The undefeated Ferris State Bulldogs (14-0) clash with the surging Newberry Wolves (12-1) in a pivotal NCAA Division II Football National Semifinals matchup on Saturday, December 13, 2025. Defending national champions Ferris State, seeking their fourth title in five years, host a Newberry squad making program history in its deepest playoff run ever. This GLIAC vs. SAC showdown at Top Taggart Field pits Ferris State’s explosive spread-option offense against Newberry’s gritty comeback defense. With the winner advancing to the DII Championship on December 20 in McKinney, Texas, expect a cold-weather battle emphasizing ground control and big plays. Broadcast on ESPN+.
Venue Location
Top Taggart Field
Ferris State University, 1201 S State St, Big Rapids, MI 49307
The Bulldogs’ 6,000-seat home has been a playoff fortress, where FSU is 9-0 this season and boasts a +34.7 average margin in postseason home games.
Kickoff: 12:00 p.m. ET (11:00 a.m. CT local time)
Weather Forecast
Expect seasonably cold conditions in Big Rapids, with highs around 32°F (0°C) and lows dipping to 22°F (-6°C) by kickoff. Lake-effect flurries are possible early (20-30% chance), transitioning to partly cloudy skies with light winds from the northwest at 5-10 mph. Ground conditions should favor Ferris State’s run-heavy attack, but any snow could test Newberry’s ball security on the road.
Injury Report
Both teams report clean bills of health entering the semifinals, with no major absences noted as of December 9, 2025. Ferris State has managed minor bumps from their quarterfinal win, while Newberry overcame early-season QB depth issues.
| Team | Player | Position | Status | Injury Details | Est. Return |
| Ferris State Bulldogs | None major | – | – | – | – |
| Newberry Wolves | None major | – | – | QB Reed Charpia (minor ankle, full practice Dec. 8) | Dec. 13 |
Updates: Newberry QB Reed Charpia tweaked his ankle in the Albany State win but is confirmed probable after full participation in Tuesday’s walkthrough. Ferris State’s depth chart remains intact post-Minnesota State, with no players on the sideline longer than a week.
Key Player Matchups
Ferris State’s league-leading offense (515.8 YPG) meets Newberry’s opportunistic secondary in a clash of styles. Watch these battles:
Chase Carter (FSU QB, 2,931 pass yds, 25 TDs, 149 rush yds in playoffs) vs. Jonathan Sexton (Newberry DE, 10 sacks, 15 TFL): Carter’s dual-threat mobility (7.0 YPC rushing) tests Sexton’s edge rush (team-high 26 sacks allowed by Wolves foes). Sexton has 3 sacks in playoffs but faces FSU’s stout O-line (Tim Anderson, All-Super Region honoree).
Key’Vell Cooper (FSU RB, 1,200+ rush yds, 15 TDs) vs. Aakil Brown (Newberry OLB, 85 tackles, 2 FF): Cooper’s burst (5.8 YPC) exploits gaps against Brown’s sideline-to-sideline speed. Brown leads SAC in stops but struggled vs. mobile backs (4.5 YPC allowed).
Darian Kruja (FSU WR, 800+ rec yds, 10 TDs) vs. Elijah Vereen (Newberry CB, 5 INTs, 45 tackles): Kruja’s route-running meets Vereen’s ball-hawking (team-high 13 INTs). Vereen has 2 picks in playoffs, but FSU’s spread stretches coverage.
Gyasi Mattison (FSU DB, 4 INTs, 2 FF) vs. Reed Charpia (Newberry QB, 3,947 pass yds, 29 TDs): Mattison’s instincts (25 team INTs) challenge Charpia’s accuracy (64% comp). Charpia’s 4,000+ yds milestone adds pressure.
Michael Shimek (FSU DE, 8 sacks) vs. Jonah Norris (Newberry H-B, 500 all-purpose yds, 5 TDs): Shimek’s pass rush disrupts Norris’ versatile runs (trucking style, 82-yd reception).
