Three-Time National Champion Ferris State Opens Spring Football Practice This Week!

Big Rapids, Mich. - Three-time NCAA Division II National Champion Ferris State University, which has reached the NCAA Division II Football Playoffs a nation-leading 10 consecutive years to date, will officially start preparations for its 2025 gridiron campaign as the Bulldogs open spring practice drills on Wednesday (March 19) evening in Big Rapids.

The Bulldogs will begin their 116th season of varsity competition this coming fall with their sights set on making a 11th consecutive trip to the NCAA Division II Playoffs. The Bulldogs have made six national semifinal appearances along with four trips to the national championship game in addition to back-to-back national titles in 2021 and 2022 along with this past fall in 2024 during the stretch.

Head coach Tony Annese and his Bulldog staff will have the NCAA-allotted total of 15 practices, which will include the annual Crimson and Gold Spring Game on Friday, April 25, at FSU's Top Taggart Field.

The Bulldogs' first practice of the spring will take place on Wednesday, March 19, at Top Taggart Field and FSU will generally work out three times per week throughout the spring session.

FSU will conduct a varied spring practice schedule that runs over the course of five weeks from March 19 leading up to the spring game. The spring schedule is subject to change depending on the weather with alternate dates available and some practices split into group activity. Most practices are slated to take place at Top Taggart Field.

Practices times will also vary with sessions both during the morning, afternoon and evening depending on the day of the week and various class schedules.

Over the past four seasons of action, the Bulldogs own a 50-5 overall record and FSU has reached the NCAA Division II 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. FSU is 77-7 over the last five seasons of on-field action, including back-to-back NCAA D2 National Championships in 2021 and 2022 along with this past fall.

Ferris State also holds the GLIAC's best mark and the best overall record of all collegiate programs in Michigan at 137-21 (.860) overall since the arrival of Annese as head coach in 2012.

2025 Spring Practice Schedule:

Practice #1 - Wednesday, March 19, 6:30 p.m.
Practice #2 - Friday, March 21, 2 p.m.
Practice #3 - Sunday, March 23, 11 a.m.
Practice #4 - Wednesday, March 26, 6:30 p.m.
Practice #5 - Friday, March 28, 3 p.m.
Practice #6 - Saturday, March 29, 10 a.m.
Practice #7 - Wednesday, April 2, 6:30 p.m.
Practice #8 - Friday, April 4, 2 p.m.
Practice #9 - Sunday, April 6, 11 a.m.
Practice #10 - Wednesday, April 9, 6:30 p.m.
Practice #11 - Friday, April 11, 2 p.m.
Practice #12 - Sunday, April 13, 11 a.m.
Practice #13 - Wednesday, April 16, 6:30 p.m.
Practice #14 - Monday, April 21, 6:30 p.m.
Practice #15 - Friday, April 25, TBA (Crimson & Gold Spring Game)

NOTE -- All Eastern (ET) start times and locations are subject to change.