Ferris State Hosts Rival GVSU In Nationally-Televised Anchor-Bone Classic This Saturday

Big Rapids, Mich. – "Football Week In Michigan" is headed to Top Taggart Field in Big Rapids this Saturday (Nov. 9) as the nation's second-ranked Bulldogs square off against 14th-ranked rival Grand Valley State in the Anchor-Bone Classic, which will be televised live nationally by Fox Sports Detroit.

Saturday's game is slated for a 12:07 p.m. (ET) kickoff and will be presented by the Schuberg Insurance Agency and Auto Owners Insurance.

The game will have major conference and postseason implications. Currently, the 9-0 Bulldogs have claimed at least a share of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Championship and can win the outright league crown with a victory. Meanwhile, GVSU (8-1) can stay in the mix for at least a share of the title with a win on Saturday. FSU is ranked first in Super Region Three with the Lakers now sixth and the top seven teams at the end of the year earn D2 playoff berths.

Fans are invited to a special pregame football tailgate event on Saturday prior to the Anchor-Bone Classic rivalry game between Ferris State and Grand Valley State. The pregame tailgate spread will run from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday morning prior to the noon kickoff.

The event, hosted by FOX Sports Detroit and Ferris State Athletics in Lot 35, has a cash-only $5 entry fee, which includes food and drink (brats, Detroit Coney dogs, Bulldog beans, potato salad, homemade chips, water, coffee and hot chocolate). Beer will also be included for those 21 and older with proof of ID, while it lasts. Children under the age of 10 will be admitted free.

During the tailgate event, Fox Sports Detroit will be on site with former Detroit Lions players Herman Moore and Joique Bell, a photo booth, great giveaways and the "Football Week In Michigan" bus. The tailgate will also feature music, merchandise and Ferris State's three Harlon Hill Trophies won by quarterbacks Jason Vander Laan and Jayru Campbell.

In addition to being broadcast on Fox Sports Detroit, the game will also air nationally on Fox College Sports across the country. Fox Sports Detroit's Matt Shepard will call the play-by-play action for the game alongside former Michigan standout Devin Gardner with Brooke Fletcher as the sideline reporter. They will also be on hand to sign autographs and take pictures during the pregame tailgate event.

Game tickets for the premium game are on sale now and can be purchased online at StarTickets.com. Tickets are $18 for all adults along with $10 for students age 5-17. Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets for the Anchor-Bone Classic in advance with a large crowd expected. For additional information, please contact the FSU Athletics Ticket Office by calling (231) 591-2888 or visit FerrisStateBulldogs.com.

The Wheeler Pavilion Gameday Ticket Office will open on Saturday at 9 a.m. (ET) with the gates to the stadium opening at 10:30 a.m. (ET). Parking lots will open for tailgating at 8 a.m. (ET). GVSU fans are encouraged to tailgate in lots 1 and 13 on the FSU campus next to the University Center.

Parking in lots near Top Taggart Field is $10 per available car or $25 per oversized vehicle (bus, motor coach, motorhome, trailer, etc.) on a first-come, first-served basis. As a convenience to fans, credit cards will also be accepted at the ticket window along with the concession stand.

FOX Sports Detroit's Football Week in Michigan concept has developed into a landmark initiative highlighting high school championship and all-star games, as well as college and professional gridiron action in November. Last year, it featured more than 55 hours of original football programming, including 19 games airing across Fox Sports Networks. Football Week in Michigan is presented by Kroger.

FOX Sports Detroit delivers more than 350 live local events each calendar year to more than 3 million households throughout Michigan and portions of Northwest Ohio and Northern Indiana. For more information or a complete schedule of game broadcasts, visit www.FOXSportsDetroit.com.

The Anchor Bone Trophy is awarded annually to the winner of the Ferris State-Grand Valley State football game. Ferris State has captured six of the last seven regular-season matchups between the two West Michigan rivals. The two teams have both also squared off in the NCAA Division II Playoffs twice in the last four years with GVSU winning in 2015 in Big Rapids before FSU returned the favor with a 47-32 triumph over the Lakers in 2016 in Allendale in the Super Region Four Championship game.