Ferris State Football Picked To Defend Crown As Nation's Top Team In Lindy's Sports Preseason Poll

Big Rapids, Mich. - The first preseason national poll of the year has been announced and defending national champion Ferris State University has been picked as the nation's #1 team, according to Lindy's Sports.

Lindy's Sports unveiled its preseason Division II top 10 rankings in its annual college football yearbook that hit newsstands this month and the Bulldogs were tabbed at the top of the list.

Ferris State enters the 2025 season having won three of the past four NCAA Division II National Championships, including this past fall.

The Bulldogs were picked first with Harding (Ark.) second followed by Slippery Rock (Pa.), West Florida and Colorado-State Pueblo in the top five. FSU beat both Harding and Slippery Rock a year ago during a memorable playoff run to the national title.

The second five consisted of Grand Valley State in sixth followed by Western Colorado, Kutztown, Bemidji State and Minnesota State.

The Bulldogs will begin their 116th season of varsity competition this coming fall with their sights set on making a nation-leading 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, highlighted by back-to-back national titles in 2021 and 2022 along with this past year in 2024 during the stretch.

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 and 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 (.867) overall since the arrival of Tony Annese as head coach in 2012.

The Bulldogs will open the 2025 season at home, hosting Pittsburg State (Kan.) in a D2 National Showdown on Thursday, Aug. 28, at Top Taggart Field. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. (ET).

Season tickets for the 2025 season are on sale now and can be purchased online at FerrisStateBulldogs.com/Tickets.

Lindy's Sports D2 Preseason Top 10
1. Ferris State
2. Harding
3. Slippery Rock
4. West Florida
5. Colorado State Pueblo
6. Grand Valley State
7. Western Colorado
8. Kutztown
9. Bemidji State
10. Minnesota State