After a week off, the Ferris State Bulldogs will be back in action, this time for a visit from Central Oklahoma for the second round of the 2024 NCAA Division II Football Championship.

For being ranked No. 1 in Super Region Three this season, Ferris State earned a week of rest, while 24 of the 28 playoff teams battled through the opening round last weekend.

The Bulldogs will welcome the Bronchos to Top Taggart Field in Big Rapids, Michigan, for the first meeting in history between the two programs. Kickoff is set for Saturday at noon Eastern.

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Ferris State enters the contest at 10-1 overall, including 10 consecutive wins to end the regular season, ranked No. 2 in the latest American Football Coaches Association Division II Coaches Poll and reeling from a fourth Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title since 2018.

The Bulldogs are chasing their third Division II national championship in four years and definitely have something to prove after ending their bid for a three-peat last year with a first-round loss to GLIAC foe Grand Valley State. 

When FSU takes the field against Central Oklahoma on Saturday, it will mark the Bulldogs’ 10th consecutive year of playoff action. Oh, and having a first-round bye worked out for Ferris State in 2021 – in their four-game journey to the national title, the Bulldogs scored 54, 41, 55 and 58 points. 

Since being limited to just three points and losing their 2024 season opener to Pittsburg State, the Bulldogs have outscored their opponents 456-102, while climbing to No. 2 in the AFCA poll and No. 1 in the latest D2Football.com Top 25 Poll. 

Central Oklahoma is 11-1 this season and coming off a thrilling 38-31 overtime win against Ouachita Baptist in last week’s first round.

UCO used a 10-play, 75-yard scoring drive to take a 31-28 lead with just over three minutes to play in the game, but the Tigers answered with a game-tying field goal on the ensuing drive. 

In the overtime period, Ouachita Baptist won the coin toss and chose to let the home team have first crack at pulling ahead. The Bronchos did just that on four plays, and the Tigers were unable to respond.  

The Bronchos haven’t been relevant in a long time, as this year is their first trip to the playoffs in 21 years, while the win over Ouachita Baptist was their first postseason victory in a quarter of a century. 

Central Oklahoma has been to the playoffs four previous times, but not since 2003, and now owns a 4-4 record in the postseason. 

Coming into the 2024 playoffs, Central Oklahoma was No. 8 in the AFCA poll but ranks No. 1 in Division II football in total offense, averaging 546.2 yards per game, including 537 against Ouachita Baptist, and No. 2 in scoring offense with 46.7 points per contest. 

The winner of the Central Oklahoma-Ferris State showdown will advance to next week's quarterfinals and meet the winner of the Harding-Grand Valley State game.

How To Watch The Central Oklahoma Football Vs. Ferris State Division II Playoff Game

The Central Oklahoma vs. Ferris State playoff football game will be broadcast live on ESPN+.

Highlights, breaking news and full coverage of the Division II playoffs will be available on FloFootball. 

When Are The NCAA Division II Football Playoffs?

• First round: Saturday, Nov. 23
• Second round: Saturday, Nov. 30 
• Quarterfinals: Saturday, Dec. 7 
• Semifinals: Saturday, Dec. 14
• National championship: Saturday, Dec. 21

When Is The NCAA Division II Championship Game?

The NCAA Division II championship game is set for Saturday, Dec. 21 in McKinney, Texas.

NCAA Division II Football Playoff Schedule

First Round: Saturday, Nov. 23

• Slippery Rock def. New Haven, 14-7
• Ashland def. Charleston (W.Va.), 40-38
• California (Pa.) def. East Stroudsburg, 30-27
• Miles def. Carson-Newman, 14-13
• Virginia Union def. Wingate, 34-31
• Lenoir-Rhyne def. West Alabama, 37-34
• Central Oklahoma def. Ouachita Baptist, 38-31
• Grand Valley State def. UIndy, 24-7
• Harding def. Pittsburg State, 48-3
• Minnesota State def. Augustana (S.D.), 20-19
• Western Colorado def. Central Washington, 28-21
• Bemidji State def. Angelo State, 24-14

Second Round: Saturday, Nov. 30

• Kutztown vs. Slippery Rock
• Ashland vs. California (Pa.)
• Valdosta State vs. Miles
• Virginia Union vs. Lenoir-Rhyne
• Ferris State vs. Central Oklahoma
• Grand Valley State vs. Harding
• CSU Pueblo vs. Minnesota State
• Western Colorado vs. Bemidji State

AFCA Division II Football Rankings

As of Nov. 18, 2024

1. Valdosta St. (Ga.) (27) 10-0
2. Ferris St. (Mich.) (3) 10-1
3. Kutztown (Pa.) 11-0
4. Harding (Ark.) 10-1
5. Grand Valley St. (Mich.) 10-1
6. Charleston (W.Va.) 11-0
7. Colorado St.-Pueblo 10-1
8. Central Oklahoma 10-1
9. Ouachita Baptist (Ark.) 10-1
10. Western Colorado 10-1
11. Slippery Rock (Pa.) 9-1
12. West Alabama 9-1
13. Pittsburg St. (Kan.) 8-2
14. Indianapolis (Ind.) 10-1
15. Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.) 9-2
16. Angelo St. (Tex.) 9-2
17. Wingate (N.C.) 9-1
18. Colorado School of Mines 8-3
19. Central Washington 8-3
20. California (Pa.) 8-2
21. West Florida 7-3
22. Augustana (S.D.) 8-3
23. Southern Arkansas 9-2
24. Carson-Newman (Tenn.) 9-2
25. Central Missouri 8-3

Dropped Out: Minnesota St. (18), Findlay (Ohio) (22).

Others Receiving Votes: Fort Hays St. (Kan.), 65; East Stroudsburg (Pa.), 45; Virginia Union, 38; Miles (Ala.), 36; Minnesota St., 34; New Haven (Conn.), 21; Findlay (Ohio), 18; Bemidji St. (Minn.), 9; Sioux Falls (S.D.), 4; Davenport (Mich.), 3; Ashland (Ohio), 2; Glenville St. (W.Va.), 1.

To see the D2Football.com Top 25 Poll, click here.

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