Things in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference pretty much are continuing to shake out as expected, and rooting for the underdog just wasn’t the play in Week 8. 

Ferris State rolled. Grand Valley State picked up another win. Davenport continues to show it wants to be the confirmed No. 3 squad in the talented conference.

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At the other end of the conference standings, Roosevelt was able to celebrate its first win as a member of Division II and the GLIAC, while simultaneously climbing off the bottom of the table.

Unfortunately for Northern Michigan and Wayne State, they’re back in the cellar by themselves and might remain there until they meet Nov. 16, the final game of the year for both teams. 

NMU and Wayne State fought hard in Week 8, but it just wasn’t meant to be for either team. They’re now both 0-7 overall and 0-3 in conference games.

Northern Michigan lost a heartbreaker to Roosevelt, fumbling in overtime, which allowed the Lakers to steal a 16-10 win moments later. Wayne State led Davenport at halftime, 19-12, but the Warriors were outscored 31-7 in the second half to fall 43-26.

With the upcoming Anchor-Bone Classic between Ferris State and Grand Valley State likely to be what decides the conference title, who will win? Based on what happened in Week 8, Ferris State has a clear advantage, despite GVSU sitting atop the latest American Football Coaches Association Division II Coaches Poll following a loss by previous No. 1 Harding. More below.

Who will win first, Northern Michigan or Wayne State? Or will they both be winless when they face off next month?

We tackle these questions and share some of the GLIAC takeaways heading into Week 9 of the 2024 college football season:  

Ferris State Football Is In Control In The GLIAC

Ferris State (6-1, 3-0) put up more than 50 points for the fourth time this season, this time rolling past a much-improved Michigan Tech team, 51-13.

Since opening the season with a 19-3 loss to Pittsburg State, Ferris State has outscored its opponents 316-53, and the team’s offensive numbers are just ridiculous. The Bulldogs put up 577 yards against Michigan Tech on Saturday.

The only thing that has been able to slow the Ferris State momentum since Week 2 is some inclement weather and a unique situation that forced their 27-14 tussle with Wayne State to be played over two days. 

After seeing Grand Valley State’s performance against Saginaw Valley State in Week 8, a game the Lakers easily could’ve lost, it would not be a surprise to see GVSU’s chance at a GLIAC three-peat come to an end next weekend.

The polls don't yet reflect this, as GVSU moved into the top spot after Harding lost to Ouachita Baptist, but the result of the Anchor-Bone Classic could finish the job. Ferris State moved up one spot to No. 3, with Gulf South Conference standout Valdosta State now at No. 2.

The GVSU Lakers (7-0, 3-0), who haven’t been putting up their usual big scores in 2024, were held to just 234 total yards by SVSU on Saturday and barely were able to squeak out the victory, winning 16-9.

It’s true, Saginaw Valley (5-2, 2-1) also has improved quite a bit, but the game really was a stunner from all angles. And there probably couldn’t be a worse time for the Lakers to be stalling out. 

In almost all categories, Ferris State already has the distinct advantage heading into the 2024 Anchor-Bone Classic. Based on what happened last weekend, it would be hard to imagine anything but another FSU blowout.

There are two positives for GVSU, however – the Lakers have won the last two meetings, both of which also were played on their home field, and there’s a 15% chance of rain during the day.

What Does Northern Michigan Have To Do?

Northern Michigan has lost 18 consecutive games, including a winless 2023 campaign (0-11, 0-6). 

The Wildcats’ last win came against Lake Erie College in the final game of the 2022 season. 

In theory, NMU’s best two chances to break the streak in 2024, at least from a conference perspective, were going to be newcomer Roosevelt and Wayne State, which also has been struggling to find the win column in recent seasons.

The first of those opportunities slipped right through Northern Michigan’s hands on Saturday, as a fumble in overtime gave Roosevelt the ball and the chance to win its first game of the year and first as a member of the GLIAC.

To that point, the Wildcats were playing a safe game, running on all but two of their plays in the game. In fact, it ended up being their second straight contest without a completed pass. Unfortunately, while eliminating the possibility of an interception, NMU did fumble twice in the contest, losing both.

The Lakers delivered on three plays, using an 11-yard Cyrus Zuell touchdown run to seal the 16-10 victory.

With both teams fumbling earlier in the game, the contest went into halftime tied at 3-3.

Roosevelt pulled ahead in the third quarter, and NMU answered in the fourth, tying the game with a 14-play, 79-yard drive that ended with a 1-yard Aidan Hoard touchdown run. 

The near-miss could be as motivating for the Wildcats as it is frustrating, but seeing Roosevelt (1-5, 1-2) celebrate its milestone win on the Northern Michigan’s home field had to help light the fire, right?

Up next for Northern Michigan (0-7, 0-3) is a trip to Michigan Tech (4-3, 1-2) and a chance to do the same thing. It’s the right time, too, as the Huskies have cooled off considerably after a string of four consecutive wins. Michigan Tech now is coming off back-to-back losses.

