2021 Ferris State Bulldogs football team

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2021 Ferris State Bulldogs football
NCAA Division II champion
GLIAC champion
ConferenceGreat Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Ranking
AFCANo. 1
Record14–0 (7–0 GLIAC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorSteve Annese (10th season)
Defensive coordinatorRyan Hodges (7th season)
Home stadiumTop Taggart Field
Seasons
← 2019
2022 →
2021 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings
Conf Overall
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  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AFCA Poll

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.

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[edit]

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 27:30 p.m.Findlay*No. 3
W 54–146,625
September 117:00 p.m.at Ashland*No. 2
W 45–193,975
September 187:00 p.m.Saginaw Valley StateNo. 2
  • Top Taggart Field
  • Big Rapids, MI
W 47–45 OT6,012
September 253:00 p.m.Davenport*daggerNo. 3
  • Top Taggart Field
  • Big Rapids, MI
W 38–06,636
October 21:00 p.m.at NorthwoodNo. 3
W 67–251,982
October 167:00 p.m.at No. 7 Grand Valley StateNo. 3W 35–2817,007
October 231:00 p.m.at Michigan TechNo. 1
W 38–101,332
October 301:00 p.m.Northern MichiganNo. 1
  • Top Taggart Field
  • Big Rapids, MI
W 44–242,460
November 612:00 p.m.at DavenportNo. 1
W 50–141,266
November 131:00 p.m.Wayne StateNo. 1
  • Top Taggart Field
  • Big Rapids, MI
W 35–131,743
November 271:00 p.m.No. 4 Grand Valley State*No. 1
W 54–203,742
December 41:00 p.m.No. 3 Northwest Missouri State*No. 1
  • Top Taggart Field
  • Big Rapids, MI (NCAA Division II Quarterfinal)
W 41–204,127
December 113:30 p.m.No. 8 Shepherd*No. 1
  • Top Taggart Field
  • Big Rapids, MI (NCAA Division II Semifinal)
ESPN+W 55–72,473
December 189:00 p.m.vs. No. 5 Valdosta State*No. 1ESPNUW 58–173,933
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AFCA Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time

Rankings[edit]

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
( ) = First-place votes
Week
PollPre1234567891011Final
AFCA32 (1)2 (1)33331 (23)1 (26)1 (24)1 (25)1 (30)1 (30)

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Savage, Brendan (December 11, 2021). "Ferris State to Play for Division II National Football Championship". MLive. Booth Newspapers. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  2. ^ Hutton, Jason (December 19, 2021). "Ferris State Routs Valdosta State to Win First National Championship". Grand Rapids, Michigan: WXMI-TV. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  3. ^ 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.