Has football life in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference become consistently predictable, or are we going get some chaos, surprises and upsets this season?

Hardcore fans know things in college sports are cyclical, but how long the highs and lows will last remains the greatest mystery.

Right now probably is the greatest time to be alive for Ferris State students and fans, but the most ambitious Northern Michigan students are growing dangerously close to graduating without seeing their football team win a game.

All eight GLIAC teams will be back in action this week, with five programs looking for their second conference wins in 2025, and three teams hoping to be the first of the bottom bunch to find the win column. 

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To add a little context to the comment above, the Ferris State Bulldogs have won 19 consecutive games, including the final of the 2024 NCAA Division II Football Championship for their third national title in four years.

At the other end of the spectrum, the NMU Wildcats have lost 27 straight games, with their last victory coming at the end of the 2022 campaign. 

Even a casual fan in recent years could peek in on the results and standings and not be surprised to see:

• A huge point total from Ferris State
• Talk about the FSU-Grand Valley State Anchor-Bone Classic ultimately determining the conference champion (this year’s game is Oct. 25)
• A tough week for Northern Michigan
• Jockeying for third place between Michigan Tech, Saginaw Valley State and Davenport - but only because each team suffered something self-inflicted to delay a changing of the guard at the top of the GLIAC standings

Is this the week things finally change? 

NMU has the chance to make the 50th anniversary of its 1975 national championship even more memorable. 

Wayne State could be the first team in almost a month to score on Ferris State. 

Michigan Tech could establish itself as a title contender ahead of next week’s visit from the reigning national champions.

However, it’s not like the previous weeks this season have been boring. 

FSU has flirted with 80 points the last two times out, which always is exciting, and there really have been some tight games this season for the underdogs. The constant “will they, won’t they” definitely keeps us coming back for more.

Anyway, here’s a look at the matchups for the GLIAC teams during Week 6 of the 2025 season, along with predictions for each game.

Note: All start times for Saturday are Eastern. Games marked with an asterisk will be streamed live on FloCollege.

GLIAC Teams In Week 6

Oct. 11 (Saturday)

* Wayne State At Ferris State, 1 p.m.

After opening the 2024 season with a shocking loss, what the Ferris State Bulldogs did to most of their opponents the rest of the way was diabolical. 

Ferris State rebounded with 14 consecutive wins, scoring 40 or more points 10 times, and cruised to the Division II national championship with a 49-14 win over perennial powerhouse Valdosta State.

However, one of the closest games for FSU came against the unlikeliest of opponents, then-winless Wayne State. 

The weather-affected contest came after a four-game winning stretch, during which the Bulldogs outscored their opponents 238-26, and it ended up spanning two days.

Ferris State led 17-0 at one point, before the Warriors narrowed the deficit to 17-14. Though the end result was a 27-14 Ferris State win and the sixth of nine consecutive losses for WSU, it was a huge statement game for Wayne State.

WSU played impressively close games the rest of the way and ended the year with wins against Roosevelt and Northern Michigan to get to 2-9 overall. 

Even after hitting that bump in the road, the Bulldogs never slowed down, and their momentum has carried into the 2025 campaign, which has started with another five wins to extend their streak to 19 consecutive victories. In the most recent two wins, Ferris State has outscored its opponents 142-0.

The Warriors have gone the other way this season and will travel to Big Rapids, Michigan, this week at 0-5, while riding a 10-game losing streak against the Bulldogs. The last time Wayne State beat FSU was back-to-back victories in 2008 and 2009.

PREDICTION: While it’s hard not to love an underdog success story, it’s possible that not even the Detroit Lions could stop Ferris State right now. Ferris State wins 56-6.

* Roosevelt At Saginaw Valley State, 2 p.m.

Roosevelt’s second year at the Division II level, and in the GLIAC, started with a victory against Quincy. That matched the Lakers’ win total from 2024 (they were 1-9) and had to fill them with hope that they finally were finding their footing in their new digs.

Unfortunately, despite a couple of close games, the Lakers are 1-3 and coming off a 66-0 beating from defending national champion Ferris State.

Depending which Saginaw Valley State team is there to host the Lakers this weekend, the matchup could be very winnable for the visitors.

SVSU has been its own worst enemy in recent years, making crucial mistakes that have turned potentially great seasons into middle-of-the-road finishes in the GLIAC standings. 

In 2024, the Cardinals stalled offensively in games against Grand Valley State, Ferris State and Michigan Tech, failing to score in the fourth quarter of any of the three games.

