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2026 Davenport vs Ferris State

5 Ways No. 9 Davenport Can Upset No. 1 Ferris State

5 Ways No. 9 Davenport Can Upset No. 1 Ferris State

No. 9 Davenport could beat No. 1 Ferris State for the first time in program history in 2026. Here are five ways they can complete the monumental upset.

Oct 30, 2026 by Cristiana Rosa
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Mic'd Up with Ferris State Football's Taariik Brett1:45

Guess who’s back, back again? The ’Dogs are back, tell a friend.

No. 1 Ferris State stays home at Top Taggart Field for an undefeated showdown with No. 9 Davenport. The Panthers travel from Caledonia to Big Rapids for the Calder City Classic on Saturday, Oct. 31, at 1 p.m. ET.

Both teams are 8-0 overall and 4-0 in the GLIAC. The winner will take sole possession of first place. It’s the 11th meeting in a series that began in 2017, and Ferris State has won all 10 previous matchups, including last year’s 44-23 victory.

Ferris State brings a 38-game winning streak into the game, two wins shy of the Division II record of 40 set by Grand Valley State. The Bulldogs are coming off a 27-20 win over No. 12 Michigan Tech.

Davenport also enters after a win, shutting out Wayne State (MI) 49-0 for its second consecutive home shutout. The Panthers held the Warriors to 112 yards, eight first downs and 0-for-15 on third down.

Both teams are looking to stay undefeated, but only one can leave with a perfect record. Here are five ways Davenport could pull off the upset.

UPCOMING

2026 Davenport vs Ferris State

Tomorrow · 5:00 PM UTC

WATCH

Get Cephus Harris Going

If you’re home to the nation’s leading rusher, you need to use him.

Cephus “Tre” Harris leads the nation with 1,587 rushing yards on 191 attempts, averaging 198.4 yards per game and 8.3 yards per carry. Harris gives the Panthers a game-changing weapon, and Davenport will need to get him the ball.

Emphasize Rushing Defense And Contain The Quarterbacks

The Panthers lead the conference in rushing defense, allowing 96.4 yards per game. To slow the GLIAC’s second-best rushing offense (292.1 yards per game), they’ll need to contain Ferris quarterbacks Wyatt Bower and Chase Carter. The two have combined for 789 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns on 121 carries. Bower averages 67.1 rushing yards per game.

Lead At Halftime

I said this in Week 8, and I’ll say it again: if a team wants to take down the ’Dogs, it needs to lead at halftime.

Ferris State has led at the break in all eight games this season. If Davenport goes into the locker room with a lead, it will be the first team to do so. Putting the Bulldogs in an unfamiliar spot could be key to the upset.

Control The Red Zone

Ferris State leads the GLIAC in red-zone trips, converting 32 of 41 opportunities into 28 touchdowns and four field goals. The Bulldogs also have the conference’s top red-zone defense, allowing scores on 13 of 20 opponent trips and just nine touchdowns.

Davenport ranks fourth in red-zone offense and second in defense. The Panthers have converted 29 of 35 trips into 23 touchdowns and six field goals. Defensively, they’ve allowed 12 touchdowns in 18 opponent trips and have not allowed a made field goal.

Take Out TB 1, 2 And 3

By TB, I mean Tae Boyd, Taariik Brett and Tarick Bower. They rank third, fourth and fifth on the team in receiving, respectively, and have combined for 28 catches and six touchdowns.

Ferris’ leading receivers, Jaylin Townsend (19 catches, two touchdowns) and Kevin Simes (23 catches, one touchdown), will also draw attention. But the TBs shouldn’t be overlooked. Containing the trio would help limit the Bulldogs’ offense.

FloCollege D2 Football Rankings Week 8

  1. Ferris State (8-0), Prev. 1
  2. Harding (8-0), Prev. 2
  3. CSU Pueblo (8-0), Prev. 3
  4. Slippery Rock (8-0), Prev. 5
  5. Kutztown (8-0), Prev. 4
  6. Minnesota State (8-0), Prev. 6
  7. Western Colorado (8-0), Prev. 7
  8. Northwood (8-0), Prev. 8
  9. Davenport (8-0), Prev. 9
  10. Emporia State (8-0), Prev. 10
  11. Northwest Missouri State (6-1), Prev. 11
  12. Findlay (7-1), Prev. 13
  13. Carson-Newman (7-1), Prev. 14
  14. North Greenville (7-1), Prev. 17
  15. Valdosta State (5-1), Prev. 16
  16. Henderson State (7-1), Prev. 18
  17. Michigan Tech (6-2), Prev. 12
  18. Virginia Union (7-1), Prev. 20
  19. East Stroudsburg (7-1), Prev. 23
  20. Benedict (7-1), Prev. 22
  21. Central Washington (6-2), Prev. 21
  22. Minnesota Duluth (6-2), Prev. 25
  23. West Liberty (7-1), Prev. RV
  24. Virginia State (7-1), Prev. RV
  25. Ouachita Baptist (6-2), Prev. RV

Received Votes:

Johnson C. Smith (6-2), Assumption (5-2), UNC Pembroke (7-2), Midwestern State (6-2), Tiffin (6-2), Augustana (S.D.) (6-2), Grand Valley State (5-3), Newberry (6-2), Kentucky State (7-2), Southeastern Oklahoma State (6-2)

D2 Football On FloCollege This Week

Saturday, Oct. 31

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