The GLIAC has cultivated a well-earned reputation as one of, if not the top-to-bottom best conference in Div. II football. After its push for a rare three-peat was thwarted in 2023, Ferris State embarks on 2024 looking to once again carry the banner for the GLIAC on the national stage. 

The Bulldogs received such designation as the preseason pick to win the conference championship, as revealed at the Aug. 1 GLIAC media day. 

• Subscribe To Watch Division II Football On FloFootball
• Division II College Football 2024 Conference Preseason Polls
• 10 Quarterbacks To Watch In Division II Football Entering the 2024 Season
• 10 Wide Receivers To Watch In Division II Football Entering the 2024 Season
• Ferris State Football Schedule 2024: Times, Dates And Anchor-Bone News

Coaches and players from all eight GLIAC programs spoke to reporters in anticipation of what should be an exciting and memorable 2024 season. 

Back on National Championship Track 

With the 2021 and 2022 national championships to its credit and projected to lead the way in 2023, Ferris State's 8-3 finish a year ago cast doubt on the Bulldogs, according to head coach Tony Annese. 

"A lot of people doubt what course we're on, are we still growing as a program? Are we too complacent? That was [a question] we really had to do an evaluation on [in the offseason]," Annese said. "I think our guys have done what they needed to do to be prepared." 

Ferris State lost a 17-10 slugfest early in the season at Montana — hardly a bad loss, given the Grizzlies reached the FCS National Championship Game. However, a three-touchdown loss to rival Grand Valley State in the Anchor-Bone Classic cost Ferris State the GLIAC championship. A rematch loss to the Lakers ended the Bulldogs' 2023 Playoffs early. 

Returning Ferris State to the pinnacle of the sport — both in the GLIAC and for all of Div. II — fuels the 2024 Bulldogs. 

"I'm blessed to be part of a program that has a history of winning, and I think my teammates feel the same way," linebacker Sefa Saipaia said. "So we just want to live up to the expectations not only of others, but ourselves." 

Defending Champs and Underdogs 

While Ferris State earned preseason billing as the 2024 GLIAC favorite, the conference title, Anchor-Bone Trophy, and the bragging rights that come with winning 3-of-4, including the last two over the rival Bulldogs suggest Grand Valley State is really the league's team to beat. 

Being slated second probably suits Lakers coach Scott Wooster just fine, however. 

Wooster touted Grand Valley State as "underdogs" at GLIAC media day, with the Lakers "senior class in particular [having] embraced that for a lot of reasons." 

Citing Grand Valley State's exit from the NCAA Playoffs, one round shy of the national semifinals and without scoring an offensive touchdown in a 7-6 loss to eventual title winner Harding, Wooster played up the traditional powerhouse's new-found role as a dark horse. 

"I've always been the underdog," Wooster said. "But then you get to Grand Valley State, which has all the resources, has all the support, has the pride, has the tradition, I truly believe if you have the underdog mentality with all those things, truly special things can happen. That's what we're after." 

Lakers offensive lineman Gabe Brown, an NFL prospect who was rocking a 2023 GLIAC championship ring, laughed at some good-natured ribbing that he certainly didn't look the part of an underdog. However, Brown explained Grand Valley State's approach and the way it will shape the Lakers' pursuit of the program's first national championship since 2006. 

"It's the last ride, the last chance I'm going to get to put on a Grand Valley State Lakers uniform. I want to make sure my tank is on E, give everything I got." - Gabe Brown

Destined for Davenport 

Davenport coach Sparky McEwen welcomes back one of the GLIAC's top returning offensive players, Myren Harris, as a cornerstone for the Panther's playoff aspirations in 2024. McEwen described Harris as the "gym rat" and "a joy" to have in the program, and it's due to much more than just the running back's single-season record of 976 rushing yards racked up in 2023. 

"Ever since he's come [to Davenport by way of transfer from Wayne State]...He's always wanting to get better. he's in the weight room. He's out on the hill running," McEwen said. "When you have seniors [who] are leading your football team, and they have that type of work ethic, you can have nothing but success."

Coming off a season in which he was critical to Davenport finishing 8-2, Harris will again be pivotal to the Panthers' pursuit of success. That includes the drive to make the NCAA Playoffs. 

In his return to Davenport for 2024, Harris also has an opportunity to make more GLIAC history. Along with setting the Panthers' single-season rushing record a year ago, he produced the highest single-game total of any ball-carrier in 2022 with 296 yards while at Wayne State. 

Making the move within conference is an unusual one, but for Harris, it felt like destiny. 

"Great school, I had a great time at Wayne," he said. "I just think this is where God wanted me to be." 

Scheduling Up 

GLIAC teams take on some of the toughest schedules around Div. II football in 2024. The non-conference docket includes Grand Valley State traveling to Colorado State Pueblo on Sept. 14, then hosting fellow national championship hopeful West Florida on Sept. 28. 

That same Saturday, Saginaw Valley State travels to perennial playoff contender Indianapolis. 

Ferris State opens the season on Aug. 31 visiting always-tough Pittsburg State, two days after Michigan Tech travels to Bemidji State.  

