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.
Decade overview
| 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
|
2020
Saginaw Valley State and the GLIAC did not compete in football during the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2021
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]
Schedule
| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|
| September 4 | 7:00 p.m. | Texas A&M–Kingsville* | | W 13–9 | 2,000 |
|
| September 11 | 1:00 p.m. | at Bowie State* | | L 17–28 | 1,211 |
|
| 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 41–21 | 2,932 |
|
| October 2 | 2:00 p.m. | No. 8 Grand Valley State | | L 17–49 | 8,544 |
|
| 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 31–13 | 5,100 |
|
| October 23 | 3:00 p.m. | Wayne State | - Wickes Stadium
- University Center, MI
| W 41–25 | 4,200 |
|
| October 30 | 12:00 p.m. | at Davenport | | W 24–3 | 1,050 |
|
| November 6 | 1:00 p.m. | Northern Michigan | - Wickes Stadium
- University Center, MI
| W 33–21 | 2,000 |
|
| November 13 | 1:00 p.m. | at Michigan Tech | | L 21–20 | 1,315 |
|
- *Non-conference game
- Homecoming
- Rankings from AFCA Poll released prior to the game
- All times are in Eastern time
|
[2]
2022
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]
Schedule
| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|
| 6:00 p.m. | West Virginia Wesleyan* | | | | W 72–0 | 2,700 |
|
| September 10 | 1:00 p.m. | Bowie State* | | - Wickes Stadium
- University Center, MI
| | W 40–12 | 3,700 |
|
| September 17 | 1:00 p.m. | at Northwood* | | | | W 35–14 | 3,122 |
|
| September 24 | 1:00 p.m. | at Michigan Tech* | No. 19 | | FloSports | W 35–13 | 1,284 |
|
| October 1 | 7:00 p.m. | at No. 2 Grand Valley State | No. 17 | | FloSports | L 10–29 | 14,877 | [5][6]
|
| October 8 | 2:00 p.m. | No. 1 Ferris State | | - Wickes Stadium
- University Center, MI
| | L 28–33 | 3,627 | [7]
|
| October 15 | 2:00 p.m. | Indianapolis* | | - Wickes Stadium
- University Center, MI
| | W 38–14 | 3,101 | [8]
|
| October 22 | 6:00 p.m. | at Wayne State | No. 24 | | | W 21–14 | 3,531 |
|
| October 29 | 1:00 p.m. | Davenport | No. 23 | - Wickes Stadium
- University Center, MI
| | L 28–29 | 1,920 |
|
| November 5 | 1:00 p.m. | at Northern Michigan | | | | W 30–21 | 1,198 | [9]
|
| November 12 | 1:00 p.m. | Michigan Tech | | - Wickes Stadium
- University Center, MI
| FloSports | W 35–30 | 3,265 | [10]
|
- *Non-conference game
- Homecoming
- Rankings from AFCA Poll released prior to the game
- All times are in Eastern time
|
[4]
2023
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]
Schedule
| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|
| 6:00 p.m. | Winona State* | | | W 34–24 | 1,414 |
|
| September 9 | 6:00 p.m. | Northwood* | - Wickes Stadium
- University Center, MI
| | W 31–8 | 2,689 |
|
| September 16 | 2:00 p.m. | at Truman* | | | L 7–21 | 4,126 |
|
| September 23 | 2:00 p.m. | Indianapolis* | - Wickes Stadium
- University Center, MI
| | L 10–35 | 2,316 |
|
| September 30 | 6:00 p.m. | No. 7 Grand Valley State | - Wickes Stadium
- University Center, MI
| | L 14–55 | 5,085 |
|
| October 7 | 1:00 p.m. | at No. 1 Ferris State | | FloSports | L 17–38 | 3,124 | [13]
|
| October 14 | 12:00 p.m. | at St. Xavier (IL)* | | | W 32–10 | 400 |
|
| 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 21–24 | 1,112 |
|
| November 4 | 1:00 p.m. | Northern Michigan | - Wickes Stadium
- University Center, MI
| | W 62–17 | 2 |
|
| November 11 | 1:00 p.m. | at Michigan Tech | | | W 38–21 | 1,191 |
|
- *Non-conference game
- Homecoming
- Rankings from AFCA Poll released prior to the game
- All times are in Eastern time
|
[12]
2024
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]
Schedule
| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|
| 7:00 p.m. | at Winona State* | | | W 38–14 | 3,061 |
|
| September 14 | 1:00 p.m. | at Northwood* | | | L 7–10 | 3,404 |
|
| September 21 | 2:00 p.m. | Truman* | | | W 37–14 | 3,323 |
|
| September 28 | 6:00 p.m. | at No. 15 Indianapolis* | | | W 28–24 | 2,076 |
|
| October 5 | 1:00 p.m. | at Northern Michigan | | | W 63–14 | 2,553 |
|
| October 12 | 1:00 p.m. | at Roosevelt | | | W 27–14 | 812 |
|
| October 19 | 3:00 p.m. | No. 2 Grand Valley State | | | L 9–16 | 8,586 | [16]
|
| October 26 | 1:00 p.m. | at Wayne State | | | W 37–10 | 2,726 |
|
| November 2 | 1:00 p.m. | Davenport | - Wickes Stadium
- University Center, MI
| | W 24–14 | 4,339 |
|
| November 9 | 1:00 p.m. | at No. 2 Ferris State | | | L 24–27 | 2,856 | [17]
|
| November 16 | 1:00 p.m. | Michigan Tech | - Wickes Stadium
- University Center, MI
| FloSports | L 28–32 | 2,968 |
|
- *Non-conference game
- Homecoming
- Rankings from AFCA Poll released prior to the game
- All times are in Eastern time
|
[15]
2025
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]
Schedule
[18]
References
- ^ "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.
|
|---|
| Venues | |
|---|
| Bowls & rivalries | |
|---|
| Culture & lore |
- Coop the Cardinal
- "Cardinal Fight"
|
|---|
| People | |
|---|
| Seasons | |
|---|