PREVIEW: Ferris State Hosts Ashland On Saturday In Round Two Of D2 Playoffs
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This Week's Action
The defending NCAA D2 National Champion Ferris State University Bulldogs face Ashland on Saturday in the second round of the NCAA D2 Playoffs at Top Taggart Field. The Bulldogs won their third NCAA D2 Championship in the last four years a season ago and have made four national championship game appearances in the last six seasons. This year marks FSU's nation-leading 11th consecutive trip to the NCAA Division II Playoffs. FSU won back-to-back national championships in 2021 and 2022 prior to the 2024 crown.
The Matchup
Ferris State captured the outright GLIAC Championship this year and went unbeaten at 11-0 in conference play. FSU topped Northwood 65-14 in round one of the playoffs last week. This year's league title was Ferris State's fifth in the last seven seasons and the Bulldogs have won their last 26 games in a row. Meanwhile, Ashland is currently 10-2 overall this year and coming off a 32-7 first-round playoff home win over Minnesota-Duluth a week ago.
Defending National Champion
Ferris State won its third national title this decade a season ago with a memorable 49-14 win over Valdosta State (Ga.) in the title game in McKinney, Texas. FSU's playoff run included dominating wins over Central Oklahoma and Harding along with a 48-38 comeback win over Slippery Rock (Pa.) in the national semifinals prior to the title contest. FSU has won the Super Region Three Championship six times in the last eight years.
Media Coverage
Saturday's game will be televised by ESPN+ and will also be aired locally by the Bulldog Sports Network and Sunny 97.3 FM with the veteran broadcast team of Rob Bentley (play-by-play) and Sandy Gholston (color) calling the action. Radio pregame coverage gets underway at 12 p.m. (ET). The contest will also be streamed with FREE live audio online at FerrisStateBulldogs.com. Visit FerrisStateBulldogs.com for all links.
Eleven Straight Playoff Berths
The Bulldogs, who are midst their 116th season of varsity competition this fall, are making their nation-leading 11th consecutive trip to the NCAA Division II Playoffs. FSU made six-straight NCAA Division II National Quarterfinal appearances from 2016-22 and was one of only four teams in all of college football to win at least 11 games for eight-straight years prior to the 2023 campaign.
Great Bulldog Stretch
The Bulldogs reached the NCAA DII National Championship game for the first time in school history in 2018, matching an all-time NCAA record with 15 victories (15-1). Over the two seasons of action in 2018 and 2019, not counting 2020 in which FSU did not play due to COVID-19, the Bulldogs were a combined 27-2 overall. FSU is now 89-7 in the last seven seasons on the field.
Memorable Bulldog Run
Over the last decade, the Bulldogs have compiled a 134-14 overall record and claimed three national titles, seven conference championships, posted six unbeaten regular-seasons, captured six regional titles and reached the national quarterfinals six times. 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 26 postseason games in addition to an appearance in the 2018, 2021, 2022 and 2024 NCAA D2 National Championship Games.
National Power & State's Best
Now in the 13th season under head coach Tony Annese, the Bulldogs have become a national power on the Division II level. FSU has posted a 149-21 overall mark in his tenure and the Bulldogs have also posted the best winning percentage of all 21 collegiate programs in the state of Michigan along with the GLIAC since his arrival. Overall, Annese has won 86% of his games as a head coach on the collegiate and prep levels and owns 374 wins to date, which is the most of any current GLIAC member head coach at all levels. Team #116 For FSU
This year represents the Bulldogs' 116th season of varsity football on the Ferris State campus. FSU owns a 527-450-40 all-time mark and notched the program's 500th victory in 2023.
Bringing Back The Band
This fall marked the return of the Ferris State Marching Band for the first time since the mid-1990's. The 77-member band took the field and performed during pregame activities along with being featured during the Hungry Howie's Halftime Show. In addition, the Bulldogs also have an expanded cheer squad thanks to the official addition of a varsity cheer and STUNT program beginning this fall.
Ticket & Game Information
For complete game and ticket information, along with more details on the fan experience all season long, please visit FerrisStateBulldogs.com.
The Head Coaches
Ferris State – Tony Annese (Alma, 1983), 13th season, 149-21-0 (.876) – 6-3 vs Ashland). Annese recorded a 195-41 (.826) mark as a head coach in four stops at the high school level before totaling a 30-4 (.882) record in three years as the head coach at Grand Rapids Community College. His overall career mark at all levels is 374-66 (.850) to date and includes three prep state championships and two national JUCO crowns along with three D2 National Championships. He claimed his 300th win in 2018 with a national semifinal win at Minnesota State. The Bulldogs are 77-10 at home and 67-10 on the road under Annese in his FSU tenure.
