Though it may not have the history (in years) of some of America’s great college football rivalries, the Anchor-Bone Classic is among the most noteworthy games on the Division II slate each season, and it has served as an unofficial Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship game in recent years.

Grand Valley State and Ferris State have been dominant in the GLIAC for the last 25 years or so, and they’re regularly on the national radar, too. They’ll enter this week’s Anchor-Bone Classic as the No. 1 and No. 3 teams, respectively, in the latest American Football Coaches Association Division II Coaches Poll.

They’re also perched atop the GLIAC standings at 3-0, so whichever team wins again will have a much clearer path to the coveted conference championship.

Ferris State and GVSU will meet Saturday at Lubbers Stadium in Allendale, Michigan, for the next chapter in their ongoing saga. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. Eastern, live on FloFootball.

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The two teams first met in 1971, with Ferris State winning the first two years by a combined score of 99-0.

GVSU eventually found its stride and holds a 32-23-1 advantage in the series, including playoff games, though Ferris State has won seven of the last 10 interactions.

The Anchor-Bone Trophy itself debuted in 2002, with Grand Valley State taking it home nine consecutive times, before Ferris State took control from 2012-2015.

After winning the rivalry game at home last year, 49-28, GVSU welcomed the Bulldogs back to Lubbers Stadium for the first round of the playoffs and handed them another loss – this one ending their season and a chance at a third consecutive national title – 21-14.

Grand Valley State, the national champion in 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2006, didn’t win it all last season either, falling to eventual winner Harding in the national quarterfinals, 7-6.

When Ferris State (6-1, 3-0) comes back to town this week, sure, redemption will be a logical theme, but the Bulldogs also have momentum and a six-game winning streaking, during which, they’re outscoring their opponents 316-53. The Bulldogs routed Michigan Tech last weekend, 51-13.

Grand Valley State heads into this week’s matchup at 7-0 overall and coming off a 16-9 win over Saginaw Valley State.

Ferris State won the GLIAC title three consecutive times (2018, 2019, 2021), before GVSU took control of things within the conference. Will the Bulldogs spoil the Lakers’ latest bid for three in a row?

How To Watch The Ferris State Vs. Grand Valley State Football Stream

The Ferris State Bulldogs vs. Grand Valley State Lakers football game is streaming live on FloFootball and the FloSports app.

Highlights, replays and breaking news will be available on both platforms. 

AFCA Division II Football Rankings For Week 9

Oct. 21, 2024

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.

Watch Division II Football On FloFootball

Here's the Division II broadcast schedule for FloFootball for Week 9 of the 2024 college football season. Subscribe to watch.

Saturday, Oct. 26

All Times Eastern

*GLIAC

• *Northern Michigan Vs. Michigan Tech, Noon
• New Haven Vs. Assumption, Noon
• Franklin Pierce Vs. SCSU, 1 p.m.
• American International Vs. Pace, 1 p.m.
• *Saginaw Valley State Vs. Wayne State, 1 p.m.
• Carson-Newman Vs. Emory & Henry, 1 p.m.
• Delta State Vs. North Greenville, 1 p.m.
• Anderson Vs. Tusculum, 1 p.m.
• Limestone Vs. Lenoir-Rhyne, 1 p.m.
• Eastern New Mexico Vs. Western New Mexico, 1:45 p.m.
• *Davenport Vs. Roosevelt, 2 p.m.
• Mars Hill Vs. UVA Wise, 3 p.m.
• Chowan Vs. West Alabama, 3 p.m.
• Catawba Vs. Wingate, 3 p.m.
• *Ferris State Vs. Grand Valley State, 3 p.m.
• A&M-Kingsville Vs. Western Oregon, 4 p.m.
• Barton College Vs. Newberry, 4 p.m.
• Erskine Vs. Mississippi College, 5 p.m.
• Shorter Vs. West Florida, 5 p.m.
• Austin Vs. Centenary, 7 p.m.
• Sul Ross State Vs. Angelo State, 7 p.m.
• UT Permian Basin Vs. West Texas A&M, 8 p.m.
• Midwestern State Vs. Central Washington, 9 p.m.
• Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Vs. Redlands, 10 p.m.

Archived Footage On FloFootball

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