PITTSBURG -- The Pittsburg State University football team will make its 2026 season debut Thursday (Aug. 27) when the Gorillas play host to NCAA Division II powerhouse Ferris State University.

Kickoff is set for 7:05 p.m. (CDT) at Carnie Smith Stadium with the contest airing on live television – in the greater Kansas City metropolitan area on KMCI, 38 The Spot – to open a slate of season long contests as the MIAA Football Game of the Week.

Pitt State enters the 2026 season with high aspirations following a 10-3 season a year ago. The Gorillas, the No. 4 ranked team in the 2026 AFCA NCAA Division II Preseason Top 25 poll, made their fourth straight appearance in the NCAA Division II national playoffs a year ago. Pitt State is seeking its fourth MIAA crown in five seasons (2022, 2023, 2025) after claiming a share of the 2025 MIAA Championship.

The Gorillas return eight starters from last year's squad, including five players who received All-MIAA accolades a year ago.

Ferris State, a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC), posted an unblemished 16-0 record in 2025 en route to capturing the program's second straight NCAA Division II National Championship. FSU is the preseason No. 1 team in Division II entering the 2026 campaign.

The Coaches
Tom Anthony enters his third year as head football coach at Pittsburg State University. He guided the Gorillas to a 10-3 record as well as the program's third MIAA title in four seasons and Pitt State's fourth consecutive NCAA Division II playoffs berth in 2025.

Anthony posted an 8-3 record and led the Gorillas to an NCAA-II playoff berth in his debut season as head coach in 2024. He has an 18-6 (.750) career record leading the Pitt State program.
Anthony returned to campus in December 2023 after a six-month absence to become the Gorillas 16th all-time head coach.

He served as Pitt State's defensive coordinator from 2020-22 under former head coach Brian Wright, helping the Gorillas fashion a 21-7 record and an MIAA title and NCAA-II playoff appearance in 2022.

Anthony was elevated to the role of associate head coach/defensive coordinator prior to the 2022 season. He helped fashion one of the top defensive units in NCAA Division II during his three years with the Gorillas.

In 2022, Anthony's Pitt State defensive squad led the MIAA in scoring defense (14.1 ppg) and ranked second in the conference in total defense (282.6 ypg), rushing defense (93.0 ypg), passing defense (189.6 ypg) and sacks (31). The Gorillas ranked seventh nationally in scoring defense and 19th nationally in total defense. Pitt State was one of just four defensive units to return four or more interceptions for touchdowns in 2022.

In 2021, Anthony's squad led the MIAA in interceptions (14) and the Gorillas ranked second in the conference in scoring defense (19.5 ppg), total defense (341.2 ypg) and rushing defense (120.5 ypg).

This will be Anthony's third match-up against Ferris State. He is 1-1 vs. the Bulldogs.

Tony Annese begins his 14th season as head coach at Ferris State. Annese (Alma College, 1983) has compiled a 153-21-0 (.879) record leading the Bulldogs. He has led Ferris State to four NCAA Division II National Championships in the last five seasons (2021, 2022, 2024, 2025). Annese also directed the Bulldogs to a national runner-up finish in 2018. His Bulldog squads are a combined 92-7 (.929) since the 2018 season.

Prior to assuming the head coach role at FSU in 2012, Annese posted a 30-4 (.884) record in three seasons as head coach at Grand Rapids Community College. This will be his fourth meeting vs. Pitt State. He is 2-1 vs. the Gorillas.

The Pitt State - Ferris State Series
This will be the fourth all-time meeting between the Gorillas and the Bulldogs in a series that dates back to the 2022 season.

Ferris State posted a 17-14 victory over Pitt State in the second round of the 2022 NCAA Division II playoffs in the first battle between the squads on Nov. 26, 2022, at Big Rapids, Mich.

The Bulldogs went on to post a 14-1 record and capture their second straight NCAA-II National Championship that year.

