The Mercer Bears will play at the Alabama Crimson Tide in 2017 and 2021, the school announced on Thursday.
Exact dates for the games have yet to be determined, but both will be played at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa.
“We are excited to add one of the elite college football programs to our schedule in 2017 and 2021,” said head coach Bobby Lamb. “This will be a great opportunity to test ourselves against a championship program in one of the most storied gameday environments in the country.”
Mercer and Alabama have met two times on the gridiron. The Crimson Tide won both contests, which were played in Tuscaloosa, 20-0 in 1939 and 20-0 in 1940.
Mercer is currently a member of the Southern Conference in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). The Bears reinstated their football program in 2013 and have recorded overall records of 10-2 (2013), 6-6 (2014), and 5-6 (2015).
The Bears have two other FBS Power Five opponents already lined up. They visit Georgia Tech on Sept. 10, 2016 and Auburn on Sept. 16, 2017.
Alabama has now tentatively completed their non-conference schedule for the 2017 season. The Crimson Tide are scheduled to open the season against Florida State in Atlanta and later host Fresno State and Colorado State in Tuscaloosa.