Aug. 11, 2025

Defending national champion Ferris State football team chosen No. 1 In AFCA D2 preseason coaches Poll

Ferris State Football Team ranked No. 1 in the nation — The Ferris State Football team, the defending NCAA Division II National Champion, was picked as the No. 1 team in the nation in the AFCA preseason coaches poll.

BIG RAPIDS, Mich. —

The Ferris State University football team has been chosen as the nation's preseason No. 1 team by the American Football Coaches Association, the second preseason poll to pick the defending champions to defend once more.

The AFCA unveiled its 2025 Division II Coaches Preseason Poll, presented by HUDL, on Monday with the Bulldogs picked first overall with 773 total points and 30 of a possible 31 first-place votes.

Previously, the Bulldogs – in the middle of preseason camp -- were chosen first earlier this summer in a preseason national poll by Lindy's Sports.

Ferris State enters the 2025 season having won three of the past four NCAA D II national championships.

The Bulldogs were picked first with Harding University of Arkansas second followed by Grand Valley State University, Slippery Rock University and Central Oklahoma University in the top five. Ferris State beat all four teams a year ago, including Central Oklahoma, Harding and Slippery Rock during a memorable playoff run to the national title.

The second five consisted of Colorado State University-Pueblo in sixth followed by Kutztown University, University of West Florida, Pittsburg State University and Western Colorado University.

The Bulldogs will begin their 116th season of varsity competition this coming fall with their sights set on making a nation-leading 11th consecutive trip to the NCAA D II Playoffs.

The Bulldogs have made six national semifinal appearances along with four trips to the national championship game, highlighted by back-to-back national titles in 2021 and 2022 along with 2024 during the stretch.

Over the past four seasons of action, the Bulldogs have a 50-5 overall record and Ferris State has reached the NCAA DII Playoffs 10 consecutive years and counting.

Ferris State has also reached the NCAA Division II National Semifinals six times in the past eight seasons of action and ranks as the country's winningest program over the past 10 full seasons in D2 Football. Ferris State is 77-7 over the last five seasons of on-field action, including back-to-back NCAA DII National Championships in 2021 and 2022 and last fall.

Ferris State also holds the GLIAC's best mark and the best overall record of all collegiate programs in Michigan at 137-21 (.867) overall since the arrival of Tony Annese as head coach in 2012.

The Bulldogs will open the 2025 season at home, hosting Pittsburg State from Kansas in a D2 National Showdown on Thursday, Aug. 28, at Top Taggart Field. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.

Tickets for the 2025 season are on sale now and can be purchased online at FerrisStateBulldogs.com/Tickets.