ATLANTA, Ga. (Interstat) — Alberto Mendoza threw for 249 yards and three touchdowns to lead Georgia Tech past Mercer 44-11 on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in an NCAA Football Bowl Division game at Bobby Dodd Stadium. The Yellow Jackets improved to 1-2, while the Bears fell to 2-2. Mendoza, a Miami, Florida, native, completed 15 of 21 passes. Justice Haynes rushed 22 times for 141 yards and scored three total touchdowns. Jaiven Plummer caught a 37-yard touchdown, and Debron Gatling added a 33-yard scoring reception. Georgia Tech scored 17 points in the first quarter, 13 in the second, seven in the third and seven in the fourth. Mercer scored three in the first and eight in the second. JP Pickles passed for 82 yards and rushed for 53 for Mercer. Zahmari Palode-Gary ran 15 times for 71 yards, and Brayden Smith had four catches for 58 yards. Jyarius Carter and Ronin Dangler each made 12 tackles; Dangler added a sack.