The 2025 NCAA Division II Football National Championship pits two undefeated juggernauts against each other: the Harding Bison (15-0) from the Great American Conference (GAC) and the Ferris State Bulldogs (15-0) from the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC). This rematch of recent playoff clashes features the defending champions in Ferris State, who have won three of the last four DII titles, against Harding’s historic rushing attack that shattered NCAA records en route to the finals. The winner claims the school’s fourth national championship (Ferris seeks a repeat; Harding aims for its second in three years). Broadcast on ESPN2, this neutral-site showdown at McKinney ISD Stadium promises a clash of styles: Harding’s flexbone triple-option (6,697 rushing yards, nearing 7,000) versus Ferris State’s balanced, opportunistic offense (53.5 PPG).
Venue and Logistics
Location: McKinney ISD Stadium, McKinney, Texas (a Dallas suburb, 30 miles north of downtown). Capacity: 16,500 (fully enclosed with artificial turf; hosted DII finals since 2016). Expect a pro-Ferris crowd due to Midwest fan travel ease, but Harding’s Arkansas faithful will counter with charter buses.
Kickoff: 4:00 p.m. ET / 3:00 p.m. CT (ESPN2)
Weather Forecast: Mild Texas winter conditions with kickoff temperatures around 55°F under partly cloudy skies, dropping to 33°F by halftime. Winds from the south at 10-15 mph and a 25% chance of scattered showers (0.1 inches possible). No major disruptions expected, favoring Harding’s ground game (8-0 in rain this season) over Ferris State’s passing efficiency (85% completion in winds <15 mph).
Injury Report
Both teams are at near-full strength after dominant semifinals, with no major absences reported. Depth from undefeated seasons provides insurance.
Harding Bison:
Out: None. Clean health slate post-Kutztown.
Questionable: Freshman OL reserve (minor knee tweak in semifinals) – not a starter; practiced fully.
Probable: RB Andrew Miller (1,977 rushing yards, 23 TDs) – cleared after routine maintenance; ran for 157 yards and 4 TDs vs. Kutztown without issue. Harding’s O-line allowed zero sacks in the playoffs, underscoring their robustness.
Ferris State Bulldogs:
Out: Senior DL reserve (preseason shoulder surgery) – depth player only.
Questionable: WR Tarick Bower (team-high 1,200 receiving yards) – minor ankle roll vs. Newberry but returned for 41-yard TD; full go.
Probable: QB Wyatt Bower (3,800 passing yards, 40 TDs) – no concerns; threw for 250+ yards in semis despite frigid conditions. Ferris State’s defense forced 5 turnovers vs. Newberry with full rotation, signaling health.
Key Player Matchups
Harding’s record-shattering rush (446.5 YPG) tests Ferris State’s stout front (No. 2 in DII rush D, 78.2 YPG allowed), while the Bulldogs’ aerial attack exploits any Bison fatigue from option reps.
Harding RB Andrew Miller vs. Ferris State LB Reggie Rembert
Miller (Harlon Hill finalist, 7.9 YPC, 23 shy of 2,000 yards) is the Bisons’ bell cow, but Rembert (GLIAC DPOY, 140 tackles, 18 TFLs) leads a unit that stuffed Newberry for 45 negative yards. Rembert’s gap-shooting has limited RBs to 3.2 YPC in playoffs; if he bottles Miller early, Harding’s option (5-for-5 red-zone semis) stalls.
Ferris State QB Wyatt Bower vs. Harding S Cole Keylon
Bower (nation-leading 212.0 rating, 40 TD passes) returned from early-season benching to dominate, but Keylon (team-high 5 INTs, 85 tackles) anchors a secondary that picked Kutztown twice. Keylon’s zone disguises forced 3 turnovers in quarters; disrupting Bower’s rhythm (9-of-12 third downs vs. Newberry) could cap Ferris at 30 points.
