D2 Football Insider: 5 Predictions For Week 7

We’re past the halfway mark of the 2026 D2 football season, but conference play is just heating up. Here are 5 predictions for Week 7 (Anchor-Bone included)

Oct 15, 2026 by Cristiana Rosa

Replay: Davenport vs Saginaw Valley | Oct 3 @ 2 PM3:41:01

We’re past the halfway mark of the 2026 D2 football season. You’d think I’d be better at predicting games by now, right?

Wrong.

Upsets got the best of my guesses. We suffered four Top 25 upsets in Week 6, two of which involved teams I had predicted to win: No. 23 Michigan Tech upset No. 6 Grand Valley State in a 41-35 overtime thriller, and unranked Chowan took down No. 15 North Greenville.

Over the next few weeks, the fight for regular-season conference titles will heat up as each team goes head-to-head with very familiar foes. A very familiar rivalry occurs this weekend as No. 1 Ferris State travels to No. 13 Grand Valley State for the 24th annual Anchor-Bone Classic. Two predictions for the matchup are below.

Before we get into anything Anchor-Bone, here are three predictions for other D2 matchups in Week 7:

UPCOMING

2026 Ferris State vs Grand Valley State

Sat, Oct 17 · 7:00 PM UTC

WATCH

Panthers vs. Panthers: Panthers Win

The Ohio Dominican Panthers sit at .500 overall and in conference play, but I think they will get ahead this weekend.

They host their winless G-MAC opponent Kentucky Wesleyan, also the Panthers, on Saturday, Oct. 17, at 12 p.m. for Homecoming.

Technically, my prediction that the Panthers will win would be right regardless of the outcome, but I won’t play dirty. Ohio Dominican will win its Week 7 home game against Kentucky Wesleyan.

Prediction: Ohio Dominican Beats Kentucky Wesleyan

Mars Hill Gets Back On Track

Oh sweet, sweet Mars Hill.

I’m so sorry for what Emory & Henry did to you in Week 6, upsetting the No. 16 Lions in a 17-9 decision on the road. But don’t worry: you’ll be back in Week 7.

Newberry heads to Mars Hill, N.C., on Saturday, Oct. 17, for a 1 p.m. matchup against SAC opponent Mars Hill. The Wolves are fresh off a shiny 28-17 win over Catawba, overcoming a 10-point deficit in the second half to put up 21 unanswered points for the victory.

Although Newberry might have some swagger, Mars Hill has a chip on its shoulder as it welcomes the Wolves to town. I believe its defense, which is the best in the SAC, can silence Newberry QB Mason Kidd and get Mars Hill back into the win column.

Prediction: Mars Hill Beats Newberry

Davenport Stays Undefeated

The Panthers have been on the prowl this season.

No. 10 Davenport has dramatically risen in the rankings, from being unranked following Week 1 to a top-10 contender. The Panthers have the best rusher in NCAA D2 (Cephus Harris, 1,224 yards), a strong defense and a great kicker in Alec Wojahn (No. 1 in the GLIAC, averaging 42.7 yards).

They’re up against Roosevelt in Week 7, which has also had a standout season. The Lakers have capitalized on transfer portal additions to bolster their roster and put up an impressive 5-1 record after a 2-8 season in 2025. They have the best passing game and third-best offense in the conference, thanks to sophomore quarterback Tony Chahino.

Although they may be on the road for this Chicago-West Michigan matchup, I think the Panthers have this one covered. They’re 2-0 in the series against Roosevelt, with their most recent win being a 75-23 decision.

Prediction: No. 10 Davenport Beats Roosevelt

Ferris State Wins… But Only By One Score

Through six games in 2026, Ferris State has averaged a 40-point margin of victory; Grand Valley State has averaged 39.

It would be easy for me to say “Ferris State wins the 2026 Anchor-Bone Classic!!!!!” but I want to take it one step further. Sure, the No. 1-ranked Bulldogs will beat their No. 13 rival, but I believe it will be a close game.