Bench impact: FSU’s Wyatt Bower (QB2) and Newberry’s Quez Spells (RB, 52 yds in QF) could swing momentum.
Recent Team Forms
Ferris State remains perfect, while Newberry rides a 10-game win streak after an early loss.
Ferris State Bulldogs (5-0 in last 5; 10-0 in last 10):
Dec. 6: W 52-29 vs. Minnesota State (Carter: 175 pass/149 rush yds, 4 total TDs; +23 turnover margin)
Nov. 29: W 56-24 vs. Ashland (Cooper: 120 rush yds, 2 TDs; defense 4 INTs)
Nov. 22: W 65-14 vs. Northwood (Kruja: 3 rec TDs; 500+ total yds)
Nov. 15: W 44-23 @ Davenport (Mattison: 2 INTs; held foes under 200 yds)
Nov. 8: W 51-45 @ Saginaw Valley State (2OT; Carter 300+ total yds)
The Bulldogs average 53.8 PPG in wins, forcing 25 INTs (league-high). Road/neutral form: 5-0.
Newberry Wolves (5-0 in last 5; 9-1 in last 10):
Dec. 6: W 31-24 @ Albany State (Charpia: 250 pass yds, game-winning TD; rallied from 21-3 deficit)
Nov. 29: W 24-17 @ West Florida (Spells: 52 rush yds; defense 2 INTs, late FG seals it)
Nov. 22: W 45-24 vs. Kentucky State (Desaussure: 100+ rec yds, 2 TDs; 400+ total offense)
Nov. 8: W 28-21 vs. Carson-Newman (Norris: 2 rush TDs; +10 time of possession)
Nov. 1: W 24-21 @ Anderson (Coleman: 102 rec yds, TD; 4th-quarter comeback)
Newberry excels in close games (8-0 in one-score contests), scoring 21 4th-quarter points in playoffs.
Conference vs. Conference
The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) holds a dominant edge over the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) in all-time DII football matchups (28-12 since 2000), with GLIAC teams winning 7 of 9 playoff meetings. GLIAC boasts 12 national titles (most in DII), while SAC has 2. Ferris State’s conference (53.8 offensive PPG) outscores SAC’s average (31.9), but SAC defenses rank top-10 in red-zone stops (78.4%).
Team Records
| Team | Overall Record | Home/Away/Neutral | ATS Record (est.) | Over/Under Record (est.) |
| Ferris State Bulldogs | 14-0 (.1000) | 9-0 Home / 5-0 Away | 12-2-0 | 9-5 |
| Newberry Wolves | 12-1 (.923) | 7-0 Home / 5-1 Away | 10-3-0 | 8-5 |
Ferris State leads DII in scoring (53.8 PPG) and total offense (515.8 YPG); Newberry ranks 15th in scoring defense (22.9 PPG allowed).
Series History
This marks the first-ever meeting between Ferris State and Newberry—no prior regular-season or playoff clashes. Ferris State is 33-12 all-time in DII playoffs (7-1 in semis), while Newberry is 3-0 this postseason but 0-1 lifetime in semifinals (last appearance: 2018).
| Date | Result | Score | Key Stat |
| N/A | First Meeting | – | – |
Betting Trends
Spread Trends: Ferris State 10-4 ATS as 10+ favorites; Newberry 7-1 ATS in road underdog spots (covering in 3 playoff wins).
Total Trends: 9 of FSU’s 14 games hit over (64%); Newberry unders in 6 of 8 road games.
Playoff H2H N/A, but DII semis average 51.2 points.
Moneyline Trends: FSU 14-0 SU as favorites; Newberry 5-1 SU as underdogs.
Predicted Score: Ferris State Bulldogs 38, Newberry Wolves 24
Game Odds
Ferris State Bulldogs – 14.5
Newberry Wolves 54.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, December 12, 2025
