The 2025 Ferris State Bulldogs football team was an American football team that represented Ferris State University as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 2025 NCAA Division II football season. They were led by 14th-year head coach Tony Annese and played home games at Top Taggart Field in Big Rapids, Michigan.
The Bulldogs went undefeated with a 16–0 record, winning their second straight and fourth overall championship by defeating Harding 42–21 in the NCAA Division II national championship game. The Bulldogs were ranked no. 1 each week in both the AFCA Poll and the D2Football.com Poll throughout the season and became the first NCAA Division II team to finish 16–0 in modern college football.
The team set an NCAA and program record by scoring 844 points in a single season (an average of 52.75 points per game), besting the previous mark by Pittsburg State in 2004. With the championship, Ferris State becomes just the second Division II school to win four titles in five years, equaling rival Grand Valley State. The championship also places the Bulldogs in a tie for second place for most Division II titles (with Grand Valley State and Valdosta State). The national championship game marked the team's 30th consecutive win and the most wins in a season in school history.
Schedule
Rankings
GLIAC preseason poll In the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference preseason media poll released on August 13, 2025, Ferris State was projected to finish first in the conference.
Game summaries No. 9 Pittsburg State
Statistics PSUFSU First downs 18 22 Total yards 361 331 Rushing yards 67 200 Passing yards 294 131 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 23:30 36:30 Team Category Player StatisticsPittsburg State Passing Jackson Berry 18/41, 294 yards, TD, INT Rushing Cleo Chandler Jr. 16 rushes, 49 yards, TD Receiving Greyson Holbert 4 receptions, 81 yardsFerris State Passing Wyatt Bower 11/18, 112 yards, TD Rushing Wyatt Bower 25 rushes, 99 yards, 2 TD Receiving Brady Rose 4 receptions, 53 yards
At Lake Erie
Statistics FSULEC First downs 28 11 Total yards 625 124 Rushing yards 327 58 Passing yards 298 66 Turnovers 2 3 Time of possession 29:22 30:38 Team Category Player StatisticsFerris State Passing Wyatt Bower 11/20, 220 yards, 3 TD Rushing Wyatt Bower 12 rushes, 107 yards Receiving Tae Boyd 2 receptions, 65 yards, 2 TDLake Erie Passing Brady Clark 10/27, 53 yards, 2 INT Rushing Julian Means-Flewellen 14 rushes, 46 yards Receiving Keshawn Johnson 5 receptions, 32 yards
Tiffin
Statistics TIFFSU First downs 23 21 Total yards 405 534 Rushing yards 65 273 Passing yards 340 261 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 29:46 30:14 Team Category Player StatisticsTiffin Passing Alex Johnson 24/37, 340 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Ronald Blackman 18 rushes, 60 yards, TD Receiving Jaedyn McKinstry 3 receptions, 85 yards, TDFerris State Passing Wyatt Bower 15/23, 232 yards, 2 TD Rushing Wyatt Bower 20 rushes, 146 yards, 3 TD Receiving Taariik Brett 5 receptions, 76 yards, TD
Rio Grande
Statistics RGFSU First downs 9 23 Total yards 106 404 Rushing yards 8 239 Passing yards 98 165 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 37:35 22:25 Team Category Player StatisticsRio Grande Passing Keatin Emener 3/6, 18 yards, INT Rushing Similoluwa Jaf-Ogunlayi 6 rushes, 37 yards Receiving Mikelle Moore 5 receptions, 54 yardsFerris State Passing Wyatt Bower 7/11, 124 yards Rushing Key'Vell Cooper 6 receptions, 54 yards Receiving Brady Rose 2 receptions, 44 yards
At Roosevelt
Statistics FSURUL First downs 31 16 Total yards 788 273 Rushing yards 417 70 Passing yards 371 203 Turnovers 1 4 Time of possession 26:30 33:30 Team Category Player StatisticsFerris State Passing Wyatt Bower 20/28, 371 yards, 5 TD Rushing Jake Price 8 rushes, 85 yards, TD Receiving Cam Underwood 3 receptions, 141 yards, 3 TDRoosevelt Passing Zach Zella 19/35, 143 yards, 3 INT Rushing Cam Davis 14 rushes, 43 yards Receiving Norion Espadron 3 receptions, 55 yards
Wayne State (MI)
Statistics WSUFSU First downs 9 34 Total yards 110 639 Rushing yards 24 439 Passing yards 86 200 Turnovers 4 2 Time of possession 23:58 36:02 Team Category Player StatisticsWayne State Passing Champion Edwards 5/13, 52 yards, INT Rushing D'Vaun Bentley 4 rushes, 43 yards Receiving Justyz Tuggle 2 receptions, 30 yardsFerris State Passing Chase Carter 7/10, 112 yards, TD Rushing Chase Carter 11 rushes, 114 yards, 2 TD Receiving Tarick Bower 1 reception, 44 yards
At Michigan Tech
Statistics FSUMTU First downs 25 16 Total yards 428 219 Rushing yards 237 115 Passing yards 191 104 Turnovers 1 5 Time of possession 29:07 30:53 Team Category Player StatisticsFerris State Passing Wyatt Bower 15/26, 182 yards, 3 TD Rushing Wyatt Bower 14 rushes, 74 yards, TD Receiving Taariik Brett 5 receptions, 72 yards, TDMichigan Tech Passing Alex Bueno 7/17, 65 yards, 4 INT Rushing Jake Rueff 17 rushes, 63 yards Receiving Ethan Champney 3 receptions, 45 yards