Two years ago, Pitt State ushered in the 2024 campaign and the Tom Anthony coaching era with an emphatic 19-3 victory over Ferris State on Aug. 31 before 10,189 fans at Carnie Smith Stadium.

The No. 6 ranked Gorillas forced four turnovers – two fumbles and two interceptions – in the contest and limited the No. 3 ranked Bulldogs 171 yards of total offense.
Austin Schmitt tied the school single game record by booting four field goals in the contest, connecting on kicks from 33, 22, 36 and 36 yards. 

The Pitt State defense limited Ferris State to one first-half first down. The Bulldogs managed just 38 net rushing yards on 22 carries. The Gorillas held Ferris State without a touchdown for the first time since the Bulldogs dropped a 20-3 decision to Ashland on Sept. 23, 2017, a span of 79 game.

Last year, the Bulldogs scored a 34-17 season-opening win over the Gorillas at Big Rapids, Mich., on Aug. 28, 2025.

FSU's Wyatt Bower rushed for a pair of first-half scores and tossed a fourth quarter touchdown pass to help lead the No. 1 ranked Bulldogs past the No. 9 ranked Gorillas at Top Taggart Field.

Gorillas at Home
Pitt State holds a 380-140-12 (.725) record in 532 games inside Carnie Smith Stadium (including postseason). The Gorillas have won 178 of their last 212 regular season home games, posting a 178-33-1 (.842) record over the last 41 seasons.

Ferris State is 35-4 (.897) in its last 39 road games dating back to the start of the 2018 season. The Bulldogs have won their last nine straight road games with their last loss coming on Aug. 31, 2024, in a 19-3 decision to Pitt State at Carnie Smith Stadium.

PSU's Regular Season Success
Pitt State has won 350 of its last 423 regular season games, posting a phenomenal 350-71-2 (.830) mark during the past 41 seasons (1985-2025). PSU is 183-30-1 at home, 162-32-1 on the road and 5-9-0 at neutral sites in the regular season during that span.

Gorillas in Season Openers
Pitt State has compiled a 73-40-5 (.640) record in season openers over the program's 118-year history.

Since the 1978 campaign, Pitt State has built a 39-8-1 (.823) record in season openers with a 24-5 (.828) record the past 29 seasons. The Gorillas are 17-3-0 (.850) in home season openers since joining NCAA Division II and the MIAA in 1989.

All-Time Winningest Programs
Pittsburg State is the all-time winningest NCAA Division II football program. The Gorillas, who are playing in their 118th season of intercollegiate competition, have compiled a 770-368-48 overall record, winning 66.9 percent of their 1,186 all-time games.

Pittsburg State is one of just two NCAA Division II institutions to have recorded 700 all-time victories and the Gorillas became just the 33rd program – the first Division II institution – across all levels of college football to reach the 700-win plateau.

Tuskegee is second on the Division II all-time list with 723 victories, followed by Hillsdale (676), Carson-Newman (671) and Central Oklahoma (670).
 
Ferris State has a 530-446-42 (.541) record in 116 seasons of intercollegiate play.

The Pitt State Offense
The Gorillas will turn to a new signal caller for the second time in as many seasons. Redshirt senior Jake Wolff, redshirt junior Carson Trimble, redshirt sophomore Ethan Hansen and redshirt freshman Bobby Bacon all have grown in the Pitt State program, while incoming freshman Billy Middleton III joins the competitive quarterback room this fall.

Wolff (6-2, 205) has seen action in seven career games over the past two seasons for the Gorillas. He has completed seven of nine passes with a touchdown and an interception in limited action for Pitt State. Wolff was a second-team All-Jayhawk Conference performer at Butler Community College in 2022, passing for 1,718 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Trimble (6-0, 200) has been utilized as an athlete for the Gorillas the past two seasons. He attempted one pass, made on reception and carried the ball seven times in nine games played a year ago.

Hansen (6-1, 190), a 2024 Pitt State redshirt, will seek his first action for the Gorillas this fall. He accumulated 4,252 career passing yards and 44 touchdowns at Rockhurst (Mo.) High School.

