December 19th, 2025 1:00pm
By Chuck Bitner, D2Football.com
Inside D2Football National Championship Preview
Every Division II football season brings its share of surprises. Rarely do we reach the final game and find things unfolding exactly as predicted back in August. This year is the exception. While the season delivered plenty of drama, the two teams playing for the national championship have met every expectation and arrived precisely where many anticipated they would on December 20 – competing for the national title.
Before the season began, Ferris State was the unanimous No. 1 team among D2Football.com Top 25 voters. The Bulldogs entered the season as defending national champions, having claimed three of the last four titles. Right behind them was Harding, the 2023 national champion. Over the course of the season, 48 different teams appeared in the Top 25 poll at least once. Some surged, others faded. Some exited the poll as quickly as they entered. But two constants remained: Ferris State at No. 1 and Harding at No. 2. Both opened the season in those spots and never moved.
Traveling to McKinney has become a regular routine for Ferris State. The Bulldogs have been the premier program in Division II for the past decade. In that time, the Bulldogs have won three national championships, seven regional titles. Tony Annese, already the winningest coach in program history, has guided Ferris State for 14 years. In his tenure, the Bulldogs have 151 wins against just 21 losses. This year’s team has lived up to the standard but over the offseason, Annese did not expect another championship run. Reflecting on roster turnover and its impact on their goals of being in the championship game, Annese expressed “No chance did I think this was going to happen. You have goals, and everyone wants to win, but to think when we got together in August that we would be going back to Texas again, for the fifth time in seven years, is unbelievable” Annese may have had doubts, but his team has never flinched and they enter the national final riding a 29-game winning streak, dating back to August 31, 2024.
Ferris State wins in many ways, but their formula usually involves overwhelming opponents with an offense that is loaded with explosive players. The Bulldogs lead all NCAA divisions in scoring, averaging 53.8 points per game, and have topped 50 points nine times, including three of four playoff contests.
True to form, Ferris State’s offensive production comes from a deep cast of contributors. Expect to see at least three different players take snaps today, with the starter possibly undecided until kickoff. Chase Carter has been the primary quarterback recently, but the Bulldogs turned to Wyatt Bower in the semifinals. Bower was the Bulldogs’ starter for most of the regular season. Both are likely to play significant roles, having combined for 33 passing touchdowns and 30 rushing scores. Adding to the mix is Carson Gulker, who primarily plays tight end/H-back but brings quarterback experience and has scored as a passer, rusher, and receiver.
Regardless of who’s under center, the backfield operates behind one of the nation’s best offensive lines. Tackle Tim Anderson, winner of the Gene Upshaw Award for top senior lineman, anchors a unit that also features all-region selections Jarvis Windom and Bob Anderson. They’ll protect the quarterbacks and pave the way for playmakers like Brady Rose, a standout in last year’s title game, and leading receiver Taariik Brett.
Defensively, Ferris State boasts elite talent, led by Justin Payoute, a first-team all-region defensive back with nine interceptions—the most in the country. Fellow DB Ahlston Ware and lineman Kailib Davis also earned all-region honors. Speed and athleticism define this defense, and they’ll need every bit of it against Harding’s prolific rushing attack.
Harding’s fearsome flexbone offense has churned out 6,859 rushing yards—the most in a single season in college football history. For perspective, the previous record was also set by Harding during their 2023 championship season. Five players have topped 500 rushing yards, led by fullback Andrew Miller, a Harlon Hill finalist and the nation’s second-leading rusher. Miller averages 132 yards per game and needs just 117 more to surpass 2,000 for the season. Miller grinds out the tough yards inside, but his compliment is GAC offensive player of the year Braden Jay. The speedy slot back is perhaps the most elusive and electrifying player in the country and a threat to go the distance on every touch. He averages 12.5 yards per rush attempt, which is a Division II record.
Quarterback Cole Keylon will also be heavily involved in the run game. The unbreakable senior has endured multiple injuries during the playoffs but hasn’t missed a beat. Head coach Paul Simmons spoke of his quarterback’s endurance after last Saturday’s semifinal win. “The young man has more toughness and warrior spirit in his pinky finger than most man have in their entire body. He’s one-of-one when it comes to toughness.” Keylon has been under center for four years and has led the Bisons to 51 victories, tying the NCAA record for most wins by a starting quarterback – a record that can be broken today if Harding is victorious. Keylon works behind an offensive line that includes three first team All-region players. The unit is led by Jake Mitchell who was a finalist of the Gene Upshaw Award.
As impressive as Harding’s offense is, the defense is equally formidable. The Bisons lead the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 10.8 points per game, with four shutouts and three other games holding opponents to seven points. No team scored more than 14 against Harding in the regular season. Linebacker Clark Griffin, the GAC Defensive Player of the Year, anchors the unit with 10 tackles per game. He’s supported by all-region lineman Justin Sobczack and defensive backs Troy Wiseman and Ty Dugger. Harding thrives on negative plays, producing 90 this season, including 30 sacks. Expect pressure up front coming from linebacker Jordan Mays and linemen Kaden Spencer and Joseph Oluwayemi.
A win today would cap an historic run for Harding and head coach Paul Simmons. Under Simmons’ leadership, Harding is 92-15 with four GAC championships, seven playoff appearances and a national tile. His senior class has elevated the program to elite status. Asked about the accomplishments of his graduating seniors, Simmons remarked “This group of players is 51-4 with a national championship. A lot of these seniors that are great players are ones that no one else wanted. We recruited against nobody. But we try really hard to recruit special people and special winners.” He revealed that it’s hard to face moving ahead after today’s game. “The thought is already creeping in that after this game, no matter what, it’ll be done. We’ll be done with these guys. That’s hard to think about because they’ve meant so much to Harding football and have made an impact way beyond wins.”
Ferris State, meanwhile, can further cement its legacy. A victory would give the Bulldogs a fourth national championship, tying Valdosta State and Grand Valley State for third-most all-time. It would also mark four titles in five years—a feat achieved only once before.
The expansion of the playoff field this year has added an extra bit of intrigue for today’s matchup. With both teams entering the day with 15-0 records, the winner will conclude the season a perfect 16-0. That will set a new Division II record for most wins in a season by a national champion. Regardless of the outcome, it will be a history making result.