"Every coach in here, they will tell you they made calls around the country to play different teams," Spark McEwen said. "It's not easy to get opponents. We talked as a team and said, 'Well, let's go out and play the best.' And so this schedule, when everything shakes out, is probably going to be the toughest in the country. And these guys don't fear that." 

Some of the motivation for the non-conference schedules GLIAC teams are taking on is to build playoff resumes. Davenport missed the field a season ago despite going 8-2 against the demanding GLIAC slate, but the Panthers aim to avoid a repeat with a docket that includes seven road games. 

"We didn't feel like there were 28 better football teams," McEwen said. "Playing teams in our conference, we have some powerhouse teams...And we felt like we didn't get rewarded for those things. That's one reason why we scheduled like we did." 

Preparing for the rigors of the GLIAC is another motivator for scheduling up out of league. 

"It's A Different Level of Talent" 

The above quote from Michigan Tech's Dan Mettlach is the perspective of both a player and a coach explaining why the GLIAC may be the best overall conference in Div. II football. 

Mettlach is entering his second season as Huskies head coach, returning to his alma mater after assistant coaching stints in the conference at Northern Michigan and former member Hillsdale. Before manning the sidelines, Mettlach was a standout quarterback. He won GLIAC Offensive Player of the Year at Michigan Tech in 2004. 

So, when Mettlach sounds off on the talent level that defines the GLIAC, he does so from this dual perspective. There is also plenty of evidence supporting the claim, including Ferris State's back-to-back national championships in 2021 and 2022; and the variety of GLIAC alumni in the National Football League. 

Caleb Murphy (Ferris State by way of Grand Valley State) heads into his second season after earning his spot with the Tennessee Titans in 2023; Zach Sieler (Ferris State) broke into the Miami Dolphins starting rotation the last two seasons; Tavierre Thomas (Ferris State) has been a consistent part of the Houston Texans defense the last three seasons; Wayne State product Anthony Pittman has been a contributor for the nearby Detroit Lions; and New England Patriots linebacker Matthew Judon (Grand Valley State) reached his fourth Pro Bowl in 2023. 

"Not to take a shot at anyone else," Mettlach added. "But it's just a different level of football. There's not FCS football in our state, but the GLIAC, in my opinion, is as close as you get to that in our region." 

Diving into the Deep End 

The 2024 campaign marks the debut of Roosevelt both as an NCAA program, moving up from NAIA, and as a member of the GLIAC. The Chicago-based university will look to build up its program in short order to compete with the division's best. 

"Joining an elite group of institutions, coaches and players will be challenging, but competition's always a really exciting part of this profession," Lakers coach Jared Williamson said. 

The first GLIAC game on Roosevelt's schedule provides a serious measuring stick: The Lakers travel to Ferris State on Oct. 5 for Roosevelt's inaugural GLIAC contest. 

With Roosevelt's addition, the Michigan-based GLIAC adds a presence in Chicago. The Lakers are the only Div. II program in the Chicagoland, a source of pride for this program's first-ever NCAA team. It's particularly meaningful for the variety of players out of high schools in the area, including defensive end Luke Desherow. 

Desherow played for the FCS program Lindenwood in 2023, but the Des Plaine native and Loyola Academy graduate said being able to play in front of the family back in Chicago attracted him to Roosevelt. 

Likewise, Lombard native Keonta Nixon joined the Lakers after leaving FBS program Central Michigan. Nixon was out of football altogether when a former teammate gave him a call about playing at Roosevelt. Nixon returned to the gridiron with 717 yards on 34 catches and six touchdowns for the Lakers last season. 

"I never played this close to home. I jumped at the opportunity and ran with it," Nixon said. 

NCAA Division II Football 2023 Final Rankings

1. Harding (Ark.) 15-0
2. Colorado School of Mines 14-1
3. Grand Valley St. (Mich.) 11-2
4. Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.) 13-2
5. Pittsburg St. (Kan.) 11-2
6. Central Missouri 11-2
7. Kutztown (Pa.) 12-3
8. Valdosta St. (Ga.) 12-2
9. Ferris St. (Mich.) 8-3
10. Slippery Rock (Pa.) 12-2
11. Delta St. (Miss.) 10-2
12. Benedict (S.C.) 11-1
13. Augustana (S.D.) 11-2
14. Tiffin (Ohio) 11-1
15. Western Colorado 10-2
16. Bemidji St. (Minn.) 9-3
17. Central Washington 9-4
18. Texas-Permian Basin 10-2
19. Charleston (W.Va.) 10-2
20. Virginia Union 10-2
21. Minnesota St. 9-3
22. Indianapolis (Ind.) 9-2
23. West Florida 8-4
24. Henderson St. (Ark.) 9-3
25. Minnesota-Duluth 9-2

Archived Footage On FloFootball

Video footage from all events will be archived and stored in a video library for FloFootball subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscription.

Watch The 2024 College Football Season On FloFootball 

FloFootball is the home of the best FCS, Division II, and Division III football action all season long. Don't miss the latest college football action by bookmarking the FloFootball schedule page for the latest games. 

Join the College Football Conversation

• Follow us on Twitter @FloFootball
• Follow us on Instagram @FloFootball
• Follow us on TikTok @FloFootball
• Watch us on YouTube
• Like us on Facebook