Bacon (6-2, 180) enters year two at Pitt State following a successful redshirt campaign in 2025. He passed for 2,183 yards as a senior at Iowa City (Iowa) High School in 2024. He compiled 4,380 passing yards and 38 touchdowns during his prep career.

Middleton (6-1, 170) compiled over 1,700 career rushing and 3,800 passing yards for 53 combined touchdowns at Red Oak High School. He was a two-time Texas Class 5A first-team All-District selection.

Up front, the Gorillas return a stable of veteran linemen led by redshirt seniors Kaden Degraffenreid and Peko Leasiolagi, redshirt junior Colin Beesley and redshirt sophomores Quinton Bradley and Manny Conley.

Degraffenreid (6-5, 305) and Leasiolagi (6-2, 305) each started all 13 games for the Gorillas in 2025. Degraffenreid saw action in 10 games in 2024, while Leasiolagi redshirted that year after transferring to Pitt State from Alan Hancock College.

Beesley (6-2, 300) competed in 10 games last year, after transferring to Pitt State from the College of Holy Cross. Bradley (6-3, 285) and Conley (6-5, 305) also saw significant action in the trenches for the Gorillas in 2025.

Redshirt juniors Matthew Craig (6-2, 305), Max Hansen (6-7, 270) and Kaden Keith (6-3, 305) and redshirt freshmen Luke Harris (6-4, 310) and Brandon Taylor (6-3, 260) also bring experience and depth to the offensive line room, while junior Kyle Russell (6-2, 265) will look to be an impact performer after transferring in from Illinois College where he was a first-team All-Conference performer a year ago.

In the backfield, the Gorillas welcome in a pair of transfers – redshirt junior Diego Cearns and junior DaeShaun Carter – to compliment redshirt junior Dylan Van and redshirt freshman P.J. Wallace.

Cearns (5-10, 190) transferred to Pitt State in January from MIAA rival Emporia State University. He garnered honorable mention All-MIAA honors for the Hornets in 2025, rushing for 788 yards (5.3 ypc) and seven touchdowns.

Carter (5-11, 190) comes to Pitt State from Hutchinson Community College, where he averaged 6.1 yards per carry and scored a pair of touchdowns in 17 career games for the Blue Dragons.

Van (6-0, 170) is back for his third season in the Pitt State program. He's played in 13 games and logged 44 rushing attempts. Wallace (6-1, 211), who redshirted in 2025, rushed for 1,789 yards and 22 touchdowns as a senior at Muskogee (Okla.) High School in 2024.

The Gorillas will utilize a mix of returners and newcomers in the wide receiving corps led by a pair of All-MIAA performers in redshirt seniors Kuron Parchmon and Greyson Holbert.
Parchmon (5-11, 185) made 39 receptions for 603 yards (15.5 ypc) and five touchdowns last year, earning first-team All-MIAA recognition. He has compiled 84 career receptions for 1,255 yards (14.9 ypc) and nine scores. He also rushed the ball six times for 87 yards (14.5 ypc) and one score a year ago.

Holbert (5-11, 200) was a third-team All-MIAA pick last year, catching 59 passes for 586 yards (9.9 ypc) and two touchdowns. He's compiled 1,004 career all-purpose yards in three seasons for the Gorillas.

Redshirt senior Kam Gillespie and sophomore Damien Long II also bring veteran credentials to the wide receiver room.

Gillespie (6-0, 200) has played in 31 career games and made 17 receptions for 165 yards and three touchdowns. Long (6-0, 185) made an immediate impact as a true freshman in 2025. He played in all 12 games and posted 12 catches for 149 yards (12.4 ypc) and one score.

Newcomers T.J. Starks (6-1, 180) and Luke Coon (6-1, 180) also will look to be impact performers at wide receiver.

Starks, a redshirt sophomore, transferred to Pitt State in January from Arkansas State University. He appeared in three games for the Red Wolves last fall. Coon, also a redshirt sophomore, competed in four games in 2025 for MIAA rival Missouri Western State University, before joining the Gorillas in January.

