Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC)-(NCAA Division II)
Overview: The Ferris State University Bulldogs made history again in 2022, as they crushed the Colorado School of Mines Orediggers to win their second straight NCAA Division II national championship.
Over the past two seasons, Ferris State has compiled a solid overall record of 28-1, with their lone loss during that span coming to Grand Valley State in a tough 22-21 setback on October 15. Still, the Bulldogs used that defeat as a spark for the rest of their season, as they won their final nine games to finish at 14-1 overall. That followed the undefeated 2021 season where Ferris State finished at 15-0 overall.
In fact, dating back to the start of the 2018 season, the Bulldogs have lost just three games in all, excluding the 2020 season that was canceled due to COVID-19. The last time Ferris State lost at least two games was in 2016, when the Bulldogs finished at 12-3 overall, losing to eventual national championship Northwest Missouri State in the national semifinals.
As for GVSU, the Lakers stunning comeback win over Ferris State in the annual Anchor-Bone Classic helped them not only win another Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) championship but also finished the regular season undefeated at 6-0 in GLIAC action, as well as 10-0 overall.
The NCAA Division II playoffs, however, were a different story for Grand Valley State, despite being seeded first out of Super Region 3. After outlasting Northwest Missouri State 13-8 in the second round on November 26, Ferris State avenged its' only defeat of the 2022 season in ousting the Lakers, 24-21, in the national quarterfinals a week later. GVSU finished the season at 12-1 after losing to the Bulldogs.
What does the 2023 season-and beyond-hold in store for the GLIAC? If the Lindy's Sports preseason poll is any indication, Ferris State will once again to be the team to beat, not only in the GLIAC but in Division II in general, with Grand Valley State not far behind at #2.
Still, don't be surprised if fledgling program Davenport (8-3, 4-2) and Saginaw Valley State (8-3, 3-3) both pose a challenge to the stranglehold that Ferris State and GVSU have held on the GLIAC in recent seasons.
Finally, in off-the-field news, the GLIAC will expand its' membership by one team in time for the 2024 season. That's when Roosevelt University of Chicago will join the conference for its' first season at the NCAA Division II level, as the Lakers begin their transition from the NAIA.
2022 GLIAC Football Final Standings
2023 Schedules (Teams listed in alphabetical order, click the links below to access to find the schedules)
NOTE: If the link to the team's schedule is not highlighted, the team has not submitted its schedule for the 2023 season. When the team's schedule is submitted, the link (s) will appear in each blog post. Also, please visit the RFC blog at realfootballcentral.blogspot.com for schedules, schedule updates, preseason previews, and much more.
Davenport
Ferris State
Grand Valley State
Michigan Tech
Northern Michigan
Saginaw Valley State
Wayne State (Mich.)
Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.
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