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Ferris State football did not just win another national championship in 2025. The Bulldogs authored one of the most dominant seasons in modern college football history, finishing 16-0, setting an NCAA scoring record, and claiming their fourth Division II national championship in five years.
On December 20, 2025, at McKinney ISD Stadium in McKinney, Texas, Ferris State defeated Harding University 42-21 in the NCAA Division II National Championship Game. The win delivered back-to-back titles, extended the Bulldogs’ winning streak to 30 games, and elevated the program into the top tier of all-time Division II powers.
For recruits, parents, and coaches looking at Ferris State University as a football destination, this title is more than a trophy. It is a snapshot of what a fully built, sustainably dominant Division II program looks like in the mid-2020s.
In a matchup of undefeated teams, Ferris State entered the 2025 national championship at 15-0 and Harding at 15-0, with both programs riding historically productive offenses into McKinney. Harding arrived as the 2023 national champion and a record-setting option rushing team, but from the opening series, Ferris State set the tone.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Wyatt Bower wasted no time asserting himself on the national stage. On Ferris State’s opening drive, he engineered a methodical march that ended with a 4-yard touchdown run, giving the Bulldogs a 7-0 lead and sending an early message about their physicality and balance.
After the Ferris State defense forced a stop and created a short field, Bower duplicated the script later in the first quarter, punching in another 4-yard rushing score to push the lead to 14-0. For a Harding defense built to deal with option looks and ball-control attacks, Ferris State’s tempo and multiplicity quickly became a problem.
Harding responded in the second quarter as fullback Andrew Miller broke through for a 9-yard touchdown run, trimming the margin to 14-7. Ferris State answered like champions usually do: with a long, high-leverage drive.
The Bulldogs marched 95 yards in 12 plays, a drive capped by Bower finding receiver Cam Underwood for a 23-yard touchdown. That scoring series showcased the full range of Ferris State’s spread-option approach: diverse formations, downhill run game, quarterback mobility, and opportunistic shots in the passing game.
Harding quarterback Cole Keylon led a crucial late-half response, connecting with Christian Franklin for a 15-yard touchdown that cut the Ferris State lead to 21-14 at halftime. For a neutral crowd and national TV audience, it felt like a true heavyweight battle between the two best teams in Division II.
The third quarter is where Ferris State’s depth and explosiveness separated them from Harding and, in many ways, from the rest of DII football in 2025.
On the second play of the third quarter, sophomore quarterback Chase Carter, who had rotated with Bower throughout the season, kept the ball and ripped off a 64-yard touchdown run. The burst pushed the lead to 28-14 and highlighted arguably the biggest structural advantage Ferris State has: two starting-caliber quarterbacks who can attack defenses differently but within the same offensive system.
Harding answered immediately with a special teams jolt. Returner G’Kyson Wright took the ensuing kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown, cutting the deficit back to 28-21 and jolting the crowd. In that moment, with momentum swinging and the Bisons back within one score, the game felt like it could tilt either direction.
Instead, Ferris State closed the door.
Bower led another efficient drive and finished it himself with a 3-yard touchdown run, his third rushing score of the night, making it 35-21. Later in the quarter, he delivered again through the air, finding tight end Carson Gulker on a 14-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead to 42-21.
From there, Ferris State’s defense and ball-control offense suffocated any comeback hopes. The final quarter became a formality, but also a reflection of the Bulldogs’ identity: explosive enough to pull away, disciplined enough to close out.
The box score backed up what the eye test suggested. Ferris State controlled the game in all phases and turned a clash of undefeated teams into a three-score statement.
Individually, Bower delivered a performance that will be remembered in Ferris State lore. He accounted for all five offensive touchdowns, going 10-for-16 passing for 177 yards and two touchdowns, while adding 38 rushing yards and three scores on the ground.
Carter was the game’s leading rusher with 111 yards on just seven carries, fueled by his 64-yard touchdown run to open the second half. Underwood and Gulker caught Bower’s touchdown passes and helped keep Harding’s defense from overloading against the run.
Defensively, Ferris State did what few teams have done to Harding’s option offense over the past several years. The Bulldogs held the Bisons to 246 rushing yards on 50 carries, well below their season-long production and far off their record-setting pace. Those limitations, combined with two costly fumbles, turned Harding from a relentless rushing machine into a more manageable opponent in the second half.
For additional statistical context and box score details, fans can reference national coverage from outlets such as the NCAA’s official recap of the game at NCAA.com and the 2025 game and season summaries on Wikipedia.
The 2025 championship was not a one-off surge. It was the peak (for now) of a sustained run of dominance for Ferris State under head coach Tony Annese.
With this 42-21 win over Harding, Ferris State secured its fourth Division II national championship in five seasons, adding 2025 to previous titles in 2021, 2022 and 2024. That run has reshaped the Division II landscape and put Ferris State in the same sentence as the all-time greats at this level.
According to historical records compiled by sources like Wikipedia’s Division II championship history, Ferris State now owns four national titles, tying regional rival Grand Valley State and Valdosta State for second-most all-time. Only Northwest Missouri State has more DII football championships.
The Bulldogs’ 2025 title also pushed their active winning streak to 30 games, dating back to August 2024. Over that span, Ferris State transformed from a strong regional power into the sport’s standard-setter at the Division II level.