Redshirt sophomore Khali Best (5-11, 181) and redshirt freshmen Jino Boyd (5-11, 185) and Quentyn Thompson (6-0, 185) will provide quality depth as well.

At tight end, the Gorillas return an experienced core group led by senior Jaydon Knight, redshirt junior Luke Niggemann, redshirt senior Jaydon Hill and redshirt junior Eli Youman.
Knight (6-4, 240) started in all 11 games he played in 2025. He had eight receptions for 49 yards on the season and played a key blocking role in the Gorillas' run game.

Niggemann (6-3, 240) started a pair of games last fall and finished the season with nine grabs for 112 yards and two touchdowns. He also impacted the Pitt State ground game with 28 carries for 124 yards and three scores, earning third-team All-MIAA honors. Niggemann enters the 2026 campaign with 52 career carries for 273 yards (5.3 ypc) and 10 TDs.
Hill (6-3, 240) enters his fifth season in the program. He saw action in eight games in 2025 at tight end and on special teams. Youman (6-5, 245) played in 10 games, also contributing on offense and special teams for the Gorillas.

The Pitt State Defense
The Gorillas return three starters from a 2025 defensive unit that led the MIAA in quarterback sacks (40), interceptions (15) and forced fumbles (15) and ranked second in the conference in scoring (20.7 ppg) and fumble recoveries (11, T2nd).

 Pitt State welcomes back a pair of starters on its defensive line in redshirt senior Ely Wilcox and redshirt sophomore Kiros Martin.

Wilcox (6-4, 250) earned honorable mention All-MIAA honors in 2025 after posting 35 tackles (14 solo) with 5.5 tackles-for-loss, 3.5 quarterback sacks, two pass breakups and a pair of fumble recoveries.

Martin (6-1, 290) started in nine of 13 games played last fall, registering 32 tackles (15 solo) with 6.0 tackles-for-loss and 4.5 quarterback sacks, the top sack total among returning players from the 2025 campaign.

Redshirt junior Micah Lindsey (6-0, 285) and redshirt freshman Trevor Meadows (6-3, 300) also will vie for action for the Gorillas, along with redshirt junior Andrew Link (6-4, 275) who transferred to Pitt State in January from Missouri State University.

Redshirt senior Bryce Johnson, redshirt sophomore Elijah Morton, redshirt junior Jack Standlee (6-4, 280) and redshirt freshmen Kason Presley (6-3, 235) and Josiah Young (6-3, 260) also will figure in the mix at the defensive end and leo positions.

Johnson (6-1, 250) is transitioning from linebacker to the leo position this fall. He had 12 stops in 2025; and Johnson has compiled 51 tackles and six pass breakups in 35 career games. Morton (6-2, 245) made 18 tackles in 11 games last year, with 4.0 tackles-for-loss and 3.5 QB sacks.

Redshirt sophomore transfer Max Adams also will look to be an impact performer this fall. Adams (6-5, 230) joins the Gorillas from Minnesota State University.

Redshirt senior Tae Shon McDaniels, redshirt juniors Max Dulansky and Isaiah Alexander and redshirt sophomore Osahon Ogbevoen all return to interior defensive line positions.
McDaniels (6-3, 290 made 22 tackles (13 solo), including 9.0 tackles-for-loss and 3.0 QB sacks. Dulansky (6-2, 285) contributed a pair of quarterback sacks and 3.0 tackles-for-loss in 11 games played. Alexander (6-1, 270) and Ogbevoen (6-1, 360) added 2.0 quarterback sacks apiece, while Ogbevoen also recorded a Pitt State single season record five blocked kicks.
Graduate Zach Coenen and redshirt sophomore Blake Carr will lead Pitt State's linebacking corps.

