Four-Time National Champion Ferris State Picked As Nation's Preseason #1 Team By Lindy's Sports

Big Rapids, Mich. - The first preseason national poll of the year has been officially announced and four-time national champion Ferris State University has been picked as the nation's #1 team, according to Lindy's Sports.

Lindy's Sports unveiled its preseason Division II top 10 rankings in its annual college football yearbook that hit newsstands this month and the Bulldogs were tabbed at the top of the list.

Ferris State enters the 2026 season having won four of the past five NCAA Division II National Championships, including back-to-back titles in 2024 and 2025.

The Bulldogs were picked first with Kutztown second followed by Harding, Minnesota State and Northwest Missouri State in the top five. FSU beat both Harding and Minnesota State a year ago during a memorable playoff run to the national title.

The second five consisted of Grand Valley State in sixth followed by Pittsburg State, Indianapolis, Western Colorado and Frostburg State.

The Bulldogs will begin their 117th season of varsity competition this coming fall with their sights set on making a nation-leading 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, highlighted by back-to-back national titles in 2021 and 2022 along with 2024 and 2025 during the stretch.

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 seven seasons of on-field action.

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 Tony Annese as head coach in 2012.

The Bulldogs will open the 2026 season on the road, visiting Pittsburg State (Kan.) in a D2 National Showdown on Thursday, Aug. 27, in Pittsburg, Kan.

Season and single-game tickets for the 2026 season will go on sale soon.

Lindy's Sports D2 Preseason Top 10
1. Ferris State
2. Kutztown
3. Harding
4. Minnesota State
5. NW Missouri State
6. Grand Valley State
7. Pittsburg State
8. Indianapolis
9. Western Colorado
10. Frostburg State