Against GVSU, Saginaw Valley State led 9-3 at halftime but lost 16-9. In the Ferris State contest, neither team scored in the final 15 minutes, and the Bulldogs escaped with a 27-24 win. Lastly, in the season finale against Michigan Tech, SVSU led 28-10 at halftime and ended up surrendering 22 fourth-quarter points to lose 32-28.

With those three losses, SVSU finished in a three-way tie for third place in the GLIAC at 4-3. FSU took the title at 7-0, and GVSU was second at 6-1.

A clean slate in 2025, unfortunately, started the same way for the Cardinals, as a scoreless fourth quarter in their season-opener against Northeastern State saw a 21-13 lead turn into a 28-21 loss.

SVSU enters this week’s game against Roosevelt at 2-3 overall, but 1-0 in the all-important conference play, following a 47-25 win over Northern Michigan last week. A 26-point outburst in the second quarter put the game away early.

PREDICTION: Both of these teams really could use a win. Roosevelt needs some redemption after last week’s loss to Ferris State, and SVSU could use some momentum and confidence with Grand Valley State on the schedule for next weekend. SVSU pulls this one out at home, 24-13.

* Michigan Tech At Davenport, 2 p.m.

Michigan Tech and Davenport have lived on the verge of a breakthrough, but they both have fallen short, letting Ferris State and GVSU run the show in the GLIAC.

Last season, the Huskies and Panthers had identical records – 7-4 overall and 4-3 in GLIAC games – to share third place with Saginaw Valley State.

In their head-to-head matchup, Davenport left Houghton, Michigan, with a third consecutive win over the Huskies, and the Panthers now lead their all-time series 4-3.

This time, Davenport will play host to surging Michigan Tech, which is 4-1 overall and looking to get back into the American Football Coaches Association top-25 rankings. 

The Huskies bounced back from a recent loss with a 48-24 win against Wayne State last weekend to kick off conference play. 

Davenport is 2-2, and the last two games on the Panthers’ schedule were a canceled meeting with Lincoln (Calif.) and a 37-14 loss to Grand Valley State to even their GLIAC record at 1-1. The Panthers were the first team to earn a GLIAC win this year, defeating Northern Michigan on Sept. 20. 

PREDICTION: This one really is pretty evenly matched and should be the most competitive game on this week’s GLIAC schedule. Michigan Tech will escape with the win, 38-35.

* Grand Valley State At Northern Michigan, 7 p.m.

Northern Michigan’s most winnable game is coming up – but not until next week.

This week, the Wildcats will welcome Grand Valley State to the Superior Dome, and regardless of how the game turns out, it’s an important weekend for NMU.

Along with getting to test their progress against the No. 9 team in the FloCollege Division II Football Rankings, the Wildcats will get to remind everyone in attendance that they, in fact, were the first GLIAC team – in any sport – to win a national championship.

Northern Michigan’s run to glory featured one of the most inspirational turnarounds in football history. 

The Wildcats posted an 0-10 record in 1974 but were dominant the next two seasons. 

They went 13-1 in 1975 and defeated Western Kentucky 16-14 to win the Division II national championship. In 1976, they were 11-2 and reached the national semifinals. Even a 7-3 performance in 1977 saw them advance to the national quarterfinals. 

It’s now the 50th anniversary of NMU’s title, and they’ll be celebrating all week in Marquette, Michigan. 

The itinerary includes an alumni-and-friends happy hour, a panel discussion with former players, one last team practice before the GVSU game, an anniversary dinner, a viewing of the 1975 championship game and a pre-game tailgate on Saturday.

Would it be the perfect backdrop to end the team’s 27-game losing streak? Absolutely. The Wildcats also would be ending a nine-game losing streak to Grand Valley State that includes losses of 56-3, 73-14 and 49-17 in 2022, 2023 and 2024, respectively. 

The last time Northern Michigan beat the Lakers was 2012. In Marquette. And that win came after 11 straight losses to GVSU. 

Coming into this week, the Wildcats are 0-5 overall and 0-2 in conference games. They’re coming off a 47-25 road loss to Saginaw Valley State.

If Northern Michigan could pull this off, it would be epic. Hollywood would come calling – or maybe just the FloCollege documentary crew. Either way, it probably would be a win/weekend they’d have a celebration for 50 years from now. Perhaps some of the players from the 1975 team still have eligibility and want to suit up?

GVSU is 3-1 and coming off a 37-14 win against Davenport that followed two bye weeks. 

PREDICTION: At best, Northern Michigan somehow wins, and the Wildcats make SportsCenter. At worst, they play hard and get a legit tune-up before facing beatable Roosevelt next week. GVSU wins 42-13.

