Get ready for a football frenzy like no other! The 2025-26 FCS playoffs are here, and the road to the championship is packed with thrilling matchups and potential upsets. But here's the kicker: with 24 teams vying for glory, only one will emerge as the ultimate champion.
The journey begins on Saturday, November 29, and culminates in a grand finale on Monday, January 5, at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, TN. And this is where it gets intense: the top 16 teams are seeded, with the top eight earning automatic byes to the second round. The remaining 16 teams will battle it out in the first round, setting the stage for some jaw-dropping clashes.
Controversial question: Do byes give the top teams an unfair advantage, or do they simply reward consistent excellence? Let’s dive into the details and find out.
FCS Championship Bracket
Ready to map out the path to victory? Click here to view the full bracket and start strategizing your predictions.
FCS Championship Schedule
All times are Eastern, so mark your calendars accordingly!
Quarterfinals
- Friday, December 12: No. 2 Montana State dominated No. 7 Stephen F. Austin with a score of 44-28. Watch the highlights here.
- Saturday, December 13:
- 12 p.m. ET: No. 12 Villanova takes on No. 4 Tarleton State on ESPN. Tune in here.
- 3:30 p.m. ET: No. 11 South Dakota faces No. 3 Montana on ABC. Don’t miss this one.
- 5 p.m. ET: Illinois State challenges No. 8 UC Davis on ESPN+. Stream it here.
Semifinals
- Saturday, December 20:
- Semifinal 1: 4 p.m. ET on ABC.
- Semifinal 2: 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
National Championship
- Monday, January 5: The grand finale kicks off at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. Watch history in the making here.
FCS Championship Rounds & Dates
- Selection Show: Sunday, November 23, at 12 p.m. ET on ESPNU. Who will make the cut? Check out the selections release here.
- First Round: Saturday, November 29. Highlights include No. 12 Villanova’s 52-7 rout of Harvard and Illinois State’s 21-3 victory over No. 16 Southeastern Louisiana. See all the scores here.
- Second Round: Saturday, December 6. Upsets and close calls abound, like Illinois State’s 29-28 nail-biter against No. 1 North Dakota State. Relive the action here.
But here’s where it gets controversial: Should the FCS playoffs expand further to include more teams, or is the current format perfect for maintaining competition and excitement? Share your thoughts below!
FCS Selections
The bracket selections were unveiled on Sunday, November 23, during a special show on ESPNU. Eleven conferences secured automatic bids, while the FCS Championship Committee handpicked the remaining 13 at-large bids. See who clinched the auto-bids here.
FCS Championship History
North Dakota State reigns supreme as the 2024 champion, claiming their 10th title with a 35-32 victory over Montana State. But here’s a fun fact: North Dakota State has dominated the past decade, appearing in the championship game more than any other team. Check out the full list of champions and runners-up below:
| Year | Champion | Coach | Score | Runner-Up | Site |
|------|----------|-------|-------|-----------|------|
| 2024 | North Dakota State | Tim Polasek | 35-32 | Montana State | Frisco, Texas |
| 2023 | South Dakota State | Jimmy Rogers | 23-3 | Montana | Frisco, Texas |
| 2022 | South Dakota State | John Stiegelmeier | 45-21 | North Dakota State | Frisco, Texas |
| ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... |
Explore the full history of FCS champions since 1978 here.
Additional Highlights
- Gene Upshaw Award: Ferris State’s Tim Anderson took home the 2025 honor for the best senior or graduate offensive/defensive lineman in DII. Read more about his achievement here.
- First-Year Coaches: With 29 debut seasons wrapped up, we’ve ranked their performances from top to bottom. See who made the cut here.
- Upset Picks: Discover the most popular lower seeds in the College Football Playoff Bracket Challenge Game. Find out who’s trending here.
Final Thought-Provoking Question: With North Dakota State’s recent dominance, is the FCS becoming a one-team show, or are other programs poised to rise to the challenge? Let us know your predictions in the comments!
