In their 13th season under head coach Tony Annese, the Bulldogs compiled a 14–1 record and were ranked No.
After losing the season opener on the road against Pittsburg State, the Bulldogs finished the season with 14 consecutive victories and won the GLIAC championship and the NCAA Division II national championship.
Ferris State participated in the NCAA Division II Football Championship playoffs, beating Central Oklahoma in the second round, defending national champion Harding in the quarterfinals, Slippery Rock in the semifinals, and Valdosta State in the NCAA Division II national championship game.
The Bulldogs set a new program single-game scoring record with 84 points against American International.
[1] They also scored 78 points (the most ever by Ferris State in a playoff game) and tallied 688 yards of total offense against Central Oklahoma in a second-round playoff game.