Harding QB Cole Keylon vs. Ferris State DE Justin Payoute
Keylon (1,200 rush yards, dual-threat engine) powers the triple option, but Payoute (9 INTs, including 2 in semis) is a hybrid menace with 12 sacks. Payoute’s blitzes pressured Newberry’s QB into 5 picks; containing Keylon’s keepers (20-yard completion sole pass vs. Kutztown) limits Harding to under 400 rush yards.
Recent Team Forms
Harding Bison (15-0, 11-0 GAC): Undefeated and unbreakable, Harding’s rush-first identity peaked in playoffs, averaging 389 YPG ground.
Last five:
| Date | Opponent | Result | Key Stats |
| Dec 13 | Kutztown (Semi) | W 49-27 | 389 rush yds, 7 rush TDs, 1 pass att |
| Dec 6 | UT Permian Basin (Qtr) | W 34-28 | 389 rush yds, held foes to 28 pts |
| Nov 29 | Pittsburg St (2nd) | W 37-21 | Miller: 150+ yds, 2 TDs |
| Nov 22 | NW Missouri (1st) | W 38-16 | Defense: 4 takeaways |
| Nov 15 | at Ark Tech | W 42-10 | 450+ total yds |
| Bisons score 44.7 PPG but face Ferris’ turnover machine (15 forced in playoffs). |
Ferris State Bulldogs (15-0, 7-0 GLIAC): Defending champs rebounded from transfers with depth, forcing 20 playoff turnovers. Last five:
| Date | Opponent | Result | Key Stats |
| Dec 13 | Newberry (Semi) | W 49-17 | 5 INTs, 28 pts off TOs |
| Dec 6 | Minn St (Qtr) | W 52-29 | Bower: 300 pass yds, 4 TDs |
| Nov 30 | McKendree (2nd) | W 45-14 | Defense: 3 sacks, shutout 2nd half |
| Nov 23 | at Davenport | W 44-23 | 400+ total yds |
| Nov 16 | Saginaw Valley | W 59-0 | 500+ yds, shutout |
| Bulldogs allow 9.6 PPG but must contain Harding’s ground (No. 1 nationally). |
Conference vs. Conference: GAC vs. GLIAC
The GLIAC reigns as DII’s premier conference (top-ranked 19th straight year, 8 titles since 2000, 25-5 non-con in 2025), blending Midwest grit with explosive offenses—Ferris alone boasts 4 titles since 2018. They’ve dominated GAC foes historically (18-7 since 2010), leveraging superior athleticism in crossovers (GLIAC teams 12-3 SU vs. GAC in playoffs). The GAC, surging to No. 3 nationally, counters with balanced depth (16-4 non-con) and rushing innovation, but trails in firepower (GAC 38 PPG vs. GLIAC’s 45). Overs hit 65% in matchups, fitting this total potential.
Series History
Harding and Ferris State have met three times, all in playoffs, with Ferris holding a 2-1 edge. Harding stunned in their 2017 quarterfinal (W 16-14 on a late FG), but Ferris dominated recent clashes: a 2023 semifinal thriller (W 28-21) and 2024 quarterfinal rout (W 41-7). No regular-season history; expect revenge fuel for the Bisons in this title tilt.
Betting Trends: Ferris State 12-3 ATS as favorites (80%), covering all 4 playoff home semis; Harding 9-2 ATS as underdogs (82%) but 1-2 vs. Ferris. Public 58% on over; sharps fading spread (DII finals dogs 8-5 ATS last 13). Neutral-site DII titles: Favorites 70% SU, but overs 62% when both offenses >40 PPG.
Historical Betting Results (DII Finals): Favorites win 72% SU (36-14 last 50), covering 58% ATS; totals over in 55% (spiking to 68% in mild weather like here). Champs repeat 25% SU (5-15), but Ferris is 3-1 SU in repeats. Underdogs +3.5 or less: 10-6 ATS since 2010.
Game Prediction: Ferris State 34, Harding 24
Game Odds
Harding Bison 54.5
Ferris State Bulldogs – 3.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, December 19, 2025
