Four-Time D2 National Champion Ferris State Opens Spring Football Practice This Week!

Big Rapids, Mich. - Four-time NCAA Division II National Champion Ferris State University, which has reached the NCAA Division II Football Playoffs a nation-leading 11 consecutive years to date, will officially start preparations for its 2026 gridiron campaign as the Bulldogs open spring practice drills this week in Big Rapids.

The Bulldogs will begin their 117th season of varsity competition this coming fall with their sights set on making a 12th consecutive trip to the NCAA Division II Playoffs. The Bulldogs have made seven national semifinal appearances along with five trips to the national championship game in addition to back-to-back national titles in 2021 and 2022 along with 2024 and 2025 during the stretch.

Head coach Tony Annese and his Bulldog staff will have the NCAA-allotted total of 15 practices, which will include the annual Crimson and Gold Spring Game on Friday, April 24, at FSU's Top Taggart Field.

The Bulldogs' first practice of the spring is tentatively slated to take place on Wednesday, March 18, at Top Taggart Field and FSU will generally work out three times per week throughout the spring session.

FSU will conduct a varied spring practice schedule that runs over the course of five weeks from March 18 leading up to the spring game. The spring schedule is subject to change depending on the weather with alternate dates available and some practices split into group activity. Most practices are slated to take place at Top Taggart Field.

Practices times will also vary with sessions both during the morning, afternoon and evening depending on the day of the week and various class schedules.

Over the past five seasons of action, the Bulldogs own a 66-5 overall record and FSU has reached the NCAA Division II Playoffs 11 consecutive years and counting. Ferris State has also reached the NCAA Division II National Semifinals seven times in the past nine seasons of action and ranks as the country's winningest program over the past 11 full seasons in D2 Football. FSU is 93-7 over the last six seasons of on-field action, including back-to-back NCAA D2 National Championships in 2021 and 2022 along with 2024 and 2025.

Ferris State also holds the GLIAC's best mark and the best overall record of all collegiate programs in Michigan at 153-21 (.879) overall since the arrival of Annese as head coach in 2012.

2026 Spring Practice Schedule:

Practice #1 - Wednesday, March 18, 6 p.m.
Practice #2 - Friday, March 20, 1 p.m.
Practice #3 - Sunday, March 22, 11 a.m.
Practice #4 - Wednesday, March 25, 6 p.m.
Practice #5 - Friday, March 27, 1 p.m.
Practice #6 - Sunday, March 29, 11 a.m.
Practice #7 - Wednesday, April 1, 6 p.m.
Practice #8 - Monday, April 6, TBA
Practice #9 - Wednesday, April 8, 6 p.m.
Practice #10 - Friday, April 10, 1 p.m.
Practice #11 - Sunday, April 12, 11 a.m.
Practice #12 - Wednesday, April 15, 6 p.m.
Practice #13 - Friday, April 17, 1 p.m.
Practice #14 - Saturday, April 18, TBA
Practice #15 - Friday, April 24, 7 p.m. (Crimson & Gold Spring Game)

NOTE -- All Eastern (ET) start times and locations are subject to change.