Ashland - Doug Geiser (Cornell, 1992), 3rd season, 28-9 (.757), 3rd overall (Career: 28-9)- (0-2-0 vs. FSU). A longtime Ashland University assistant, Geiser was elevated to head coach prior to 2023 following the retirment of former head coach Lee Owens. He previously spent 19 seasons on the staff as an assistant coach, including 16 as the program's associate head coach. Geiser also spent nine seasons at Akron following a tenure on the prep level.
Series History
Ashland holds a 16-15 lead in the all-time series between the two schools, but the Bulldogs have won 15 of the last 24 contests, including 11 of the last 17 to date. Last season, the Bulldogs beat AU 43-3 in regular-season play at Top Taggart Field. FSU rallied for a 38-28 win in Ohio in 2023 after trailing 21-10 at halftime. In 2019, FSU pulled out a 28-13 road win over the Eagles in Ohio. The Bulldogs recorded a 28-21 home win over the Eagles in the 2018 D2 National Game of the Week in Big Rapids. However, in 2017, the Eagles beat FSU 20-3 in the D2 National Showcase in Ohio. Ashland also rallied for a 39-31 win over FSU in a battle of top 10 ranked teams in 2016 at FSU's Top Taggart Field. Ferris State has won eight of the last nine matchups in Ashland, but the Eagles have emerged victorious in five of their last seven visits to Top Taggart Field. The Eagles scored a 47-32 win over Ferris State in their trip to Big Rapids in 2012 (9/15), which came in the debut home game for Bulldog head coach Tony Annese. This will be the first-ever playoff matchup between the two teams.
School-Record Streak
Ferris State is currently riding a school-record win streak of 26 consecutive games dating back to a season-opening loss at Pittsburg State (Kan.) a year ago. The Bulldogs have also currently won their last 26 home games in a row at Top Taggart Field dating back to a loss to Grand Valley State during the 2022 regular season and have won 14 of their last 15 NCAA D2 Playoff games.
Awesome Stretch
Under head coach Tony Annese, the Bulldogs have lost only seven regular-season games over the past 10 years on the field dating back to mid-October of 2013. Two of the setbacks came in 2016 when the Bulldogs eventually made their deepest postseason run at the time with a trip to the NCAA-II National Semifinals. Since the middle part of the 2013 season, FSU has only lost three times to Grand Valley State and twice to Ashland in regular-season action along with a close setback last season at FCS member Montana and last year's game at Pitt State. The Bulldogs own a 114-7 (.942) regular-season mark since closing the 2013 season by winning their final four games.
Top Seed In Super Region Three
Ferris State is the top seed in Super Region Three and would host the Super Region Three Championship Game in the national quarterfinal round on Dec. 6 against either third-seeded Indianapolis or Minnesota State with a win over Ashland. The national semifinals are set for Dec. 13 at campus sites. The national title game is on Dec. 20 in McKinney, Texas. The D2 Playoff field was expanded this year to 32 teams and there were no longer any first-round byes. In additon, the regions were realigned this fall with the GLIAC now joined by the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC), Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) and the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) in Super Region Three.
Four-Straight Final Four's
Prior to 2023, the Bulldogs made four consecutive trips to the NCAA Division II National Semifinals and advanced to the final four five times in six seasons overall. FSU became the first program in GLIAC history to advance to four-straight semifinals, the fourth program ever and the first since Northwest Missouri State (2005-10) to accomplish the feat. The Bulldogs also advanced to three national championship games in four seasons of action on the field from 2018-22. The 2024 season marked FSU's sixth national semifinal berth in the last eight years.
School Record Effort
The Bulldogs' 788 yards of total offense versus Roosevelt this year marked the highest figure in school history, topping the previous mark of 767 yards set in a home win over Tiffin in 2014. Additionally, it marked the sixth time in program history in which FSU totaled 700 plus yards in a game and all six efforts have come under current Bulldog head coach Tony Annese. Along with the previous mark, FSU also totaled 761 yards at McKendree (2014), 744 yards at American International (2024) along with 706 yards against Lake Erie (2014) and 705 yards versus Northern Michigan (2023). The 788 yards versus Roosevelt also represents the highest figure for any D2 school to date this year in a single contest.
All-Time Winningest Coach
Ferris State head coach Tony Annese became the Bulldogs' all-time winningest coach in 2022, surpassing former FSU head coaches such as Jeff Pierce and Keith Otterbein. Annese has posted a 149-21 (.876) mark in his Bulldog tenure to date, moving past Pierce (102-85) atop the all-time chart. Otterbein, who retired as the head coach at Hillsdale pror to last year, is third on the list with a 60-39 record during his Ferris State coaching career.
