Grand Rapids Reporter

Ferris State University, which has reached the NCAA Division II Playoffs a nation-leading nine consecutive years, was picked to finish first in the 2024 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Standings. The league unveiled its preseason coaches poll on Thursday, August 1, in conjunction with its football media day event in Grand Rapids.

The Bulldogs received four of a possible eight first-place votes and totaled 46 points, being chosen as the favorite among the league's eight conference football institutions. The votes were cast by the conference member head coaches, who could not vote for their own team.

Rival Grand Valley State earned three first-place votes and 44 points to finish second. Meanwhile, Davenport claimed one first-place mention and notched 38 points to place third overall. The remaining teams in the standings included Saginaw Valley State in fourth (30), Michigan Tech in fifth (26), Wayne State in sixth (20), Northern Michigan in seventh (13), and league newcomer Roosevelt in eighth (7).

The media day activities were held at the Sheraton Grand Rapids Airport Hotel and included the release of the preseason coaches' poll, a live webstream, and various social media events.

"We're excited to get the 2024 season going and I'm really proud of the effort of our guys in the offseason," said FSU head coach Tony Annese. "We return some great experience and will have to be ready to perform each and every week. We open with a tough opponent in Pitt State and it really will be a game-at-a-time type of mentality as we go through the year."

Ferris State was represented by two-time National Coach of the Year Tony Annese along with two veteran standouts: senior receiver Tyrese Hunt-Thompson from Cassopolis and linebacker Sefa Saipaia from Canton, Ohio.

"We'll find out how good we can be as an offensive unit," Hunt-Thompson said. "We've really worked hard since last season to be able to come together and achieve some great things this fall."

The Bulldogs enter the 2024 campaign as the nation's preseason #4 team according to Lindy's Sports.

"I know there will be some questions about us coming into the year, but we're focused on going out there as a defensive unit and being the best we can be," said Saipaia. "We have some great guys with the ability to make plays so our focus will be on coming out and playing great team defense."

Ferris State will begin its 115th season of varsity competition this fall with its sights set on making a tenth consecutive trip to the NCAA Division II Playoffs. The Bulldogs have made five national semifinal appearances along with three trips to the national championship game during this stretch, securing back-to-back national titles in 2021 and 2022.

Over recent seasons, Ferris State boasts a remarkable record: they own a 36-4 overall record over past three seasons; they have reached nine consecutive NCAA Division II Playoffs; they appeared five times at NCAA Division II National Semifinals within seven seasons; they are considered D2 Football’s winningest program over nine full seasons; they achieved an impressive record of 63-6 over four seasons including consecutive NCAA D2 National Championships during both years mentioned earlier.

Since Tony Annese became head coach back In2012,Ferris state also holds GLIAC's best mark while boasting Michigan collegiate programs’ best overall records at123-20(.860).

Ferris state opens their upcoming season against Pittsburg state scheduled Aug31 followed closely by home opener Sept7 versus Lake Erie Top Taggart Field.GLIAC opener Oct5 sees hosting Roosevelt marking historic homecoming contest coinciding w/Ferris state's400th all-time GLIAC game.

Below is complete GLIAC Preseason Coaches Poll:

1.FerrisState–46(4)

2.GrandyValleyState–44(3)

3.Davenport–38(1)

4.SaginawValleyState–30

5.MichiganTech–26

6.WayneState–20

7.NorthernMichigan–13

8.Roosevelt–7