FSU Vaults To #1 In The Nation For First Time Ever In AFCA Coaches Poll This Week

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Big Rapids, Mich. - For the first time in history, the Ferris State University Bulldogs have climbed to #1 in this week's American Football Coacehs Association (AFCA) Division II National Poll.

The Bulldogs, who were listed third last week, moved past previous top-ranked West Florida and Northwest Missouri State after both got beat this past weekend. FSU recorded a 35-28 road win over previously seventh-ranked rival Grand Valley State in the Anchor-Bone Classic before a record crowd of 17,007 fans at Lubbers Stadium in Allendale.

Previously, FSU was ranked as high as 1st nationally in 2015 by D2Football.com along with the Division II Power Rankings, but has never been #1 in the current coaches poll. Ferris State was ranked #1 for two weeks back in 1996 when the NCAA Football Committee produced the weekly rankings prior to the creation of the head coaches' poll thru the AFCA.

The Bulldogs' previous best in the AFCA poll was #2 at various stages with the first coming late in the 2015 regular season. FSU was also second early in the 2017 campaign along with different points in both 2018 and 2019 for the school's then highest ranking ever in the history of the coaches poll that dates back to 2000.

In this week's poll, the Bulldogs received 23 first-place votes and a total of 743 points. Valdosta State is listed second followed by Colorado Mines, West Georgia and California (Pa.) in the national top five this week.

Along with the AFCA poll, the Bulldogs also climbed to #1 in the NCAA D2 Power Rankings this week and FSU was #2 last week in the D2Football.com media poll, which will be released again later this week.

The win over Grand Valley State on Saturday was the 34th-straight regular season victory for the Bulldogs along with FSU's 27th consecutive GLIAC triumph and the program's 19th road win in a row. It also marked the ninth time the Bulldogs have beat the Lakers in the last 11 meetings, including the fifth-straight as FSU retained possession of the Anchor-Bone Trophy.

Ferris State will travel to Michigan Tech on Saturday (Oct. 23) to face the Huskies at Sherman Field in Houghton. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. (ET).