PITTSBURG — Pittsburg State University Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Jim Johnson announced today (Jan. 8) that the Gorillas have signed a one-year contract to play Grand Valley State University in the 2025 football season.
Pitt State will entertain the Lakers in the 2025 home opener on September 13 at Carnie Smith Stadium. Kickoff time has been set for 4 p.m. (CST).
Pitt State and Grand Valley State will meet for the second time in program history in September. The Gorillas and Lakers faced off in the second round of the 2023 NCAA-II playoffs at Allendale, Mich. GVSU scored a hard fought, 24-21, victory over Pitt State in the inaugural match-up.
The 2025 home opener will showcase two of the division's elite programs in what figures to be a top 25 match-up. The Lakers and Gorillas were ranked No. 6 and No. 17, respectively, in the final 2024 NCAA Division II Top 25 poll released on December 23.
"This is a tremendous opportunity to bring another elite NCAA Division II program to Carnie Smith Stadium for the first time in 2025," Johnson said. "This match-up will provide added excitement to the start of the 2025 season as well as adding another boon to the Gorillas strength of schedule index."
Pitt State posted an 8-3 record in 2024. The Gorillas made their third straight trip to the NCAA Division II playoffs last fall, after capturing consecutive MIAA Championships in 2022-23. The all-time winningest program in Division II history with 760 victories, Pitt State has made 20 NCAA postseason appearances highlighted by NCAA-II National Championships in 1991 and 2011 and national runner-up finishes in 1992, 1995 and 2004.
The Lakers made their 24th all-time NCAA Division II playoff appearance in 2024. GVSU posted an 11-2 record, falling to No. 4 ranked Harding University in the second round of postseason play. The Lakers are 40-20 (.667) in 60 all-time NCAA-II playoff appearances with four national championships (2002, 2003, 2005, 2006) and six national championship game appearances (2001-03, '05-06, '09) to their credit. GVSU is the winningest all-time team among FBS, FCS and Division II programs, by percentage, with a 454-153-3 (.747) record in 52 seasons of intercollegiate play.
"The Gorilla Football program is excited to get the opportunity to play a program with such a rich history of success," said Pitt State head coach Tom Anthony, who begins his second year leading the Gorillas after serving as defensive coordinator from 2020-23. "We are always looking to make our schedule as competitive as possible and to be able to bolster it with another national championship contender is huge for our program, university and the community. It's exciting to know that we will get to have our home opener against a great opponent. This should make for an amazing environment in The Jungle on September 13th!"
Pitt State also will open the 2025 campaign on August 28 with a road trip against defending national champion Ferris State University. The Gorillas scored a 19-3 win over the Bulldogs in the 2024 season opener in Pittsburg. Following that game, Ferris State reeled off 14 straight wins en route to capturing the program's third national championship.
In addition to the home opening battle with the Lakers, the Gorillas will host their Family Day game on Sept. 20, Homecoming on Oct. 11, the Hall of Fame game on Nov. 1 and Operation Gameday/Senior Day on Nov. 15. Pitt State will release its full 2025 football schedule, with opponents and start times, later this spring.
