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Chattanooga Mocs Look to Rebound as College Football Season Approaches
After a 5-6 finish last year, the Mocs are preparing for a pivotal fall campaign in the Southern Conference.
How we reported this
The Chattanooga Mocs are gearing up for the 2026 college football season after a tough 5-6 overall record in 2025, which placed them fourth in the Southern Conference standings, according to conference records. The team finished just shy of .500, a mark that leaves room for optimism among fans and players alike as they head into fall camp.
A Season of Tight Margins
The Mocs' 5-6 finish in the 2025 season reflected a series of close games that could have swung either way. Fourth place in the SoCon isn't where the program wants to be, but it's a position that offers a clear path forward. The team will need to sharpen its execution in key moments to climb the standings and contend for a conference title this fall. With no official games played yet for the 2026 season, all eyes are on the preseason preparations now underway.
Building on Local Sports Momentum
Chattanooga's sports scene continues to thrive across multiple levels, providing a backdrop of energy for the Mocs' upcoming campaign. The Chattanooga Sports Leagues, the city's largest adult intramural organization founded in 2012 and now part of CCA Sports since January 2023, runs over 15 recreational sports from flag football to pickleball. In the standout recreational pickleball division, the team Bread and Butter leads with a perfect 9-0 record and a 100% win percentage, according to CSL standings. Meanwhile, the River City Rally squad tops the Intermediate pickleball standings with a 7-1 mark and an 87.5% win rate. On the pro soccer side, the Chattanooga Red Wolves hold 19 points after 12 USL League One games, sitting in 10th place as of July 5, 2026, per league data.
For younger athletes, the YMCA of Metropolitan Chattanooga operates year-round youth leagues for ages 3 to 16, covering basketball, volleyball, and soccer at its Hamilton and North River family centers. i9 Sports also offers leagues for kids 3 and up, emphasizing sportsmanship and equal playing time. The Miracle League of Chattanooga provides adaptive baseball in spring and fall for players with cognitive and physical disabilities, ages 4 to 99, with financial assistance available. Chattanooga Parks and Outdoors runs free seasonal youth leagues like RBI Baseball for ages 8 to 19 at Warner Park and East Lake Center, plus adult slowpitch softball at the Summit of Softball Complex.
For the Mocs, this community-wide sports culture creates a supportive environment as they prepare to hit the field. The 2025 season may have ended with a losing record, but the team's fourth-place conference finish shows they were competitive in a tough league.
What's Next for the Mocs
With the college football season not yet underway, the Mocs are focused on practice and roster development. The Southern Conference schedule will be revealed closer to kickoff, and fans can expect the team to aim for a winning record and a push toward the top of the standings. For now, the program builds on lessons from 2025, knowing that small improvements could turn close losses into victories. No game dates have been announced yet, but preseason preparations are the key storyline heading into fall.