D2 Elite 100 Preseason All-Americans
Two Ferris State University football standouts garnered preseason All-America mention as D2Football.com unveiled its 2025 Elite 100 Watch List. The D2Football.com Elite 100 Watch List was selected by the staff of D2Football.com with the input of small college draft expert Josh Buchanan. The Bulldogs had a second-team honoree in senior center Jarvis Windom along with a honorable mention choice in senior defensive back Justin Payoute.
Best In The Country
Since the start of the 2014 season, the Bulldogs have the most wins of any NCAA Division II team in the country. The Bulldogs recorded back-to-back 11-1 seasons in 2014 and 2015 before a 12-3 mark in 2016 followed by an 11-2 showing in 2017 and a 15-1 mark in 2018 along with a 12-1 record in 2019. FSU then went 14-0 in 2021, 14-1 in 2022, 8-3 in 2023 and 14-1 in 2024 for a cumulative 134-14 record in the span.
Only Team In The Nation
The Bulldogs were the nation's only team to reach the NCAA Division II National Quarterfinals six-straight seasons from 2016-22. Ferris State claimed the Super Region Championship in 2016 with a decisive road win at rival Grand Valley State in the quarterfinals to reach the national semifinals for the second time in school history. In 2017, the Bulldogs also made it back to the national quarterfinals, but fell to Harding on a game-ending field goal at home in Big Rapids. FSU reached the national title game in 2018 and the national semifinals in 2019 before falling at home to eventual national champion West Florida prior to back-to-back national title campaigns in 2021 and 2022.
Last GLIAC Team Standing
Ferris State finished as the last GLIAC school standing in the NCAA Division II Playoffs six consecutive years prior to 2023 and has now accomplished the feat eight times in the last nine seasons overall as the league's lone playoff qualifier this year. The Bulldogs reached the national semifinals in 2016 and the quarterfinals in 2017. In 2018, FSU avenged a setback to Harding in the 2017 Super Region Three Championship Game by beating the Bisons 21-19 at home in round one of the postseason on Nov. 17. FSU eventually went on to reach the national championship game for the first time in school history. The Bulldogs were the lone GLIAC school to make the field in 2019 and beat rival GVSU in the 2021 playoffs in the second round followed by a quarterfinal win over the Lakers in 2022.
GLIAC Player Of The Week
Junior slot reciever Taariik Brett had four TD's against GVSU this fall and was the GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week while senior safety Justin Payoute earned GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week honors for the second time this year the same week. Overall, FSU has had a total of 11 honorees this year, including kickers Mitch Middleton and Eddie Jewett (Special Teams), quarterbacks Wyatt Bower (twice) and Chase Carter (Offensive) along with defensive tackle Kailib Davis, defensive end Tyrone Fowler and safety Gyasi Mattison (Defensive) in addition to Payoute twice and Brett once.
Playoff Record Under Annese
The Bulldogs have posted a record of 26-7 in the NCAA Division II Playoffs under head coach Tony Annese, which includes a 4-0 mark in 2024 en route to the school's third NCAA Division II National Championship. The Bulldogs had not had a season end prior to the national quarterfinals since 2015 before the 2023 season. FSU advanced to at least the D2 National Semifinals five times in a six-year period from 2016 to 2022 under Annese.
A Look At The Dawgs
A strong nucleus returns from last year's national championship team, including nearly 12 starters and more than 50 letterwinners. Over the past four seasons of action, the Bulldogs now own a 61-5 overall record, including last week's win. FSU is 89-7 over the last six seasons of on-field action, including back-to-back NCAA D2 National Championships in 2021 and 2022 and last fall.
Another 11-Win Season
This year marks the 12th time in school history in which the Bulldogs have won at least 11 games in a campaign, but also the 10th time in the last 11 seasons. FSU's 14 wins last year tied for second in program history, trailing only 2018 (15-1). FSU also won 14 games in back-to-back title campaigns in 2021 (14-0) and 2022 (14-1).
D2 Playoff History
Ferris State's berth in the NCAA Division II Playoffs this year represents the 16th appearance in school history with the other five berths prior to the last 11 years all coming during a memorable five-year stretch from 1992-96. Overall, the Bulldogs hold an all-time NCAA Playoff mark of 31-12 to date and made their deepest runs in 2021, 2022 and 2024 with NCAA Division II National Championships. In 2018, FSU also reached the NCAA Division II National Championship Game. Ferris State has reached the national quarterfinals or beyond seven times since 2016 with six national semifinal berths and four title game appearances in the stretch. The Bulldogs had won nine-straight NCAA D2 Playoff games prior to a 2023 opening-round setback at Grand Valley State. Last year marked FSU's seventh national semifinal game with the first coming back in 1995.
