American college football season
The Saginaw Valley State Cardinals football program, 2020–present represented Saginaw Valley State University during the 2020s in NCAA Division II college football as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC). The team was led during the decade by head coach Ryan Brady , who took over as head coach in 2019 and continues in the position as of 2025.
The team played its home games at Harvey Randall Wickes Memorial Stadium , commonly shortened to Wickes Stadium, in University Center, Michigan .
Year
Head coach
Overall record
Conf. record
Conf. rank
Points scored
Points against
2021
Ryan Brady
7–4
4–3
302
245
+57
2022
Ryan Brady
8–3
3–3
372
209
+163
2023
Ryan Brady
6–5
3–3
283
263
+20
2024
Ryan Brady
7–4
4–3
322
189
+133
TOTAL
28–16
14–12
+373
Saginaw Valley State and the GLIAC did not compete in football during the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2021 Saginaw Valley State Cardinals football team represented Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU) as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 2021 NCAA Division II football season . In their second year under head coach Ryan Brady , the Cardinals compiled a 7–4 record (4–3 in conference games), finished in fourth place in the GLIAC, and outscored opponents by a total of 302 to 245.[ 1] [ 2]
Date Time Opponent Site Result Attendance Source September 4 7:00 p.m. Texas A&M–Kingsville * W 13–92,000
September 11 1:00 p.m. at Bowie State * L 17–281,211
September 18 7:00 p.m. at No. 2 Ferris State L 45–47 OT 6,012
September 25 6:00 p.m. at Wayne State W 41–212,932
October 2 2:00 p.m. No. 8 Grand Valley State L 17–498,544
October 9 5:00 p.m. at Texas A&M–Commerce * W 20–17 OT 5,102
October 16 2:00 p.m. Northwood Wickes Stadium University Center, MI W 31–135,100
October 23 3:00 p.m. Wayne State Wickes Stadium University Center, MI W 41–254,200
October 30 12:00 p.m. at Davenport W 24–31,050
November 6 1:00 p.m. Northern Michigan Wickes Stadium University Center, MI W 33–212,000
November 13 1:00 p.m. at Michigan Tech L 21–201,315
*Non-conference game HomecomingRankings from AFCA Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time
[ 2]
The 2022 Saginaw Valley State Cardinals football team represented Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU) as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 2022 NCAA Division II football season . In their third year under head coach Ryan Brady , the Cardinals compiled an 8–3 record (3–3 in conference games), finished in fourth place in the GLIAC, and outscored opponents by a total of 372 to 209.[ 3] [ 4]
Date Time Opponent Rank Site TV Result Attendance Source 6:00 p.m. West Virginia Wesleyan * W 72–02,700
September 10 1:00 p.m. Bowie State * Wickes Stadium University Center, MI W 40–123,700
September 17 1:00 p.m. at Northwood * W 35–143,122
September 24 1:00 p.m. at Michigan Tech * No. 19 FloSports W 35–131,284
October 1 7:00 p.m. at No. 2 Grand Valley State No. 17 FloSports L 10–2914,877 [ 5] [ 6]
October 8 2:00 p.m. No. 1 Ferris State Wickes Stadium University Center, MI L 28–333,627 [ 7]
October 15 2:00 p.m. Indianapolis * Wickes Stadium University Center, MI W 38–143,101 [ 8]
October 22 6:00 p.m. at Wayne State No. 24 W 21–143,531
October 29 1:00 p.m. Davenport No. 23 Wickes Stadium University Center, MI L 28–291,920
November 5 1:00 p.m. at Northern Michigan W 30–211,198 [ 9]
November 12 1:00 p.m. Michigan Tech Wickes Stadium University Center, MI FloSports W 35–303,265 [ 10]
*Non-conference game HomecomingRankings from AFCA Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time
[ 4]
The 2023 Saginaw Valley State Cardinals football team represented Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU) as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 2023 NCAA Division II football season . In their fourth year under head coach Ryan Brady , the Cardinals compiled a 6–5 record (3–3 in conference games), finished in fourth place in the GLIAC, and outscored opponents by a total of 283 to 263.[ 11] [ 12]
Date Time Opponent Site TV Result Attendance Source 6:00 p.m. Winona State * W 34–241,414
September 9 6:00 p.m. Northwood * Wickes Stadium University Center, MI W 31–82,689
September 16 2:00 p.m. at Truman * L 7–214,126