Through the last five Anchor-Bone Classics, Ferris State leads 3-2. The 2021 (Ferris State, 35-28), 2022 (Grand Valley State, 22-21) and 2025 (Ferris State, 38-31) games were determined by one touchdown or less. There was a much larger margin of victory in 2023 (Grand Valley State, 49-28) and 2024 (Ferris State, 34-7), but I think the 2026 outcome will mirror the 2025 result.

Be sure to study up for D2’s best rivalry, taking place on Saturday, Oct. 17, at 3 p.m. ET.

Prediction: No. 1 Ferris State Wins The Anchor-Bone Classic Over No. 13 Grand Valley State

Kellen Reed Scores Twice

If you’ve watched any Grand Valley State offense this year, you know Kellen Reed. And if you don’t, were you actually watching?

Since entering the starting lineup in 2023, Reed has racked up 1,827 receiving yards on 104 grabs through 41 games. He joined the 1,000-career-receiving-yards club in Game 1 of 2026, but he is on track to eclipse 1,000 in a single season. Through Grand Valley State’s six games, the Holt, Mich., native has tallied 835 yards on 44 receptions. Oh, and he’s scored 15 times in that span, which is more than he had in his first three years combined.

Reed has scored at least one touchdown in every game this season. He’s had three hat tricks (Game 2 vs. West Texas A&M; Game 4 vs. Judson (Ill.); Game 5 vs. Wayne State (Mich.)) and scored a career-high five touchdowns in the Lakers’ 69-3 Homecoming win over Wayne State. He has recorded 100 or more receiving yards in every game this season.

So, anyway, now that you have the background knowledge required for supporting or rejecting my prediction, here it is: Kellen Reed Will Score Twice In The Anchor-Bone Classic.

Don't Miss The Anchor-Bone Classic

When Ferris State and Grand Valley State Football meet, expect four quarters of hard-hitting football, big plays and rivalry intensity. With two of Division II's top programs battling for bragging rights, the Anchor-Bone Classic is a must-watch matchup for college football fans.

The Bulldogs and Lakers know what's at stake, and neither side will want to give an inch. Whether you’re tuning in for the rivalry, the championship-caliber talent or the atmosphere surrounding one of Division II’s biggest games, this is a matchup you won’t want to miss.

FloCollege D2 Football Rankings Week 6

Ferris State (6-0) - Prev. 1
Harding (6-0) - Prev. 2
CSU Pueblo (6-0) - Prev. 3
Kutztown (6-0) - Prev. 5
Minnesota State (7-0) - Prev. 4
Slippery Rock (6-0) - Prev. 7
Western Colorado (6-0) - Prev. 8
Northwood (6-0) - Prev. 9
Henderson State (6-0) - Prev. 10
Davenport (6-0) - Prev. 13
Emporia State (6-0) - Prev. 18
Northwest Missouri State (4-1) - Prev. 14
Grand Valley State (5-1) - Prev. 6
Findlay (5-1) - Prev. 12
Michigan Tech (5-1) - Prev. 23
Johnson C. Smith (5-1) - Prev. 19
Carson-Newman (6-1) - Prev. 21
Indiana (PA) (5-1) - Prev. 11
UT Permian Basin (5-1) - Prev. 20
Virginia Union (5-1) - Prev. 17
North Greenville (5-1) - Prev. 15
Valdosta State (4-1) - Prev. 22
Benedict (5-1) - Prev. 24
South Dakota Mines (5-1) - Prev. 25
Mars Hill (5-1) - Prev. 16

Also Receiving Votes:

Wayne State (NE) (6-1), East Stroudsburg (5-1), Hillsdale (5-1), Augustana (SD) (5-2), Roosevelt (5-1), Central Washington (4-2), Shepherd (5-1), East Central (5-1), Virginia State (6-1), Edward Waters (5-1), West Liberty (5-1), West Alabama (5-1), Minnesota Duluth (5-2).

Archived Footage On FloCollege

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