No. 18 Grand Valley State
Statistics GVSUFSU First downs 26 22 Total yards 462 433 Rushing yards 104 243 Passing yards 358 190 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 33:49 26:11 Team Category Player StatisticsGrand Valley State Passing Andrew Schuster 23/39, 347 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Brady Drogosh 12 rushes, 62 yards Receiving Evan Furtney 4 receptions, 81 yards, TDFerris State Passing Wyatt Bower 10/20, 141 yards, 2 TD Rushing Taariik Brett 10 rushes, 89 yards, 2 TD Receiving Carson Gulker 6 receptions, 85 yards
Northern Michigan
Statistics NMUFSU First downs 21 30 Total yards 355 597 Rushing yards 224 265 Passing yards 131 332 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 36:03 23:57 Team Category Player StatisticsNorthern Michigan Passing Trevor Theuerkauf 8/16, 131 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Noah Dobert 29 rushes, 117 yards Receiving Sebastian Boyea 3 receptions, 56 yards, TDFerris State Passing Wyatt Bower 10/14, 177 yards, TD, INT Rushing Chase Carter 7 rushes, 62 yards, 3 TD Receiving Tae Boyd 3 receptions, 131 yards, TD
At Saginaw Valley State
Statistics FSUSVSU First downs 20 22 Total yards 431 389 Rushing yards 188 211 Passing yards 243 178 Turnovers 6 2 Time of possession 28:24 31:36 Team Category Player StatisticsFerris State Passing Chase Carter 9/12, 208 yards, 4 TD Rushing Chase Carter 19 rushes, 67 yards Receiving Carson Gulker 3 receptions, 83 yards, TDSaginaw Valley State Passing Mason McKenzie 17/30, 178 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Mason McKenzie 23 rushes, 85 yards, 3 TD Receiving Zarek Zelinski 4 receptions, 59 yards, TD
At Davenport
Statistics FSUDAV First downs 23 16 Total yards 458 313 Rushing yards 375 232 Passing yards 83 81 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 30:51 29:09 Team Category Player StatisticsFerris State Passing Wyatt Bower 6/10, 56 yards Rushing Chase Carter 20 rushes, 153 yards, 3 TD Receiving Taariik Brett 5 receptions, 33 yardsDavenport Passing Grant Thwaites 12/23, 81 yards Rushing Cephus Harris 24 rushes, 185 yards, TD Receiving George Sims 2 receptions, 33 yards
Northwood (NCAA Division II First Round)
Statistics NWFSU First downs 14 27 Total yards 261 588 Rushing yards 130 432 Passing yards 131 156 Turnovers 4 2 Time of possession 25:44 34:16 Team Category Player StatisticsNorthwood Passing Pauly Seely 5/13, 75 yards, TD Rushing Trent Hill 13 rushes, 56 yards Receiving Hudson Gerstacker 2 receptions, 48 yards, TDFerris State Passing Chase Carter 11/21, 133 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Chase Carter 15 rushes, 152 yards, 2 TD Receiving Taariik Brett 3 receptions, 40 yards, TD
No. 18 Ashland (NCAA Division II Second Round)
Statistics ASHFSU First downs 20 22 Total yards 422 483 Rushing yards 300 348 Passing yards 122 135 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 38:39 21:21 Team Category Player StatisticsAshland Passing Cameron Blair 8/19, 122 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Chris Maloney 25 rushes, 198 yards, TD Receiving Jamari Croom 3 receptions, 60 yards, TDFerris State Passing Chase Carter 9/17, 135 yards, 3 TD Rushing Chase Carter 10 rushes, 91 yards, TD Receiving Cam Underwood 4 receptions, 56 yards, TD
No. 21 Minnesota State (NCAA Division II Quarterfinal)
Statistics MNSTFSU First downs 16 28 Total yards 283 482 Rushing yards 118 307 Passing yards 165 175 Turnovers 3 2 Time of possession 25:03 34:57 Team Category Player StatisticsMinnesota State Passing Mitchell Thompson 12/23, 151 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Sam Backer 7 rushes, 47 yards Receiving Grant Guyett 4 receptions, 59 yards, TDFerris State Passing Chase Carter 15/24, 175 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Chase Carter 22 rushes, 149 yards, 2 TD Receiving Brady Rose 5 receptions, 85 yards, TD
No. 16 Newberry (NCAA Division II Semifinal)
Statistics NEWFSU First downs 21 26 Total yards 392 511 Rushing yards 8 368 Passing yards 384 143 Turnovers 5 2 Time of possession 30:34 29:22 Team Category Player StatisticsNewberry Passing Reed Charpia 30/48, 348 yards, TD, 5 INT Rushing Kenmane Brunson 5 rushes, 23 yards Receiving Will Young V 3 receptions, 96 yards, TDFerris State Passing Wyatt Bower 4/7, 94 yards, TD Rushing Carson Gulker 17 rushes, 115 yards Receiving Tarick Bower 2 receptions, 89 yards, TD
Vs. No. 2 Harding (NCAA Division II National Championship Game)
Statistics HARFSU First downs 18 26 Total yards 326 587 Rushing yards 246 363 Passing yards 80 224 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 27:01 28:28 Team Category Player StatisticsHarding Passing Cole Keylon 3/5, 80 yards, TD Rushing Christian Franklin 9 rushes, 76 yards Receiving Brady Barnett 1 reception, 42 yardsFerris State Passing Wyatt Bower 10/16, 177 yards, 2 TD Rushing Chase Carter 7 rushes, 111 yards, TD Receiving Carson Gulker 3 receptions, 52 yards, TD
References