Coenen (6-0, 225) returns to action from a medical redshirt season in 2025. He's made 10 starts in 33 career games and compiled 63 tackles (32 solo) with 6.0 tackles-for-loss and 3.5 quarterback sacks.
Carr (6-2, 230) burst onto the scene for the Gorillas a year ago in his redshirt freshman campaign. He's the top returning tackler from 2025 with 79 stops (28 solo) to his credit, including 8.0 behind the line of scrimmage.

Redshirt juniors Cameron Wolfe and Jackson Young and redshirt sophomores Peyton Wehner and Billy Wolfe also will compete for playing time for the Gorillas. Billy Wolfe (6-3, 230) posted 20 tackles a year ago, while Young (6-0, 205) made nine stops and an interception in 2025. Wehner (6-3, 230) started in three of seven games played and posted seven tackles on the season. Cameron Wolfe (6-0, 215) was a key special teams contributor last year. 

Redshirt senior Aabiyas Wakes and senior Jasper Ogburn will provide veteran leadership in a Pitt State secondary that will feature four new starters from the 2025 campaign.
Wakes (6-1, 200) redshirted a year ago after competing in 22 games for the Gorillas over the previous two seasons (2023-24). He has 21 career tackles, an interception and three PBUs to his credit.

Ogburn (6-0, 190) has competed in 30 career games over the past three seasons and has totaled 79 tackles, a pair of interceptions and four pass breakups. He posted 40 tackles, an interception and two PBUs during his junior campaign.

Sophomore Quincy Miner and redshirt freshman Dontre' Garfield (6-1, 190) are back to challenge for playing time at cornerback.

Miner (6-2, 175) logged 11 tackles (eight solo), an interception and six PBUs as a true freshman in 2025.

Redshirt junior transfer Eliajah Randle and redshirt sophomore transfer Christian Farrow also have joined the Gorillas and will seek to be impact performers. Randle (5-11, 185) came to Pitt State in January after three seasons at Winona State University. He posted 35 tackles and four PBUs in 11 starts in 2025. Farrow (6-0, 180) saw action in nine games as a redshirt freshman at MIAA rival Northwest Missouri State University last year.

Redshirt sophomore Spencer Ward, sophomore Quintin Kirby and redshirt juniors Mario Menghini, Micah Geary (6-1, 185) and Grant Sibley (5-10, 180) all bring experience to the safety positions.

Ward (5-9, 200) made 22 tackles and an interception as a redshirt freshman in 2025. Kirby (5-11, 200) played in all 13 games as a true freshman last year, posting 27 tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Menghini (6-3, 210) saw action in 12 games in the secondary and special teams a year ago.

Junior transfer Jack Lanning and freshmen Jorian Guinn Jr. (5-9, 185) and Daijon Gaines (6-0, 200) also should factor in the mix at safety. Lanning (6-0, 195) transferred to Pitt State in January from Coffeyville Community College where he made 70 tackles, 10.0 tackles-for-loss, 3.0 QB sacks and a pair of interceptions over the past two seasons.

Pitt State Special Teams
The Gorillas return a pair of talented special teams performers in senior placekicker Austin Schmitt and redshirt sophomore punter Tyler Antle.

Schmitt (6-1, 190) earned first-team All-MIAA honors and was tabbed the MIAA Special Teams Player of the Year in 2025. An honorable mention All-America selection, Schmitt booted 19 field goals last year, the second highest total in Division II (1.46 ppg). He has scored 225 points in 29 career games (7.9 ppg), converting 40 of 56 (.714) field goals and 99 of 101 (.980) of PAT tries.

Antle (6-0, 230) punted 48 times for a 40.5-yard average last year with eight 50+ yard kicks and 19 kicks placed inside the opponent 20 yard line.

Redshirt sophomore Hayden Koscicki also is back to handle the kickoff specialist chores. Koscicki (6-3, 205) averaged 60.3 yards on 76 kickoffs with 36 touchbacks. He also has booted two field goals and nine PATs in 16 career games for the Gorillas.

Redshirt freshman Bryce Aldridge (6-2, 200) and freshman Lance Alderson (5-9, 200) figure to compete to handle Pitt State's long snapping chores.