Ferris State Ranked 21st Nationally In D2Football.com Preseason Poll

Click Here For D2Football.com Preseason Poll

Big Rapids, Mich. - With less than a week to go before the start of the 2014 campaign, the Ferris State University football squad has received even more preseason recognition as the Bulldogs are ranked 21st nationally in the D2football.com Preseason Poll.

Previously, FSU has been ranked among the nation's top 30 teams in three different Division II collegiate polls, including 22nd in the Massey Ratings and 25th in the CompughterRatings.com poll. The Bulldogs also placed tied for 30th in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Preseason Rankings unveiled by the national coaches organization.

Ferris State is among four Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) member schools found in the D2football.com Top 25 along with rival Grand Valley State (#2), Ohio Dominican (#10) and Saginaw Valley State (#20). All three teams are on the Bulldogs' schedule in 2014.

The D2football.com poll is compiled by the online source for Division II football information. The top spot in the poll is held by defending NCAA Division II National Champion Northwest Missouri State.

The Bulldogs, who were picked second in the 2014 GLIAC North Division poll, return nearly 50 letterwinners and at least 14 starters from a year ago when they finished with a 8-3 overall record and narrowly missed receiving the school's first playoff bid in 17 years. Among the returnees for the Bulldogs this campaign are seven preseason NCAA Division II All-Americans.

Ferris State wrapped up a successful 2013 campaign and the second season under head coach Tony Annese's direction last fall with a 8-3 overall record along with a second-place 8-2 finish in the GLIAC North Division standings. 

The Bulldogs' eight-win campaign last fall was the school's first since 2006 and only the second in the program's last 16 seasons. Additionally, Ferris State's eight league wins in 2013 were also its most since 1996. FSU's eight league wins in 2013 were also its most since 1996 and the Bulldogs beat rival Grand Valley State for the second consecutive year to hold onto possession of the Anchor-Bone Trophy.

FSU also inked a highly-regarded 35-member recruiting class on National Signing Day in February. The talented class of 33 prepsters and two Division I transfers came on the heels of a stellar class a year ago that was labeled as the best in the nation.

The Bulldogs will begin their 106th season of varsity competition this coming fall with their sights set on competing for a potential GLIAC Championship and a NCAA Division II Playoff berth after posting only the program's second eight-win season in the last 16 years during the 2013 campaign. FSU opens the 2014 campaign with a non-league contest at McKendree (Ill.) on Thursday, Sept. 4, before visiting Northwood for their GLIAC opener on Sept. 13 in Midland.

FSU's 2014 home opener at Top Taggart Field will be on Sept. 20 as the Bulldogs entertain archrival Grand Valley State in the Anchor-Bone Classic with kickoff set for 7 p.m. (ET).

Both season and individual game tickets for all 2014 home contests are now on sale and can be purchased thru the FSU Athletics Ticket Office by calling (231) 591-2888 or online at StarTickets.com. For more information, please visit FerrisStateBulldogs.com.