The 2025–26 FCS playoffs feature a 24-team bracket, beginning Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, and concluding Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. The top 16 teams are seeded, with the top eight seeds receiving automatic byes to the second round. The remaining 16 teams compete in the first round to advance.
FCS Selections
The 2025–26 FCS Championship bracket was revealed on Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025, during a selection show on ESPNU at 12 p.m. ET, along with the official selections release.
A total of 11 conferences (or conference partnerships/alliances) earn automatic bids, while the FCS Championship Committee chooses the remaining 13 at-large teams to complete the 24-team field.
Automatic Bids: [View all 11 clinched auto-bids]
FCS Championship Bracket: [Click here to see the full bracket]
FCS championship schedule
All times Eastern
Second Round
- Saturday, December 6
- 12 p.m. | No. 12 Villanova at No. 5 Lehigh | ESPN+
- 12 p.m. | No. 11 South Dakota at No. 6 Mercer | ESPN+
- 1 p.m. | North Dakota at No. 4 Tarleton State | ESPN+
- 1 p.m. | Illinois State at No. 1 North Dakota State | ESPN+
- 2 p.m. |No. 10 Abilene Christian at No. 7 Stephen F. Austin | ESPN+
- 2 p.m. | Yale at No. 2 Montana State | ESPN+
- 2 p.m. | No. 14 South Dakota State at No. 3 Montana | ESPN+
- 10 p.m. | No. 9 Rhode Island at No. 8 UC Davis | ESPN2
Quarterfinals
- Friday, December 12
- 9 p.m. ET | ESPN
- Saturday, December 13
- 12 p.m. ET | ESPN
- 3:30 p.m. ET | ABC
- TBD time | ESPN+
Semifinals
- Saturday, December 20
- Semifinal 1 | 4 p.m. ET | ABC
- Semifinal 2 | 7:30 p.m. ET | ESPN2
National Championship
- Monday, January 5
FCS championship rounds, dates
- Selection show: 12 p.m. ET Sunday, Nov. 23 on ESPNU
- First round: Saturday, Nov. 29
- No. 9 Rhode Island 27, Central Connecticut State 19
- No. 12 Villanova 52, Harvard 7
- Yale 43, No. 15 Youngstown St. 42
- No. 10 Abilene Christian 38, Lamar 20
- No. 11 South Dakota 38, Drake 17
- North Dakota 31, No. 13 Tennessee Tech 6
- No. 14 South Dakota State 41, New Hampshire 3
- Illinois State 21, No. 16 Southeastern Louisiana 3
- Second round: Saturday, Dec. 6
- Quarterfinals: Friday, Dec. 12 through Saturday, Dec. 13
- Semifinals: Saturday, Dec. 20
- National championship: Monday, Jan. 5 on ESPN at 7:30 p.m. ET
FCS championship history
North Dakota Dakota State is the reigning national champion, winning its 10 title in 2024 with a 35-32 win over Montana State. Here's every FCS champion and runner-up from the past decade:
| 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 |
| 2021 | North Dakota State | Matt Entz | 38-10 | Montana State | Frisco, Texas |
| 2020 | Sam Houston | K.C. Keeler | 23-21 | South Dakota State | Frisco, Texas |
| 2019 | North Dakota State | Matt Entz | 28-20 | James Madison | Frisco, Texas |
| 2018 | North Dakota State | Chris Klieman | 38-24 | Eastern Washington | Frisco, Texas |
| 2017 | North Dakota State | Chris Klieman | 17-13 | James Madison | Frisco, Texas |
| 2016 | James Madison | Mike Houston | 28-14 | Youngstown State | Frisco, Texas |
| 2015 | North Dakota State | Chris Klieman | 37-10 | Jacksonville State | Frisco, Texas |
2025 FCS playoffs
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2025–26 FCS football championship
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FCS playoff bracket 2025
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FCS schedule 2025
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FCS scores 2025
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FCS first round matchups
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FCS at-large bids 2025
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FCS automatic bids 2025
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Division I FCS playoffs
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FCS postseason 2025–26
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2025 FCS football playoff bracket and schedule
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2025–26 FCS championship game date
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FCS top 16 seeds 2025
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2025 FCS playoff selection show ESPNU
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FCS playoff matchups and scores 2025
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