September 23 2:00 p.m. Indianapolis * Wickes Stadium University Center, MI L 10–352,316
September 30 6:00 p.m. No. 7 Grand Valley State Wickes Stadium University Center, MI L 14–555,085
October 7 1:00 p.m. at No. 1 Ferris State FloSports L 17–383,124 [ 13]
October 14 12:00 p.m. at St. Xavier (IL) * W 32–10400
October 21 2:00 p.m. Wayne State Wickes Stadium University Center, MI W 17–10 OT 3,079
October 28 12:00 p.m. at No. 11 Davenport L 21–241,112
November 4 1:00 p.m. Northern Michigan Wickes Stadium University Center, MI W 62–172
November 11 1:00 p.m. at Michigan Tech W 38–211,191
*Non-conference game HomecomingRankings from AFCA Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time
[ 12]
The 2024 Saginaw Valley State Cardinals football team represented Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU) as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 2024 NCAA Division II football season . In their fifth year under head coach Ryan Brady , the Cardinals compiled a 7–4 record (4–3 in conference games), finished in a three-way tie for third place in the GLIAC, and outscored opponents by a total of 322 to 189.[ 14] [ 15]
Date Time Opponent Site TV Result Attendance Source 7:00 p.m. at Winona State * W 38–143,061
September 14 1:00 p.m. at Northwood * L 7–103,404
September 21 2:00 p.m. Truman * W 37–143,323
September 28 6:00 p.m. at No. 15 Indianapolis * W 28–242,076
October 5 1:00 p.m. at Northern Michigan W 63–142,553
October 12 1:00 p.m. at Roosevelt W 27–14812
October 19 3:00 p.m. No. 2 Grand Valley State L 9–168,586 [ 16]
October 26 1:00 p.m. at Wayne State W 37–102,726
November 2 1:00 p.m. Davenport Wickes Stadium University Center, MI W 24–144,339
November 9 1:00 p.m. at No. 2 Ferris State L 24–272,856 [ 17]
November 16 1:00 p.m. Michigan Tech Wickes Stadium University Center, MI FloSports L 28–322,968
*Non-conference game HomecomingRankings from AFCA Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time
[ 15]
The 2025 Saginaw Valley State Cardinals football team will represent Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU) as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 2025 NCAA Division II football season . They are expected to be led by Ryan Brady in his sixth year as head coach.[ 18]
[ 18]
^ "2021-22 Football Statistics - Saginaw Valley" . Saginaw Valley State University Athletics. Retrieved June 8, 2025 .
^ a b "2021 SVSU Football Schedule" . Saginaw Valley State University Athletics. Retrieved June 8, 2025 .
^ "2022-23 Football Statistics - Saginaw Valley" . Saginaw Valley State University Athletics. Retrieved June 8, 2025 .
^ a b "2022 SVSU Football Schedule" . Saginaw Valley State University Athletics. Retrieved June 8, 2025 .
^ "Grand Valley State beats Saginaw Valley in battle of undefeated, nationally ranked teams" . Mlive.com . October 1, 2022.
^ Brian Bloom (October 3, 2022). "GV football remains undefeated in Battle of the Valleys statement win" . Grand Valley Lanthorn .
^ Josh VanDyke (October 10, 2022). "No. 1 Ferris State football rallies late to fend off Saginaw Valley State" . Mlive.com .
^ "Greyhounds Drop Non-Conference Tilt at Saginaw Valley" . University of Indianapolis. October 15, 2022.
^ "SVSU claims road win over Northern Michigan" . Mlive.com . November 5, 2022.
^ "SVSU cruises to win over Michigan Tech" . Mlive.com . September 24, 2022.
^ "2021-22 Football Statistics - Saginaw Valley" . Saginaw Valley State University Athletics. Retrieved June 8, 2025 .
^ a b "2023 SVSU Football Schedule" . Saginaw Valley State University Athletics. Retrieved June 8, 2025 .
^ Josh VanDyke (October 10, 2024). "Second-half surge helps No. 1 Ferris St. defeat SVSU" . The Saginaw News . p. C4 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "2024-25 Football Statistics - Saginaw Valley" . Saginaw Valley State University Athletics. Retrieved June 8, 2025 .
^ a b "2024 SVSU Football Schedule" . Saginaw Valley State University Athletics. Retrieved June 8, 2025 .
^ Patrick Nothaft (October 21, 2024). "GVSU football escapes SVSU with win in nationally ranked showdown" . Mlive.com .
^ John Raffel (November 9, 2024). "Whew! Ferris football team survives major scare" . Big Rapids Pioneer .
^ a b "2025 SVSU Football Schedule" . Saginaw Valley State University Athletics. Retrieved June 12, 2025 .
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