Pitt State, Ferris State Ink Two-Year Deal for 2024-25

NCAA-II Powerhouses to Meet in 2024 Opener at Carnie Smith Stadium

1/26/2024 1:30:00 PM

PITTSBURG — Pittsburg State University Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Jim Johnson announced today (Jan. 26) that the Gorillas have signed a two-year contract to play Ferris State University in the 2024 and 2025 football seasons. Pitt State will entertain the Bulldogs in the 2024 season opener on August 31 at Brandenburg Field/Carnie Smith Stadium and travel to Big Rapids, Mich., for the 2025 season opener. The 2024 season opener will highlight the newly created "Week Zero" action in NCAA Division II, showcasing two of the division's elite programs in what figures to be a top 10 match-up. The Gorillas and Bulldogs were ranked No. 5 and No. 9, respectively, in the final 2023 NCAA Division II Top 25 poll released in December. The 2024 match-up also will usher in the Tom Anthony era for Pitt State. Anthony, who served as the Gorillas defensive coordinator from 2020-22, became the program's 16th all-time head coach on Dec. 3. Pitt State and Ferris State officials worked quickly to bring the series to fruition after Division II football-sponsoring delegates approved to permit schools to play their first permissible contest one week earlier than the current legislative date at the 2024 NCAA Convention in Phoenix on Jan. 13. "We are excited to announce this update to our 2024 football schedule," Johnson said. "Obviously, we wanted to move quickly following the passage of the new NCAA legislation; and we look forward to the opportunity to host a premiere Division II football program in Ferris State University at Carnie Smith Stadium this fall. We continue to look for ways to enhance our strength of schedule in non-conference opportunities. This series certainly will provide added excitement to the start of the 2024 and 2025 seasons." Pitt State and Ferris State will meet for the second time in program history in August. The Gorillas and Bulldogs faced off in the second round of the 2022 NCAA-II playoffs at Big Rapids, Mich. Ferris State scored a hard fought, 17-14, victory over Pitt State en route to capturing its second consecutive NCAA Division II National Championship. The Bulldogs made their ninth consecutive appearance in the NCAA-II playoffs (2014-19, 2021-23) this past fall. Ferris posted an 8-3 record, falling to No. 2 ranked Grand Valley State University in the first round of postseason play. The Bulldogs are 26-12 (.684) in 14 all-time NCAA-II playoff appearances. Pitt State posted an 11-2 record in 2023. The Gorillas captured their second straight MIAA Championship and advanced to the second round of the NCAA-II playoffs, before dropping a 24-21 road decision to Grand Valley State. The all-time winningest program in Division II history, Pitt State has made 19 NCAA postseason appearances highlighted by NCAA-II National Championships in 1991 and 2011 and national runner-up finishes in 1992, 1995 and 2004. In addition to the home opener vs. the Bulldogs, the Gorillas will host their Family Day game on Sept. 14, the Hall of Fame game on Oct. 5 and Homecoming on Oct. 19. Pitt State will release its full 2024 football schedule, with opponents and start times, later this spring.

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