How Did The GLIAC Football Teams Perform In Week 5?

*GLIAC teams in bold

• Michigan Tech def. Wayne State, 48-24
• Ferris State def. Roosevelt, 66-0
• Saginaw Valley State def. Northern Michigan, 47-25
• Grand Valley State def. Davenport, 37-14

Watch More GLIAC Football On FloCollege

Here’s a look at the Division II rankings, the schedule for Week 6 of the 2025 college football season and more.

Latest Division II Rankings 

FloCollege D2 Football Rankings: Week 6

1. Ferris State (Prev. 1)
2. Harding (Prev. 2)
3. Kutztown (Prev. 3)
4. West Florida (Prev. 4)
5. Western Colorado (Prev. 6)
6. UT Permian Basin (Prev. 9)
7. Minnesota Duluth (Prev. 7)
8. Minnesota State (Prev. 11)
9. Grand Valley State (Prev. 10)
10. West Alabama (Prev. 8)
11. Angelo State (Prev. 5)
12. CSU Pueblo (Prev. 15)
13. Central Washington (Prev. 13)
14. Augustana (SD) (Prev. 12)
15. Pittsburg State (Prev. 16)
16. Virginia Union (Prev. 17)
17. Michigan Tech (Prev. 18)
18. Delta State (Prev. 21)
19. Emory & Henry (Prev. 20)
20. Indianapolis (Prev. 23)
21. Charleston (WV) (Prev. 22)
22. Slippery Rock (Prev. 14)
23. UNC Pembroke (Prev. 25)
24. Findlay (Prev. NR)
25. Northwest Missouri State (Prev. NR)

Also Received Votes: California (PA), Johnson C. Smith, Albany State, Frostburg State, MSU Moorhead, Catawba, Benedict, East Stroudsburg, Indiana (PA), Anderson (SC), Ashland.

AFCA Division II Coaches Poll For Week 6 Of 2025 Season

• 1. Ferris St. (Prev. 1)
• 2. Harding (Prev. 2)
• 3. West Florida (Prev. 3)
• 4. Kutztown (Prev. 4)
• 5. Western Colorado (Prev. 7)
• 6. UT Permian Basin (Prev. 9)
• 7. Augustana (S.D.) (Prev. 8)
• 8. Grand Valley St. (Prev. 10)
• 9. West Alabama (Prev. 11)
• 10. Minnesota-Duluth (Prev. 13)
• 11. Colorado St.-Pueblo (Prev. 12)
• 12. Angelo St. (Prev. 5)
• 13. Central Washington (Prev. 16)
• 14. Minnesota St. (Prev. 15)
• 15. Pittsburg St. (Prev. 17)
• 16. California (Pa.) (Prev. 6)
• 17. Virginia Union (Prev. 18)
• 18. UIndy (Prev. 19)
• 19. Findlay (Prev. 21)
• 20. Delta St. (Prev. 20)
• 21. Frostburg St. (Prev. 23)
• 22. Northwest Missouri St. (Prev. 24)
• 23. UNC Pembroke (Prev. 25)
• T24. Ashland (Prev. NR)
• T24. Johnson C. Smith (Prev. NR)
• T24. Slippery Rock (Prev. 14)

Dropped Out: Carson-Newman (22)

Others Receiving Votes: Benedict, 23; Indiana (Pa.), 15; Fort Hays St., 14; Southern Arkansas, 14; Charleston, 9; Catawba, 8; Emory & Henry, 8; Nebraska-Kearney, 4; Chadron St., 3; Henderson St., 3; Upper Iowa, 3; Albany St., 2; Carson-Newman, 1; Edward Waters, 1.

When Do The 2025 NCAA Division II College Football Playoffs Start?

The first round of the 2025 NCAA Division II Playoffs will be Nov. 22.

The 2025 Division II Football Championship title game will be played Dec. 20, 2025, at McKinney ISD Stadium in McKinney, Texas.

Michigan Tech Football vs. Wayne State (Mich.) Game Highlights | 2025 GLIAC Football

Watch the highlights from the 2025 meeting between Michigan Tech and Wayne State on Oct. 4, 2025.

Archived Footage On FloCollege

Video footage from all games will be archived and stored in a video library for FloCollege subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscriptions.

Watch The 2025 College Football Season On FloCollege

FloCollege is the home of the best FCS, Division II and Division III football action all season long. 

Don’t miss the latest college football action by bookmarking the FloCollege schedule page for the latest games. 

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