31 Straight Wins: Has Ferris State Outgrown Division II?

Since August 31, 2024, Ferris State University's football team, the Bulldogs, have been on an unstoppable 31-game winning streak. The streak began when they faced their most recent loss, a 19-3 defeat at Pittsburg State, and dismantled the No. 4 Gorillas, 42-14, in a game that saw the Bulldogs run for 385 yards while holding Pittsburg State to just 44 rushing yards.

This victory not only extended the Bulldogs' winning streak but also reaffirmed their status as the top team in Division II, a ranking they achieved at the start of the season.

The Bulldogs' dominance extends beyond just the scoreboard. In 2025, they finished their season with a perfect 16-0 record, becoming the first team in the modern era of Division I or Division II football to accomplish this feat. Their offensive firepower was on full display, as they scored 844 points, setting a new NCAA Division I and II modern-era scoring record. This level of performance is not just impressive; it suggests that the Bulldogs have outgrown the confines of Division II.

The question now isn't whether Ferris State belongs among the nation's elite. It's whether Division II is still big enough for this powerhouse. Becoming a Division I program would come with its own set of challenges, including larger budgets, deeper scholarship commitments, greater travel demands, and tougher recruiting competition.

The university would need to carefully consider whether the financial and institutional investment is worth the leap. However, the Bulldogs' unprecedented success in Division II makes the argument for moving up increasingly difficult to dismiss. As Ferris State continues to dominate Division II, the next hurdle may not be another Division II opponent, but the jump to Division I itself.