Half Of The Conference Has Been Eliminated From Contention

For half of the eight teams in the GLIAC, the rest of the 2024 simply will be about pride. 

Michigan Tech, Roosevelt, Northern Michigan and Wayne State all have two or more losses in conference play, so barring something other-worldly happening, they should not be clearing any space in their trophy cases.

That may sound a bit harsh, but that’s the reality of playing in one of the top conferences in Division II football, one that has been dominated by the same two teams for much of the last 20 years.

Since 2005, Grand Valley State (nine) and Ferris State (five) have combined for 14 GLIAC titles, including the last five. The only teams other than those two to win, or share, the crown during that time – Ashland (three), Hillsdale (one) and Ohio Dominican (one) – all have moved on to other conferences.

Additionally, since the GLIAC went away from two divisions in football for the 2014 season, the titlist(s) have had to produce a perfect record in conference play to secure a GLIAC trophy. 

History and math would suggest this will happen again in 2024, though it’s still not guaranteed.

Entering next weekend’s Anchor-Bone Classic, the annual rivalry game between Grand Valley State and Ferris State, both teams are undefeated at 3-0. Obviously, someone will have to lose, making the other the front-runner with less than a month to go in the regular season.

Davenport and Saginaw Valley are lurking at 2-1 in GLIAC action. Davenport already lost to GVSU and will end its season with Ferris State. SVSU also lost to GVSU and will meet Ferris State on Nov. 9. Davenport and SVSU will play each other the week prior.

Before any deep speculation can happen, winning the SVSU-Davenport matchup is a must, then someone will have to beat the team that wins the upcoming Anchor-Bone Classic. 

Yes, it’s a lot. 

For now, the only guarantee is that all eyes will be on Lubbers Stadium in Allendale, Michigan, on Saturday afternoon. Ferris State and two-time defending GLIAC champion GVSU are set to get underway at 3 p.m. 

How Did The GLIAC Football Teams Perform In Week 8?

All eight GLIAC teams saw conference action on Oct. 19.

• Roosevelt def. Northern Michigan, 16-10
• Ferris State def. Michigan Tech, 51-13
• Davenport def. Wayne State 43-26
• Grand Valley State def. Saginaw Valley State, 16-9

Curious About The NCAA Division II Football Scores In Week 8?

Read more: NCAA Division II Football Scores – No. 1 Harding Falls, No. 2 GVSU Wins

GLIAC Football Schedule For Week 9

Saturday, Oct. 26

All Times Eastern

• Northern Michigan at Michigan Tech, Noon
• Saginaw Valley at Wayne State, 1 p.m.
• Davenport at Roosevelt, 2 p.m.
• Ferris State at Grand Valley State, 3 p.m.

AFCA Division II Football Rankings For Week 9

1. Grand Valley St. (Mich.) (27) - Prev. 2
2. Valdosta St. (Ga.) (3) - Prev. 3
3. Ferris St. (Mich.) - Prev. 4
4. Kutztown (Pa.) - Prev. 5
5. Ouachita Baptist (Ark.) - Prev. 9
6. Pittsburg St. (Kan.) - Prev. 7
7. Harding (Ark.) - Prev. 1
8. Western Colorado - Prev. 8
9. Central Oklahoma - Prev. 11
10. Colorado School of Mines - Prev. 12
11. Charleston (W.Va.) - Prev. 13
12. Colorado St.-Pueblo - Prev. 14
13. Minnesota St. - Prev. 15
14. Emporia St. (Kan.) - Prev. 16
15. Slippery Rock (Pa.) - Prev. 6
16. Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.) - Prev. 17
17. Carson-Newman (Tenn.) - Prev. 18
18. West Alabama - Prev. 10
19. Johnson C. Smith (N.C.) - Prev. 20
20. Central Washington - Prev. 21
21. Indianapolis (Ind.) - Prev. 19
22. Southern Arkansas - Prev. 24
23. West Florida - Prev. 23
24. Delta St. (Miss.) - Prev. NR
25. Augustana (S.D.) - Prev. NR

Dropped Out: Frostburg St. (Md.) (22), Henderson St. (Ark.) (25)

Others Receiving Votes: Angelo St. (Tex.), 22; Findlay (Ohio), 22; California (Pa.), 21; Virginia Union, 20; Wayne St. (Neb.), 16; Wingate (N.C.), 10; Sioux Falls (S.D.), 8; Colorado Mesa, 7; Indiana (Pa.), 7; New Haven (Conn.), 7; Davenport (Mich.), 6; Frostburg St. (Md.), 6; Saginaw Valley St. (Mich.), 4; Fort Hays St. (Kan.), 3; Ashland (Ohio), 2; Emory & Henry (Va.), 1; Western Oregon, 1.

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