After losing their season opener last season, the Ferris State Bulldogs rattled off 14 consecutive wins and claimed their third NCAA Division II national championship in four seasons.

The Bulldogs also got a little bit of redemption, again, in defeating Valdosta State in the title tilt. It was the third time since 2018 that the two teams have squared off with the national title on the line, and Ferris State is 2-1 in those contests, also besting the Blazers in 2021. 

The only thing standing between Ferris State and a four-peat was in-conference rival Grand Valley State, which topped the Bulldogs twice during the 2023 season, including the first round of the Division II Playoffs.

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If history is any indication, there’s no doubt Ferris State and GVSU again will be the top contenders for the 2025 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship, with their Oct. 25 meeting in the Anchor Bone Classic having the potential to be the deciding factor.

That doesn’t mean one of the GLIAC’s up-and-coming teams can’t break through and play spoiler; it just means they’ll have to step up against the two titans, which simply hasn’t happened yet.

The start to Ferris State’s 2025 football campaign will mirror what the Bulldogs saw last season, and while they’d probably like the results to be different in the opener against Pittsburg State on Aug. 28, they likely wouldn’t be upset if another loss meant another national title.

In Week 1 last year, the Gorillas got the best of the Bulldogs in an uncharacteristic 19-3 loss. What happened after for Ferris State was otherworldly. 

Including the playoffs, the Bulldogs went on to outscore their opponents 672-178. That included a 49-14 rout of Valdosta State for the trophy in McKinney, Texas, in December. 

Reigning Division II National Coach of the Year Tony Annese will lead Ferris State again in 2025, marking his 13th season at the helm in Big Rapids, Michigan.

The team’s 11-game schedule will include six home games at Top Taggart Field.

How To Stream Ferris State Football Games In 2025

Every GLIAC and home Ferris State football game will stream live on FloCollege and the FloSports app. 

Game replays, highlights and breaking news will also be available on both platforms.

Ferris State Football Schedule 2025

All Times Eastern

• Aug. 28 (Thur): 6 p.m. vs Pittsburg State
• Sept. 6 (Sat): 2 p.m. at Lake Erie
• Sept. 13 (Sat): 6 p.m. vs Tiffin
• Sept. 20 (Sat): 3 p.m. vs Rio Grande (homecoming)
• Oct. 4 (Sat): 2 p.m. at Roosevelt
• Oct. 11 (Sat): 1 p.m. vs Wayne State
• Oct. 18 (Sat): Noon at Michigan Tech
• Oct. 25 (Sat): 1 p.m. vs Grand Valley State (Anchor-Bone Classic)
• Nov. 1 (Sat): 1 p.m. vs Northern Michigan
• Nov. 8 (Sat): 1 p.m. at Saginaw Valley State
• Nov. 15 (Sat): Noon at Davenport

What Was The Ferris State Football Record In 2024?

14-1 (7-0 GLIAC)

• Pittsburg State 19, Ferris State 3
• Ferris State 56, Lake Erie, 3
• Ferris State 43, Ashland 3
• Ferris State 84, AIC 7
• Ferris State 55, Roosevelt 13
• Ferris State 27, Wayne State 14 (Part 1/Part 2)
• Ferris State 51, Michigan Tech 13
• Ferris State 34, Grand Valley State 7
• Ferris State 55, Northern Michigan 9
• Ferris State 27, Saginaw Valley State 24
• Ferris State 24, Davenport 9
• Ferris State 78, Central Oklahoma 17
• Ferris State 41, Harding 7
• Ferris State 48, Slippery Rock 38
• Ferris State 49, Valdosta State 14

When Do The 2025 NCAA Division II College Football Playoffs Start?

The first round of the 2025 NCAA Division II Playoffs will be Nov. 22.

The 2025 Division II Football Championship title game will be played Dec. 20, 2025, at McKinney ISD Stadium in McKinney, Texas

College Football Rankings 2024 – Final AFCA Division II Coaches Poll

End Of 2024 Season

1. Ferris St. (Mich.) (27) 14-1  
2. Valdosta St. (Ga.) 13-1  
3. Slippery Rock (Pa.) 12-2  
4. Harding (Ark.) 12-2  
5. Kutztown (Pa.) 11-1  
6. Grand Valley St. (Mich.) 11-2  
7. Minnesota St. 11-4  
8. Colorado St.-Pueblo 10-2  
9. Central Oklahoma 11-2  
10. Western Colorado 11-2  
11. Virginia Union 10-4  
12. California (Pa.) 10-3  
13. Bemidji St. (Minn.) 10-4  
14. Ouachita Baptist (Ark.) 10-2  
15. Charleston (W.Va.) 11-1  
16. Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.) 10-3  
17. Pittsburg St. (Kan.) 8-3  
18. West Alabama 9-2  
19. Indianapolis (Ind.) 10-2  
20. Angelo St. (Tex.) 9-3  
21. Wingate (N.C.) 9-2  
22. Miles (Ala.) 10-3  
23. Ashland (Ohio) 9-4  
24. Central Washington 8-4  
25. Augustana (S.D.) 8-4  

Others Receiving Votes: Colorado School of Mines, 56; Carson-Newman (Tenn.), 47; East Stroudsburg (Pa.), 38; Central Missouri, 35; West Florida, 20; Southern Arkansas, 16; Fort Hays St. (Kan.), 14; New Haven (Conn.), 1; Truman St. (Mo.), 1.

Watch The 2024 Anchor Bone Classic Full Replay

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