So, Ferris State did it again. But this time, it felt different. For everyone tracking the division 2 football top 25 all year, the question wasn't necessarily who would win, but whether anyone could actually stop the Bulldog freight train. They didn't just win a title on December 20th in McKinney, Texas; they became the first team in modern NCAA history—Division I or II—to finish a season 16-0.
Think about that for a second. 16 wins. No losses.
Honestly, the gap between the top three or four teams and the rest of the field felt like a canyon this season. While the FBS world was arguing about playoff brackets and transfer portal drama, the DII level was quietly putting on a masterclass in dominant, old-school physical football.
The Unanimous Kings of the Hill
When the final polls dropped right before Christmas, there wasn't a single soul arguing about the number one spot. Ferris State didn't just sit at the top of the division 2 football top 25; they lived there. They went wire-to-wire. Tony Annese has built something in Big Rapids that honestly feels unfair at times.
They capped off the year by dismantling Harding 42-21 in the national championship. It’s kinda wild to think that Harding, who finished 15-1 and was arguably one of the best "triple-option-style" teams we’ve seen in a decade, looked human against Ferris. The Bulldogs put up 844 points this season. That’s an all-time NCAA record.
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- Ferris State (16-0): Unanimous No. 1. Four titles in five years.
- Harding (15-1): The clear No. 2. Their only loss was the title game.
- UT Permian Basin (11-3): The biggest shocker. They surged into the top 3 after a playoff run that nobody—seriously, nobody—saw coming.
- Kutztown (14-1): The PSAC giants who finally proved they belong in the elite tier.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Rankings
You’ve probably noticed that the division 2 football top 25 doesn't always mirror the win-loss columns. That’s because DII uses the "Super Region" system, which can be a total headache if you aren't used to it.
Basically, a team like Grand Valley State might finish with three losses (they ended 7-3 this year), but because those losses were to top-5 programs, they still hang around the bottom of the Top 25. Meanwhile, an undefeated team from a smaller conference might get snubbed because their "Strength of Schedule" looks like a high school varsity slate. It’s frustrating, but it’s the reality of the regionalized model.
Take Johnson C. Smith, for example. They finished 10-2 and won the CIAA. They were ranked No. 23 in the final D2Football.com poll, but if you ask anyone in North Carolina, they’ll tell you this team was top-15 material. The nuance of DII football is all about who you play in November.
The Mid-Tier Shakeup
The middle of the pack was a literal war zone this year. Pittsburg State and Minnesota State Mankato spent the whole season swapping spots like they were playing musical chairs.
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- Pittsburg State (10-3): Finished at No. 6. The Gorillas are the definition of "always the bridesmaid, never the bride" lately, but they are consistently the toughest out in the MIAA.
- Minnesota State (10-4): No. 7. They had some ugly moments early on but peaked right when the playoffs started.
- Northwest Missouri State (9-3): No. 8. A "down" year for them is still a top-10 finish. That’s the standard.
- Albany State (12-2): No. 9. The Golden Rams dominated the SIAC and finally got the respect they deserved in the national rankings.
- West Florida (10-2): No. 10. They round out the top ten, continuing their run as the most dangerous program in the Gulf South.
The big story toward the end of the year was the fall of Grand Valley State. Usually, GVSU is a lock for the top five. This year? They stumbled. They finished 19th in the media poll. For a program with that much history, being ranked below teams like Newberry or Indianapolis feels like a gut punch.
Surprises and Heartbreaks
If you want to talk about "value" in the division 2 football top 25, look at Newberry. They finished 12-2 and climbed all the way to No. 5. They weren't even on the radar for most people back in August.
On the flip side, Valdosta State had a rough ride. They started high, but the injuries caught up. In DII, you don't have 85 scholarships like the big boys. You have 36. When your starting QB goes down, your ranking doesn't just slip—it falls off a cliff.
Then there’s the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC). Western Colorado (10-3) and CSU Pueblo (10-2) both finished in the top 15. The RMAC is no longer just "that conference with the school that has the big M on the mountain." It’s a legitimate power base.
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Why the Final Rankings Actually Matter
Most people think rankings are just for ego. In Division II, they are survival.
Because there isn't a massive TV contract for every school, the division 2 football top 25 is the primary way these programs get eyes from pro scouts. Scouts from the NFL and the UFL don't have the budget to visit every campus in America. They look at the Top 25, see who is playing the best competition, and they book their flights to Big Rapids, Searcy, or Valdosta.
Current Hierarchy of the Top 25:
- The Elite Tier: Ferris State, Harding. There is a massive gap here.
- The Contenders: Kutztown, UTPB, Newberry. Teams that can win a playoff game but might struggle with the depth of the Elite Tier.
- The Traditional Powers: Northwest Missouri, Pittsburg State, Grand Valley. They’ll be back.
- The New Guard: Johnson C. Smith, Frostburg State, Findlay.
Actionable Insights for the 2026 Offseason
If you're following the division 2 football top 25 to get a jump on next season, keep your eyes on the transfer portal—specifically the "downward" transfers. We are seeing more and more fringe FBS players drop to DII to actually get playing time.
- Watch the GLIAC vs. MIAA Rivalry: These two conferences usually produce 30% of the Top 25. If a team wins one of these conferences, they are an automatic title threat.
- Monitor the Coaching Carousel: DII is a stepping stone. When a top-ranked coach gets poached by a mid-major DI school, that program’s ranking usually tanks the following year.
- Check the Strength of Schedule (SOS): When looking at next year's preseason Top 25, look at who plays non-conference games against other ranked opponents. Those are the only games that truly move the needle for the selection committee.
The 2025 season showed us that while the names at the top might stay the same, the path to get there is getting way more complicated. Ferris State is the king for now, but the target on their back has never been bigger. Strategies for the 2026 season are already being built around how to stop that 16-0 momentum.