Ferris State Football Opens Spring Practice This Friday Afternoon!

Big Rapids, Mich. - Ferris State University, which has reached the NCAA Division II Football Playoffs a nation-leading nine consecutive years to date, will officially start preparations for its 2024 gridiron campaign as the Bulldogs open spring practice drills on Friday (March 15) in Big Rapids.

The Bulldogs will begin their 115th season of varsity competition this coming fall with their sights set on making a 10th consecutive trip to the NCAA Division II Playoffs. The Bulldogs have made five national semifinal appearances along with three trips to the national championship game and back-to-back national titles in 2021 and 2022 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 19, at FSU's Top Taggart Field. Opening kickoff is slated for 5:30 p.m. (ET).

The Bulldogs' first practice of the spring will now take place on Friday, March 15, 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 15 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 three seasons of action, the Bulldogs own a 36-4 overall record and FSU has reached the NCAA Division II Playoffs nine consecutive years and counting. Ferris State has also reached the NCAA Division II National Semifinals five times in the past seven seasons of action and ranks as the country's winningest program over the past nine full seasons in D2 Football. FSU is 63-6 over the last four seasons of on-field action, including back-to-back NCAA D2 National Championships in 2021 and 2022.

Ferris State also holds the GLIAC's best mark and the best overall record of all collegiate programs in Michigan at 123-20 (.860) overall since the arrival of Annese as head coach in 2012.

The Bulldogs will kickoff the 2024 season on the road with a national showdown at Pittsburg State (Kan.) on Saturday, Aug. 31.

2024 Spring Practice Schedule:

Practice #1 - Friday, March 15, 1 p.m.
Practice #2 - Sunday, March 17, 11 a.m.
Practice #3 - Wednesday, March 20, 6 p.m.
Practice #4 - Friday, March 22, 3 p.m.
Practice #5 - Saturday, March 23, 10 a.m.
Practice #6 - Wednesday, March 27, 6 p.m.
Practice #7 - Monday, April 1, 6 p.m.
Practice #8 - Wednesday, April 3, 6 p.m.
Practice #9 - Friday, April 5, 1 p.m.
Practice #10 - Sunday, April 7, 11 a.m.
Practice #11 - Wednesday, April 10, 6 p.m.
Practice #12 - Friday, April 12, 1 p.m.
Practice #13 - Sunday, April 14, 11 a.m.
Practice #14 - Wednesday, April 17, 6 p.m.
Practice #15 - Friday, April 19, 5:30 p.m. (Crimson & Gold Spring Game)

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