GLIAC -- Second-seeded Ferris State will host No. 3 seed Slippery Rock in a semifinal matchup of the 2004 NCAA Division II Football Championship on Saturday at the home of the Bulldogs, Top Taggart Field. Kick off is set for approximately 3:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.

At stake is a bid to the championship game, set for Saturday, Dec. 21 in McKinney, Texas.

The Bulldogs are riding a 12-game winning streak and have outscored the opposition 575-126 since a season-opening setback at Pittsburg State. Ferris State (12-1) has made a nation-leading 10 consecutive trips to the NCAA Division II Playoffs, including back-to-back national championships in 2021 and 2022 FSU is also be making its sixth national semifinal appearance since 2016.

Led by Harlon Hill Trophy finalist and GLIAC Player of the Year junior quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, Ferris State opened the postseason with a 78-17 throttling of Central Oklahoma and then captured the Super Region Three title by dethroning defending national champion Harding in resounding fashion, 41-7. 

Slippery Rock (12-1) is returning to the national semifinals for the fourth time in program history and the first time since 2019. The Rock finished the 2024 regular season ranked No. 11 in the AFCA poll.

Slippery Rock topped New Haven (14-7), Kutztown (25-24) and California (Pa.) (31-13) to reach the semifinals. Quarterback Brayden Long, also a Harlon Hill Trophy finalist, became the first player in program history with two 3,000-yard seasons after reaching the milestone last week. 

Ferris State or Slippery Rock will face the winner of the other semifinal contest between Valdosta State and Minnesota State for the 2024 crown.