The GLIAC football season is officially underway following some tight matchups that headlined Week 0 of competition.

That included Michigan Tech taking an upset win over Bemidji State and Ferris State overcoming the only team to give it a loss last season, Pittsburg State. But now some new competitors within the conference will get their time to shine in Week 1, beginning on Thursday, Sept. 4, and they’re streaming right here on FloCollege. 

Michigan Tech, Davenport, Ferris State, and Grand Valley State each took home a win to begin their 2025 seasons, while Northern Michigan and Saginaw Valley State look to recover from an opening-day loss. 

Wayne State is set to make its debut against Tiffin University, and Roosevelt will begin its season against Quincy this week.  

GLIAC Football Week 1 Matchup Previews, Predictions

Here’s what to expect from the second week of matchups within the GLIAC. 

Tiffin University vs Wayne State (MI)

Wayne State will play its first game of the 2025 season on Thursday at home in Detroit, Michigan, and look to revive a team that went 2-9 overall, 2-5 in conference play last year. 

Junior starting quarterback Champion Edwards is returning for the Warriors and hopes to build upon his inaugural 2024 resume that tallied 899 passing yards, 570 rushing yards, eight combined touchdowns, and eight interceptions. 

The Warriors will also return top running back, redshirt sophomore XaVior Tyus, who recorded 423 rushing yards and three touchdowns in 2024. 

Tiffin left 2024 with an 8-4 overall, 7-2 conference record within the G-MAC. Starting quarterback Alex Johnson threw for nearly 3,000 yards, 27 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. Johnson will also be coming back for the Dragons, and could be even more dangerous this season. 

The Dragons will surely make this a difficult matchup for the Warriors, who are projected to finish sixth in the conference, unless Wayne State makes a major shift in offensive production. I’m picking Tiffin to take the cake in this one.  

Catch Tiffin University vs. Wayne State on Thursday, Sept. 4 at 6:00 p.m. ET.    

Quincy vs Roosevelt

Similar to Wayne State, Roosevelt will be embarking on its 2025 campaign beginning this Thursday against Quincy. Roosevelt is projected to finish second to last in the 2025 GLIAC Preseason Coaches Poll following a 1-9 overall, 1-6 conference record in 2024. The Lakers’ lone loss came against Northern Michigan, who is expected to finish last in the conference. 

However, Roosevelt brought some changes to its program, starting with the hiring of new head coach William McKeon, who served as the Lakers’ defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach. 

The Lakers also upgraded backup quarterback Zach Zella as the starter to take over for Carson Budke. Zella saw time in two games last season and threw for 91 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions. 

The Quincy Hawks will be fresh off a 38-7 win over Concordia-St. Paul, where true freshman starting quarterback Bradyn Little passed for 256 yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions. Wide receiver Troy TW Crozier led with four catches for 59 yards, and running back Kamrin Cox equally accumulated 59 rushing yards. 

Roosevelt has a chance to turn things around for a positive 2025 season under a new direction, and Quincy seems to be a challenging opponent that could be the perfect test for the Lakers. I think Quincy has this in the bag, though.  

The Hawks and the Lakers will meet on Thursday, Sept. 4, at 2:00 p.m. ET.    

Gannon vs Saginaw Valley St.

Saginaw Valley State just barely missed out on a season-opening win over Northeastern State, but fell 28-21 as Northeastern mustered 15 points in a fourth-quarter comeback. 

Starting quarterback Mason McKenzie combined for 344 total offensive yards and three touchdowns, leading in both passing and rushing yards. Wide receiver Braden Hill led with 115 receiving yards. 

Saginaw Valley State ended 2024 fifth in the GLIAC and is projected to finish third this year, and the Cardinals’ game against the Riverhawks showed solid potential with McKenzie at the helm. 

Gannon is coming off a 21-12 loss to a familiar GLIAC team, the Davenport Panthers, giving up a touchdown in every quarter but the fourth, with one off a fumble and another off an interception. Starting quarterback Anthony Harris threw for 269 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception for Gannon. 

Despite both having a loss on the board so far, it’s unlikely that Saginaw Valley State will tally two in a row, seeing how close the Cardinals’ first contest was. I’ve got Saginaw Valley State making a statement win this weekend.  

Gannon and Saginaw Valley State will face off on Saturday, Sept. 6, at 2:00 p.m. ET. 

Black Hills State vs Grand Valley State

Grand Valley State, to no surprise, slammed Lincoln (PA) last week, 45-9, to start off strong in 2025. The No. 2-ranked squad in the GLIAC for the preseason certainly looks to live up to those expectations once again versus Black Hills State this weekend.

Starting quarterback and redshirt freshman Andrew Schuster made an impressive debut with 251 passing yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. Senior running back Syone Usma-Harper rushed for 83 yards, while Schuster found wide receivers Kellen Reed and Donovan Johnson for a score each. 

The Lakers’ defense capitalized on three interceptions from the Lions to secure the win.

Black Hills State almost got the win over Sioux Falls, falling 27-21. Starting quarterback and redshirt senior Luke Duby passed for 248 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. His main target was wide receiver TJ Chukwurah added 109 receiving yards and caught all three touchdown passes. 

Black Hills State is set to be a bigger task than Lincoln for Grand Valley State, but it would be hard to picture the Lakers being any less dominant than they’ve already shown. Grand Valley State all the way. 

The Yellow Jackets and Lakers go head-to-head on Saturday, Sept. 6 at 7:00 p.m. ET.     

2025 GLIAC Football Preseason Coaches PollFerris StateGrand Valley StateSaginaw Valley StateDavenportMichigan TechWayne StateRooseveltNorthern MichiganHow To Watch D2 Football In 2025

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FloCollege D2 Football Rankings 2025: Week 1Ferris State (Prev. 1)Harding (Prev. 2)Grand Valley State (Prev. 3)Slippery Rock (Prev. 4)Virginia Union (Prev. 9)West Florida (Prev. 7)Valdosta State (Prev. 5)Angelo State (Prev. 10)Western Colorado (Prev. 14)Minnesota State (Prev. 11)Kutztown (Prev. 8)Indianapolis (Prev. 15)Charleston (WV) (Prev. 12)CSU Pueblo (Prev. 13)UT Permian Basin (Prev. NR)Central Washington (Prev. NR)Pittsburg State (Prev. 16)West Alabama (Prev. 20)Ouachita Baptist (Prev. 18)Central Oklahoma (Prev. 6)Bemidji State (Prev. 17)Truman (Prev. 23)Lenoir–Rhyne (Prev. 19)Michigan Tech (Prev. NR)Wingate (Prev. NR)

Also received votes: 

MSU Moorhead, Emory & Henry, Central Missouri, Colorado Mines, Catawba, Delta State, Minnesota Duluth, Augustana (SD), Sioux Falls

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