The record that may resonate most nationally, however, is the 16-0 finish. Ferris State became the first NCAA Division I or II team in the modern era to complete a 16-0 season, a mark that underscores not just dominance but endurance.
At this level, where depth can be thinner and travel can be demanding, surviving 16 games without a loss is rare. Doing it while facing playoff-caliber competition and rivalry pressure makes it even more impressive.
Ferris State’s 2025 offense was not just effective; it was historic. The Bulldogs scored 844 points over the season, setting an NCAA single-season scoring record for programs at the Division I or II levels.
That figure, supported by the program’s official recap on Ferris State’s athletics and news site, highlights just how explosive and consistent this team was. The Bulldogs blended spread concepts, option principles, quarterback depth, and a deep skill group to overwhelm opponents week after week.
For recruits, the implications are clear: if you are an offensive playmaker or a versatile quarterback, Ferris State’s system has become one of the most attractive platforms in Division II football.
Dynasties do not happen by accident. Ferris State’s rise into the national spotlight is the product of sustained recruiting, staff continuity, player development, and a clear identity on both sides of the ball.
Ferris State’s offensive structure in 2025 leaned into multiple quarterbacks and a flexible spread-option system. With Bower and Carter both capable of making plays with their arms and legs, Ferris State could:
That structure turned the Bulldogs into a matchup problem for nearly every opponent on their schedule. Even in tight games during the regular season against programs like Saginaw Valley State and rival Grand Valley State, Ferris State consistently found answers late, often because defenses could not fully account for the quarterback run game and distribution of touches.
Much of the national conversation will naturally focus on the points and the records, but Ferris State’s veteran defense and overall roster depth were just as critical. The Bulldogs were able to rotate heavily on the defensive front, hold up against physical rushing attacks like Harding’s, and still have enough speed to limit explosive plays.
In the championship game, holding Harding’s previously record-setting rushing offense to 246 yards on 50 attempts was a result of assignment discipline against the option, plus the ability to create negative plays and force fumbles. For a team that had racked up 6,943 rushing yards and 88 rushing touchdowns over the season, as Harding did in 2025, being held below their usual output was significant.
For high school athletes and families navigating the recruiting world, a season like Ferris State’s 2025 campaign provides a real-time case study in what to look for beyond just logos and divisions.
Ferris State’s success shows how a Division II program can offer:
If you are considering Ferris State University, the football program’s trajectory is a strong indicator of the overall competitive culture on campus. But the right fit is always personal, combining academics, campus life, depth chart, and your long-term goals.
Tools like Pathley Chat can help you compare schools like Ferris State to other programs across Division I, II, and III, filtering by roster needs, academic interests, and location instead of just name recognition.
Harding’s presence in the 2025 title game adds crucial context to what Ferris State accomplished. The Bisons were not a Cinderella story; they were already a national champion (2023) and one of the most dominant rushing teams in NCAA history.
Over the previous four seasons, Harding went 51-5, building an option-based offense that produced 6,943 rushing yards and 88 rushing touchdowns in 2025 alone. The Bisons had met Ferris State three times in the Division II playoffs before this championship, with the Bulldogs holding a narrow edge in the series.
In McKinney, Harding showed why it belonged on that stage. Miller and Franklin combined for more than 140 rushing yards, and Wright’s 90-yard kickoff return touchdown showcased the program’s explosiveness. Yet Ferris State’s ability to counter every punch with an answer of its own ultimately turned the matchup of undefeated teams into another statement win.
That context matters. Beating a defending champion that is itself on a multi-year tear amplifies what Ferris State did and solidifies its position as the sport’s pace-setter heading into 2026.
The most striking part of Ferris State’s 2025 championship is that it does not feel like an endpoint. With Bower still early in his college career, Carter returning as a proven playmaker, and a veteran coaching staff intact, the Bulldogs will enter 2026 as the clear team to beat in Division II.
The 30-game winning streak, 16-0 record, 844 points, and four titles in five seasons are now part of the program’s identity. For future recruiting classes, that history is a powerful signal that Ferris State not only wins but sustains success, adapts its personnel, and keeps evolving.
For prospects looking to crack a loaded roster like Ferris State’s, the takeaway is twofold:
That is where a more data-driven approach to college discovery helps. Rather than chasing only the hottest name, athletes can map out a range of schools that align with their academic profile, positional needs, and realistic role on the roster.
Stories like Ferris State’s 2025 run are why thoughtful college matching matters. There are Division II and Division III programs quietly building elite cultures and player development pipelines, just as there are high-major and FCS programs doing the same at other levels.
With tools like Pathley, athletes and families can move beyond guesswork. You can use AI-powered search to surface schools that fit your academic interests, geographic preferences, and playing opportunities, then dive deeper into specific programs and rosters.
If you are ready to start narrowing down your options, you can create a free profile and begin exploring matches with Pathley’s sign-up experience. From there, you will be able to use features like AI college matching and recruiting insights to build a more targeted, realistic list that might include powerhouse programs like Ferris State or emerging contenders at other levels.
Ferris State’s 2025 season will go down as one of the great campaigns in NCAA history: 16-0, a national scoring record, a 30-game win streak, and four titles in five years. For recruits, it is proof that the right program fit can provide a national platform, elite development, and a shot at something historic, regardless of division label. Your job now is to find the version of Ferris State that fits you best, wherever it may be on the college football map.
