Grand Valley State Lakers Football

The Grand Valley State Lakers football team represent Grand Valley State University (GVSU) in NCAA Division II football. After a national runner-up finish in 2001, losing to the University of North Dakota in the national championship game, GVSU completed the 2002 season with a perfect 14–0 record by defeating Valdosta State University, and winning the school's first-ever NCAA Division II national football championship. GVSU followed that success with a second national championship in 2003 with a 13–1 record, avenging the 2001 loss and defeating North Dakota in the championship game. GVSU was knocked out from the playoffs in 2004 by North Dakota in the now realigned playoff regions in the Northwest Regional Finals. In 2005 and 2006 GVSU won back-to-back National Championships, finishing both seasons undefeated. In 2007 the Lakers ran their win streak to 40 games, setting the NCAA Division II record for longest consecutive win streak; this streak ended a loss to Northwest Missouri State in the 2007 National Semi-Final Game. In the 21st century, GVSU's win percentage (.880, 147-20) and average margin of victory have outpaced such teams as the University of Southern California, the University of Texas, and Ohio State University; NCAA Division III's Mount Union College has outpaced GVSU with a win percentage of .960 (167-7). Since inception, GVSU's overall winning percentage is .729 (339-125-3), trailing only Michigan, Notre Dame and Old Dominion among teams from all NCAA divisions. Their all time home record is 127–31–1.