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Ferris State Bulldogs football, 2020–present
American college football season From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Ferris State Bulldogs football program, 2020–present represented Ferris State University during the 2020s in NCAA Division II college football as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC). The team has been led by head coach Tony Annese since 2012. Highlights of the decade included:
- The 2021 Ferris State Bulldogs football team compiled a perfect 14–0 record, including a victory over Valdosta State in the Division II national championship game. It was the school's first national championship in football. Quarterback Jared Bernhardt led the team in passing, rushing, and scoring, and was named GLIAC Player of the Year.
- The 2022 team won the school's second consecutive Division II national championship, defeating Colorado Mines in the national championship game. Caleb Murphy tallied 25.5 sacks and 39 tackles for loss, was selected as the GLIAC Player of the Year and won the Ted Hendricks Award as the best defensive end in college football, regardless of division.
- The 2023 team was ranked No. 3 at the end of the regular season and lost on the road to No. 2 Grand Valley State in the first round of the NCAA Division II playoffs.
- The 2024 team compiled a 14–1 record and won the school's third national championship in four years. Dual-threat quarterback Tristan Chambliss was a finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy after tallying 26 passing touchdowns and 25 rushing touchdowns.
The team played its home games at Top Taggart Field in Big Rapids, Michigan.
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Decade overview
| NCAA Division II national champion |
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2020
The 2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2021
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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. In their tenth year under head coach Tony Annese, the Bulldogs compiled a perfect 14–0 record (7–0 in conference games), won the GLIAC and NCAA Division II national championships, and outscored opponents by a total of 661 to 256.[2] They advanced to the NCAA Division II playoff where they defeated Valdosta State in the national championship game.[3] This was their first appearance in the championship game since the 2018 game.[3] Ferris State defeated Valdosta State, 58–17. The win gave Ferris State its first national championship in football.[4][5]
Senior quarterback Jared Bernhardt, who previously won the Tewaaraton Award as the nation's best collegiate lacrosse player while attending the University of Maryland, led the team in passing, rushing, and scoring. He completed 87 of 123 passes (70.7%) for 1,321 yards, 11 touchdowns, five interceptions, and a 182.4 efficiency rating. Bernhardt also led the team with 1,421 rushing yards on 159 carries for an average of 8.9 yards per carry. He scored 156 points on 26 rushing touchdowns.[2]
Other key players included:
- Sophomore quarterback Mylik Mitchell also contributed to the offense, completing 84 of 130 passes (64.6%) for 1,321 yards, 12 touchdowns, two intercpetions, and a 177.4 efficiency rating.[2]
- Junior wide receiver Marcus Taylor led the team with 64 receptions for 863 yards.[2]
- Senior linebacker Liam Daly led the team 92 total tackles.[2]
- Sophomore defensive end Caleb Murphy led the team with 21.5 tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks.[2]
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2022
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The 2022 Ferris State Bulldogs football team represented Ferris State University as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 2022 NCAA Division II football season. In their 11th year under head coach Tony Annese, the Bulldogs compiled a 14–1 record (5–1 in conference games), finished second in the GLIAC, and outscored opponents by a total of 537 to 219.[9] They advanced to the NCAA Division II playoffs where they defeated Davenport in the first round, Pittsburg State in the second round, Grand Valley State in the quarterfinals, West Florida in the semifinals, and Colorado Mines in the Division II national championship game to repeat as NCAA Division II champions.
Defensive end Caleb Murphy tallied 25.5 sacks and 39 tackles for loss.[10] He was the first Division II player to receive the Ted Hendricks Award as the best defensive end in college football, regardless of division. He was also named the GLIAC Player of the Year and won the Cliff Harris Award (top defensive lineman, lower divisions) and the Gene Upshaw Award (best Division II lineman). The team's other key players included:
- Quarterback Carson Gulker led the team in rushing with 882 yards on 187 carries for an average of 4.7 yards per carry. He also led the team in scoring with 186 points on 31 rushing touchcowns. Gulker also had 701 passing yards and a team-high 145.6 passer efficiency rating.[10]
- Quarterback Mylik Mitchell completed 114 of 183 passes (62.3%) for 1,512 yards, six touchdowns, three interceptions, and a 139.2 efficiency rating.[10]
- The team's leading receivers were Tyrese Hunt-Thompson (39 receptions, 714 yards, 18.3 yards per reception) and CJ Jefferson (58 receptions, 710 yards, 12.2 yards per carry).[10]
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2023
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The 2023 Ferris State Bulldogs football team represented Ferris State University as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 2024 NCAA Division II football season. In their 12th season under head coach Tony Annese, the Bulldogs compiled an 8–3 record (5–1 in conference games), finished second in the GLIAC, and outscored opponents by a total of 442 to 197. The Bulldogs, ranked No. 3 at the end of the regular season, advanced to the NCAA Division II playoffs where they lost to No. 2 Grand Valley State in the first round.
Prior to the season opener, Ferris State was ranked No. 1 nationally by Lindy's Sports and was ranked first in the GLIAC coaches poll.[28]
The Bulldogs' 17–10 loss on September 16 to Division I FCS Montana snapped a six-year, 28-game road winning streak dating to September 2017.[29]
In their homecoming match against Northern Michigan on September 30, the Bulldogs set new school records for points scored (78, of which 55 were scored in the first half) and for largest margin of victory (75 points). They tallied 705 yards of total offense, including 497 rushing yards in the game.[30]
The team's statistical leaders included:
- Senior quarterback Mylik Mitchell completed 102 of 167 passes (61.1%) for 1,524 yards, 11 touchdowns, four interceptions, and a 154.7 passer efficiency rating.[31]
- Sophomore quarterback Carson Gulker led the team in rushing with 707 rushing yards. He also led the team in scoring with 84 points on 14 rushing touchdowns. In the air, he tallied 722 passing yards (second on the team) and a team-high 179.6 passer efficiency rating.[31]
- The team's leading receivers were Xavier Wade (42 receptions, 866 yards, 20.4-yard average) and Tyrese Hunt-Thompson (40 receptions, 759 yards, 19.0-yard average).[31]
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2024
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The 2024 Ferris State Bulldogs football team represented Ferris State University as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 2024 NCAA Division II football season. In their 13th season under head coach Tony Annese, the Bulldogs compiled a 14–1 record (7–0 in conference games) and outscored opponents by a total of 675 to 197, a delta of 478 points. After losing the season opener on the road against Pittsburg State, the Bulldogs finished the season with 14 consecutive victories and won the GLIAC championship and the NCAA Division II national championship. Ferris State participated in the Division II playoffs, defeating Central Oklahoma in the second round, defending national champion Harding in the quarterfinals, Slippery Rock in the semifinals, and Valdosta State in the Division II national championship game.
Junior quarterback Tristan Chambliss completed 226 of 367 passes (61.6%) for 2,925 yards, 26 touchdowns, six interceptions, and a 148.6 passer efficiency rating. Chambliss also tallied 1,019 rushing yards and led the team in scoring with 150 points on 25 rushing touchdowns.[45] In April 2025, Chambliss announced that, rather than return to Ferris State for his senior year, he was transferring to Ole Miss.[46]
Kannon Katzer was the team's leading ground-gainer with 1,128 rushing yards on 128 carries, an average of 8.8 yards per carry.[45]
Senior Emari O'Brien was the leading receiver with 48 catches for 657 yards.[45]
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2025
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The 2025 Ferris State Bulldogs football team will represent Ferris State University as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 2025 NCAA Division II football season. Tony Annese is expected to lead the team in his 14th season as the Bulldogs' head coach.
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References
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