Leading The GLIAC
The Bulldogs were picked again in the preseason to finish at the top of the league in the 2025 GLIAC Football Preseason Poll and ultimately won the league title this fall with a 7-0 conference slate.
Extended Pregame Coverage
The Bulldog Sports Network and local flagship station Sunny 97.3 FM will once again have extended Bulldog Football pregame coverage this fall. This season, the network will offer two hours of pregame coverage for all regular-season home matchups along with an hour pregame show for all road games. The "Bulldog Tailgate Show" airs from the Top Taggart Field parking lots two hours prior to each home game with the "Johnson Auto Pregame Show" an hour from kickoff inside the broadcast booth for both home and away games. All are carried live both on Sunny 97.3 FM and online across the Bulldog Sports Network at FerrisStateBulldogs.com. All home games this fall along with conference matchups will also be televised on a pay-per-view basis on FloSports.
Bulldog Blitz Football Radio Show
This season, the Bulldog Sports Network will continue the "Bulldog Blitz" Football Radio Show on Sunny 97.3 FM and FerrisStateBulldogs.com. The show airs each Wednesday during the fall from 6-7 p.m. (ET) and also be available in podcast format via Spotify, YouTube and other social media platforms.
Leading The Nation
Presently, the Bulldogs lead the nation in Division II football in total offense at 521.4 yards per game and FSU is also first nationally in scoring offense, averaging 53.8 points per game. Along with the offensive success, the Bulldog defense ranks 11th nationally in total defense (281.5 ypg.) and is 10th in scoring defense (17.4 ppg.) in addition to eighth in red zone defense (.655). FSU is also first in the country with 21 interceptions to date this year.
Overtime Affair
The Bulldogs improved to 2-1 under Tony Annese in overtime games with this year's road win at Saginaw Valley State and all three OT games in his FSU tenure have come against SVSU (2012, 2021, 2025). It marked only the second double-overtime game in school history and first since 2001. FSU is now 8-2 all-time in overtime contests.
Rushing Success
The last 94 times the Bulldogs have rushed for more than 130 yards in a contest as a team, FSU has compiled a 92-2 overall record. The lone setbacks in that mark were in the 2019 national semifinals versus West Florida along with the 2018 national championship game against Valdosta State.
Alumni In The NFL
Ferris State has had a total of 13 different players in a NFL Preseason Camp over the past four summers, which is the most of any D2 school in the country. A total of 10 of the alums have played in at least one NFL regular-season game since 2016, including current NFL players Zach Sieler (Miami), Caleb Murphy (New England) and Tavierre Thomas (Tampa Bay), who all remain with pro organizations. Former tight end Mason Pline, who was a two-time national champion for the Bulldogs before playing his final season as a graduate transfer on the FCS level at Furman University last season, is on injured reserve with the New Orleans Saints. Sieler was chosen last year as the AFC National Defensive Player of the Week and is a Pro Bowl candidate.
Playoff Stretch Under Annese
Ferris State has currently won its last 14 NCAA Division II Playoff games in a row with head coach Tony Annese on the sideline and has not dropped a postseason contest with him at the helm on gameday since 2019. A five-time GLIAC Coach of the Year, Annese was not present for the 2023 playoff road loss at Grand Valley State.
National Title Game Appearances
Last year marked the Bulldogs' fourth title game appearance in the past six seasons of on the field action. FSU fell to Valdosta State (Ga.) 47-45 in 2018, but came back to beat the Blazers in the title game 58-17 in 2021 before topping the Colorado School of Mines 41-14 in the title game in 2022. All four previous national championship game appearances have been at the McKinney ISD Stadium.
Among The Nation's Best
Ferris State head coach Tony Annese currently ranks as the nation's winningest active D2 head coach, based on a minimum of six seasons, with a 149-21 (.876) overall record in his 13 seasons. He's also presently second in all of NCAA D1 and D2 football regardless of level, trailing only Ryan Day (Ohio State, .890).
National Rankings Info
The Bulldogs were a consensus preseason #1 team in the nation heading into the 2025 season by D2Football.com along with the AFCA, Lindy's Sports and the NCAA Power Rankings. FSU topped every major poll at the end of last season and held onto the top spot in each poll this week.
Top Taggart Field Success
The Bulldogs have won 78 of their last 85 home games overall at Top Taggart Field dating back to the 2013 season. FSU has been unbeaten at home each of the past two seasons with a 5-0 mark in 2023 and a 9-0 home record in 2024. Currently, Ferris State is 7-0 at home this fall. FSU has won its last 26 home games in a row since a 2022 setback to GVSU.
Great Road Record
The Bulldogs have also been highly-successful on the road under head coach Tony Annese with a 67-10 road mark since 2012. FSU is also 5-1 in neutral site games for a combined 72-11 mark away from home in the span.