Reigning GLIAC Champion Ferris State Unveils 2021 Football Schedule
Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University football program will begin its quest for a third consecutive Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Championship and a seventh-straight trip to the NCAA Division II Playoffs this coming fall with another challenging slate as the Bulldogs have officially unveiled their 2021 schedule.
The Bulldogs' 2021 gridiron slate presently features five home games at FSU's Top Taggart Field along with seven league contests as part of the current 10-game schedule. Official kickoff times, ticket information and additional promotional dates will be announced in the near future.
"We've developed big expectations in our program based on the success over the past eight seasons and are looking forward to hopefully welcoming back our Bulldog fans this fall as our team returns to the field," said FSU Athletics Director Perk Weisenburger. "While it remains to be seen what the fall will look like in terms of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we expect our team to be back on the field competing for a conference championship with fans in the stands in some capacity, providing the energy and enthusiasm that will help support our team."
Ferris State will open the season at home with a non-conference tilt under the lights against longtime opponent and former GLIAC member Findlay on Thursday, Sept. 2, in Big Rapids. The following week, on Sept. 11, FSU travels to Ohio to face another familiar foe in Ashland, beginning a four-year scheduling pact with the Eagles, who will begin their first season in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (GMAC) this coming year.
The Bulldogs open league play at home on Sept. 18 versus Saginaw Valley State, which is guided by former FSU assistant coach Ryan Brady. The contest will represent FSU's Football Alumni Day with all former players invited back for the game.
The following week, on Sept. 25, the Bulldogs will entertain Davenport for the annual homecoming matchup. The game will be a non-league tilt as the two squads will meet again in conference action in early November as part of the GLIAC's scheduling arrangement for 2021. DU is led by a Bulldog alum and another former assistant in Sparky McEwen.
"This year's schedule is certainly challenging, but we're excited about the prospects for our team and the opportunity to be back on the field," said FSU head coach Tony Annese. "Not only do we have the always difficult task of competing in the GLIAC, but we also have two very strong non-conference opponents and potential playoff teams in Findlay and Ashland to open the year. Our guys have put in a ton of work to prepare themselves for this fall and we'll have to be at our best each and every week."
Following the back-to-back home contests to close out September, the Bulldogs begin a lengthy road stretch in the month of October. FSU begins the month at Northwood on Oct. 2 in Midland prior to a currently scheduled open week that the Bulldogs are still looking to fill on Oct. 9.
Ferris State will visit archival Grand Valley State for the Anchor-Bone Classic on Oct. 16 at Lubbers Stadium in Allendale, looking to beat GVSU for the ninth time in the past 11 matchups, before making the long trek to Houghton to battle Michigan Tech on Oct. 23 at Sherman Field.
The Bulldogs finally return home on Oct. 30, hosting Northern Michigan and yet another former Annese assistant in NMU head coach Kyle Nystrom in Big Rapids before going on the road to meet Davenport for the second time on Nov. 6 in Caledonia. The regular-season finale is scheduled for Nov. 13 when Wayne State pays a visit to Top Taggart Field.
Stay tuned to FerrisStateBulldogs.com for additional information on the 2021 campaign, including start times and ticket details. Fans are also encouraged to help support the Bulldogs by joining the FSU Gridiron Club, which is beginning its membership drive. Visit FerrisStateBulldogs.com or call Jake Daugherty at (231) 591-2862 for more information.
The Bulldogs have won each of the last two GLIAC Championships in unbeaten fashion and reached the national quarterfinals four consecutive years, which is the longest streak in the country. Over the past two seasons of action, not counting the COVID-19 impacted 2020 season, in 2018 and 2019, the Bulldogs have compiled a 27-2 mark. FSU ranks as the country's winningest program over the past six full seasons in NCAA Division II football.
Over the last six full seasons at Ferris State, the Bulldogs have compiled a 72-9 overall record and claimed four conference championships, posted four unbeaten regular seasons, captured three regional titles and reached the national quarterfinals four times under Annese. Ferris State has also accumulated three Harlon Hill National Player of the Year trophies, twice had a student-athlete tabbed as the nation's National Scholar-Athlete of the Year and won 12 postseason games in addition to an appearance in the 2018 National Championship game. The Bulldogs' six-straight playoff appearances is the second-longest longest streak in the nation.
Ferris State also holds the GLIAC's best mark and the best overall record of all 21 collegiate programs in Michigan at 87-16 overall since the arrival of Annese in 2012.
The Bulldogs are expected to return a strong nucleus from their 2019 national semifinal squad for the 2021 campaign and likely to be a consensus top 10 team in the NCAA Division II preseason polls, which will be announced later this summer.
Below is the 2021 Bulldog Football Schedule:
Sept. 2 - Findlay
Sept. 11 - at Ashland
Sept. 18 - Saginaw Valley State* (Football Alumni Day)
Sept. 25 - Davenport (Homecoming)
Oct. 2 - at Northwood*
Oct. 9 - Open
Oct. 16 - at Grand Valley State* (Anchor-Bone Classic)
Oct. 23 - at Michigan Tech*
Oct. 30 - Northern Michigan*
Nov. 6 - at Davenport*
Nov. 13 - Wayne State*
Nov. 20 - NCAA Division II Playoffs (First Round)
Nov. 27 - NCAA Division II Playoffs (Second Round)
Dec. 4 - NCAA Division II Playoffs (Quarterfinals)
Dec. 11 - NCAA Division II Playoffs (Semifinals)
Dec. 18 - NCAA Division II Playoffs (Championship)
Home games in Bold
* Denotes conference game
Schedule is subject to change & kickoff times will be announced