Mike Jacobs is leaving Mercer football, which made it to the second round of the FCS playoffs, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

Jacobs is expected to take the job at Toledo on Wednesday, per Thamel’s report.

Toledo is replacing Jason Candle, who had been the coach since 2016 and is now at UConn.

Jacobs has been at Mercer since 2024, when he lead the team to a historic first conference championship.

Mercer went on to win the SoCon in 2025, as well.

Jacobs had more than an 80% win rate at Mercer. Before his stint at Mercer, he coached at Lenoir-Rhyne for four years.

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Braden Atkinson, winner of the Jerry Rice Award for being the top freshman football player in FCS, will have a new coach next year. (Courtesy Mercer University Athletics)

Credit: Mercer University Athletics

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Credit: Courtesy of Atlanta Public Schools