Why is Alabama playing Mercer? Closer look at the SEC-FCS showdown

The No. 10 Alabama Crimson Tide are getting ready to host the Mercer Bears in a Week 12 matchup that makes people wonder why it is even happening. We are at that point of the college football season where teams will compete for the conference championship.

With both teams unfamiliar with each other, people are trying to understand why Alabama is playing Mercer.

Why is Alabama playing Mercer?

The Alabama Crimson Tide will play the Mercer Bears as the two teams decided to schedule this game. The top conferences in college football typically have one or two nonconference games on the schedule, which allows them to schedule their opponent.

This game is viewed as a chance for the Roll Tide to "get fat" and give the College Football Playoff voters the ability to see some good tape for the Crimson Tide a few weeks before they need to lock in the decision on which 12 teams are going to be competing for the national championship in the CFP.

There is also a financial aspect for the Mercer Bears, as they are getting paid handsomely to be the Roll Tide's opponent. The reported financial figures explain why they agreed to play in this game, outside of the added exposure.

How much is Alabama paying Mercer?

According to reports, the Mercer Bears will receive over $600,000 to play the Alabama Crimson Tide in this game. This is not new as these games are typically viewed as stuffing the schedule and automatic victories for the team with more prestige and pedigree. However, there are times when this winds up being an upset, and that's massive.

What time does Alabama play Mercer?

The Mercer Bears play the Alabama Crimson Tide today at 2:00 p.m. ET inside Bryant-Denny Stadium. This game will be available on both SEC+ and ESPN+ to watch if you are not at the game.