are one behind Buddy Nix (1984-92) and Russ Huesman (2009-16) for most by a Mocs ball coach against The Citadel.
- Drayton is 1-2 against the Mocs.
- Wright is tied for third on the Mocs coaching win list at 44 with Joe Morrison (1973-79) and Nix. The trio is behind Scrappy Moore (170) & Russ Huesman (59).
Openers
- Chattanooga is tied for the league lead at 1-0 with Furman and Tennessee Tech.
- The Citadel is one of four programs that Chattanooga has beaten 30+ times: The Citadel (36), Samford (35), Western Carolina (31) and Tennessee Tech (30).
- Chattanooga won the last four meetings in Charleston. Last loss at Johnson Hagood Stadium was Oct. 15, 2016 with the 3rd-ranked Mocs dropping a 22-14 decision to No. 8 Bulldogs.
- 1-1 on the road this season. 17-9 (.654) away in the SoCon under Rusty Wright.
- The Mocs lead the league in total defense (275.0), defensive TDs (1), sacks (3.00) & pass defense (155.0).
- Individual SoCon leaders: Kevin Lalin, rushing yards (100.0) & rush TDs (4); Journey Wyche, yards per carry (7.2); Orlando Daniels, forced fumbles (2); Jude Kelley, FG accuracy (.875); DJ Adams, interceptions/game (0.50); Keyshawn Jackson, pass defensed/game (1.5).
- Kelley topped 100 PATs with his first against Wofford. He's one of four with 100+.
- 11 have made their first career UTC starts in 2026: TE TJ Briggs, WR Erik Bussmann, WR Jaden George, OL Tracy Jackson, RB Kevin Lalin, WR Ashton Schumann & OL Jacob Ziegler on offense. DE Ryan Bell, DB Keyshawn Jackson, DB Jaden Nelson & LB Bryce Washington on defense.
About The Citadel
- 1-2 on the season, 0-1 in the league.
- 1-0 vs FBS competition, 0-2 against FCS.
- One common opponent in Wofford. The Bulldogs dropped the opener in Spartanburg 42-14, while the Mocs toppled Wofford last weekend, 41-7.
- Last two games have gone into OT: Won 43-41 at FBS Charlotte in triple overtime before a 26-20 double OT home loss to Charleston Southern.
- A stout rushing attack at 243.33 yards per game leads the SoCon and ranks 6th in the country. It's led by Gavin Garcia's 96.3 yards per game and four TDs
- Top 10 nationally in penalties per game (3rd-3.33), penalty yards/game (4th-31.00) and total penalties (9th-10).
- LB Zyion Brown is the SoCon leader in solo tackles (5.67).
3 Notes to Know
- 44-28 (.611) against FCS opposition during Wright's tenure: Home: 22-13 (.629) | Road: 22-15 (.595).
- Lalin (9th-100.0) and Wyche (21st-84.0) are both in the top 25 nationally in rushing yards per game.
- Three Mocs had multi-sack games against Wofford: 2.0-Daniels (tied career high) & 1.5-Gilmore & Harvey (career highs). The defense's six total are the most since Sept. 30, 2023...at Wofford.
Quotable
Coach Rusty Wright on the win over Wofford:
"We took advantage of some opportunities. We played well in all three phases, but there's a lot of things we've got to clean up on both sides of the ball and in the kicking game. It was good to play some guys that hadn't been playing. Every Saturday is completely different, and this one will be completely different than last Saturday, and we'll have to go get it figured out."
Coach Wright on transitioning to the next opponent:
"I heard somebody say the other day that humility is a week away. It's staring us in the face. I don't think we practiced very well today, so we're going to have to get better Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. We have to see if we can figure out a way to go down to Charleston and find a way to win because it's going to be a 4-quarter game and always is there. We got to play a lot better than we did against these guys last year."
Nick Paul on how satisfying the performance was for the offense last Saturday:
"Rushing for 300 yards? You don't see that often, especially at this level. I think the last time we did that was in 2019, so it's obviously great to be part of that. Offensive linemen really don't get stats, but we knew at the end of the day it took all of us, and it just feels great."
Keyshawn Jackson on the morale of the team:
"Really just being us, getting back to our basics. We don't want to get too high over last weekend. We want to stay levelheaded, stay ready for the opponent ahead, because we know this is a tough place to play and the triple option can get out of hand if we're not ready every snap. We know we just got to stay us and play our keys."
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.
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