The 2021 Ferris State Bulldogs football team represented Ferris State University as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 2021 NCAA Division II football season. They were led by tenth-year head coach Tony Annese. The Bulldogs played their home games at Top Taggart Field in Big Rapids, Michigan.
2021 Ferris State Bulldogs football | |
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NCAA Division II champion GLIAC champion | |
NCAA Division II Championship Game, W 58–17 vs. Valdosta State | |
Conference | Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference |
Ranking | |
AFCA | No. 1 |
Record | 14–0 (7–0 GLIAC) |
Head coach |
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Offensive coordinator | Steve Annese (10th season) |
Defensive coordinator | Ryan Hodges (7th season) |
Home stadium | Top Taggart Field |
Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 1 Ferris State $^ | 7 | – | 0 | 14 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 7 Grand Valley State ^ | 6 | – | 1 | 10 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Michigan Tech | 5 | – | 2 | 6 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Saginaw Valley State | 4 | – | 3 | 7 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Northern Michigan | 2 | – | 5 | 4 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Davenport | 2 | – | 5 | 3 | – | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wayne State (MI) | 2 | – | 5 | 2 | – | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Northwood | 0 | – | 7 | 1 | – | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Bulldogs competed for the 2021 NCAA Division II Football Championship Game against Valdosta State.[1] This was their first appearance in the championship game since the 2018 game.[1] Ferris State defeated Valdosta State, 58–17. The win gave Ferris State their football program's first national championship.[2][3]
Schedule
editDate | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
September 2 | 7:30 p.m. | Findlay* | No. 3 |
| W 54–14 | 6,625 | |
September 11 | 7:00 p.m. | at Ashland* | No. 2 |
| W 45–19 | 3,975 | |
September 18 | 7:00 p.m. | Saginaw Valley State | No. 2 |
| W 47–45 OT | 6,012 | |
September 25 | 3:00 p.m. | Davenport* | No. 3 |
| W 38–0 | 6,636 | |
October 2 | 1:00 p.m. | at Northwood | No. 3 |
| W 67–25 | 1,982 | |
October 16 | 7:00 p.m. | at No. 7 Grand Valley State | No. 3 | W 35–28 | 17,007 | ||
October 23 | 1:00 p.m. | at Michigan Tech | No. 1 |
| W 38–10 | 1,332 | |
October 30 | 1:00 p.m. | Northern Michigan | No. 1 |
| W 44–24 | 2,460 | |
November 6 | 12:00 p.m. | at Davenport | No. 1 |
| W 50–14 | 1,266 | |
November 13 | 1:00 p.m. | Wayne State | No. 1 |
| W 35–13 | 1,743 | |
November 27 | 1:00 p.m. | No. 4 Grand Valley State* | No. 1 |
| W 54–20 | 3,742 | |
December 4 | 1:00 p.m. | No. 3 Northwest Missouri State* | No. 1 |
| W 41–20 | 4,127 | |
December 11 | 3:30 p.m. | No. 8 Shepherd* | No. 1 |
| ESPN+ | W 55–7 | 2,473 |
December 18 | 9:00 p.m. | vs. No. 5 Valdosta State* | No. 1 | ESPNU | W 58–17 | 3,933 | |
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Rankings
editWeek | |||||||||||||
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Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | Final |
AFCA | 3 | 2 (1) | 2 (1) | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 (23) | 1 (26) | 1 (24) | 1 (25) | 1 (30) | 1 (30) |
References
edit- ^ a b Savage, Brendan (December 11, 2021). "Ferris State to Play for Division II National Football Championship". MLive. Booth Newspapers. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
- ^ Hutton, Jason (December 19, 2021). "Ferris State Routs Valdosta State to Win First National Championship". Grand Rapids, Michigan: WXMI-TV. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
- ^ Kirkland, Crawford (December 19, 2021). "Ferris State Football Wins Division II National Title by Trampling Valdosta State, 58–17". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved December 20, 2021.