Ferris State enters this week a perfect 9-0 this season. The nationally top-ranked Bulldogs are on a 23-game winning streak that dates back to August 31, 2024, when FSU fell 19-3 in the season-opening game at Pittsburg State (Kansas). 

 

FSU remained unbeaten after defeating Northern Michigan 70-35 on senior day last week. The Bulldogs scored eight rushing touchdowns and finished with 597 total offensive yards in the game.

 

Wyatt Bower leads Ferris State behind center. The redshirt freshman signal caller has completed 62.9% (105-167) of his passes for 1,640 yards and 18 touchdowns. Bower is also the team's leading rusher with 639 yards and another 11 scores for a season total of 30 touchdowns. His passing yardage ranks third in the GLIAC, while his rushing yards are fourth.

 

Quarterback Chase Carter has the second-most rushing yards on the team with 389 yards and nine scores. Running back Zak Ahern has totaled 314yards and five touchdowns to help the potent Bulldog ground game.

 

Taariik Brett leads the Ferris State receiving corps with 24 catches for 339 yards and five touchdowns. Carson Gulker has 19 receptions for 314 yards and four scores, while Cam Underwood adds 18 catches for 311 and five touchdowns.

 

Alston Ware leads the defense with 40 tackles, 1.5 for loss, seven pass breakups, two interceptions, and one quarterback hurry. Isiah Bobbit-Byars has 39 stops, 4.5 for loss, three interceptions, three breakups, and two hurries. Gyasi Mattison ties Bobbit-Byars with three picks, while having the third-most tackles on the team with 35. Justin Payoute leads with four interceptions. He adds 32 tackles (4th most on the team), one forced fumble, and a recovery. The Bulldogs' leading pass rusher is Kailib Davis with five sacks on the season.

This is the 50th meeting between Saginaw Valley State and Ferris State. The Cardinals trail in the all-time series 19-29-1, and have dropped the last 10 meetings (11 counting the vacated win in 2013).

 

Three of the last four meetings have seen one-score gaps, with the average margin of victory during that stretch sitting at 7.75.

 

Sept. 27, 2014 - FSU 47, SVSU 13

Sept. 26, 2015 - FSU 35, SVSU 18

Nov. 12, 2016 - FSU 51, SVSU 17

Oct. 14, 2017 - FSU 49, SVSU 17

Oct. 20, 2018 - FSU 28, SVSU 14

Oct. 26, 2019 - FSU 34, SVSU 10

Sept. 18, 2021 - FSU 47, SVSU 45

Oct. 8, 2022 - FSU 33, SVSU 28

Sept. 30, 2023 - FSU 38, SVSU 17