Heartbreak or triumph? The 2025 FCS football playoffs are just around the corner, and for many teams, it's the culmination of a season's worth of sweat, sacrifice, and unwavering dedication. Get ready for a wild ride as 24 teams battle it out for the ultimate prize, starting Saturday, November 29th, and culminating in a championship showdown on Monday, January 5th, 2026. But here's where it gets controversial... who really deserves a spot in the playoffs, and who will be left out in the cold?
Let's break down everything you need to know about the Division I Football Championship postseason, ensuring you're fully prepped for every thrilling moment.
Decoding the FCS Playoff Selection Process
Mark your calendars! The highly anticipated bracket selections for the 2025-26 FCS Championship will be revealed on Sunday, November 23, 2025. Tune in to ESPNU at 12 p.m. ET to watch the selection show live, or visit NCAA.com for the official selections release (https://www.ncaa.com/news/football/article/2025-11-23/2025-ncaa-division-i-fcs-football-championship-field-announced).
So, how does a team actually get into the playoffs? It's a combination of automatic bids and at-large selections. Eleven conferences (or conference partnerships/alliances) automatically secure a spot for their champion. And this is the part most people miss... those automatic bids can sometimes lead to some very questionable teams making the playoffs, while more deserving teams get left out. Is that fair? You be the judge!
The remaining 13 teams are chosen by the FCS Championship Committee, based on a variety of factors like record, strength of schedule, and performance against common opponents. This is where things get really interesting, as the committee's decisions are often hotly debated by fans and analysts alike. It's all part of the fun (and frustration) of college football!
AUTOMATIC BIDS: Want to see which conferences have already clinched their automatic bids? Click or tap here to see the full list and scenarios (https://www.ncaa.com/news/football/article/2025-11-22/2025-fcs-playoffs-automatic-bid-tracker-and-scenarios).
The 2025 FCS Championship Bracket: Your Roadmap to the Title
Ready to dive into the bracket itself? Click or tap here to view the full 24-team bracket (https://www.ncaa.com/brackets/football/fcs/2025). The top 8 teams are rewarded for their outstanding regular-season performance with a bye straight to the second round, giving them a crucial advantage in the quest for the championship. Seeds 9 through 16 also get a seed, but have to play in the first round. But remember, in college football, anything can happen!
2025 FCS Championship Schedule: Dates, Times, and How to Watch
Here's the complete schedule for the 2025 FCS Championship, so you don't miss a single game:
All times Eastern
*First Round (Saturday, November 29 on ESPN+):
*
* 12 p.m. | No. 9 Rhode Island vs. Central Conn. St. (https://www.ncaa.com/game/6500848)
* 12 p.m. | No. 12 Villanova vs. Harvard (https://www.ncaa.com/game/6500850)
* 12 p.m. | No. 15 Youngstown St. vs. Yale (https://www.ncaa.com/game/6500854)
* 1 p.m. | No. 10 Abilene Christian vs. Lamar (https://www.ncaa.com/game/6500856)
* 1 p.m. | No. 11 South Dakota vs. Drake (https://www.ncaa.com/game/6500858)
* 1 p.m. | No. 13 Tennessee Tech vs. North Dakota (https://www.ncaa.com/game/6500852)
* 1 p.m. | No. 14 South Dakota St. vs. New Hampshire (https://www.ncaa.com/game/6500860)
* 1 p.m. | No. 16 Southeastern La. vs. Illinois St. (https://www.ncaa.com/game/6500846)
*Second Round (Saturday, December 6 on ESPN+):
*
* 12 p.m. | Winner of Harvard/No. 12 Villanova at No. 5 Lehigh (https://www.ncaa.com/game/6500863)
* 12 p.m. | Winner of Drake/No. 11 South Dakota at No. 6 Mercer (https://www.ncaa.com/game/6500867)
* 1 p.m. | Winner of Lamar/No. 10 Abilene Christian at No. 7 Stephen F. Austin (https://www.ncaa.com/game/6500866)
* 1 p.m. | Winner of North Dakota/No. 13 Tennessee Tech at No. 4 Tarleton State (https://www.ncaa.com/game/6500864)
* 1 p.m. | Winner of Illinois State/No. 16 Southeastern Louisiana at No. 1 North Dakota State (https://www.ncaa.com/game/6500861)
* 2 p.m. | Winner of Yale/No. 15 Youngstown State at No. 2 Montana State (https://www.ncaa.com/game/6500865)
* 2 p.m. | Winner of New Hampshire/No. 14 South Dakota State at No. 3 Montana (https://www.ncaa.com/game/6500868)
* 3 p.m. | Winner of Central Connecticut State/No. 9 Rhode Island at No. 8 UC Davis (https://www.ncaa.com/game/6500862)
*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):
*
* Played at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, TN | 7:30 p.m. ET | ESPN
*Key Dates for the 2025 FCS Championship:
*
* Selection show: 12 p.m. ET Sunday, Nov. 23 on ESPNU
* First round: Saturday, Nov. 29
* 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
A Look Back: FCS Championship History
North Dakota State is the reigning national champion, having secured their 10th title in 2024 with a thrilling 35-32 victory over Montana State. Their dominance has been impressive, but will they continue to reign supreme? Or will a new challenger emerge to claim the throne? It's anyone's guess!
Here's a glimpse at the FCS champions and runners-up from the past decade:
Year | Champion | Coach | Score | Runner-Up | Site
---|---|---|---|---|---
2024 | North Dakota State (https://www.ncaa.com/live-updates/football/fcs/north-dakota-state-wins-2024-25-fcs-championship) | Tim Polasek | 35-32 | Montana State | Frisco, Texas
2023 | South Dakota State (https://www.ncaa.com/live-updates/football/fcs/live-updates-2023-fcs-football-playoffs) | Jimmy Rogers | 23-3 | Montana | Frisco, Texas
2022 | South Dakota State (https://www.ncaa.com/brackets/football/fcs/2022) | John Stiegelmeier | 45-21 | North Dakota State | Frisco, Texas
2021 | North Dakota State (https://www.ncaa.com/brackets/football/fcs/2021) | Matt Entz | 38-10 | Montana State | Frisco, Texas
2020 | Sam Houston (https://www.ncaa.com/brackets/football/fcs/2020) | K.C. Keeler | 23-21 | South Dakota State | Frisco, Texas
2019 | North Dakota State (https://www.ncaa.com/brackets/football/fcs/2019) | Matt Entz | 28-20 | James Madison | Frisco, Texas
2018 | North Dakota State (https://www.ncaa.com/brackets/football/fcs/2018) | Chris Klieman | 38-24 | Eastern Washington | Frisco, Texas
2017 | North Dakota State (http://www.ncaa.com/interactive-bracket/football/fcs/2017) | Chris Klieman | 17-13 | James Madison | Frisco, Texas
2016 | James Madison (https://www.ncaa.com/brackets/football/fcs/2016) | Mike Houston | 28-14 | Youngstown State | Frisco, Texas
2015 | North Dakota State (https://www.ncaa.com/brackets/football/fcs/2015) | Chris Klieman | 37-10 | Jacksonville State | Frisco, Texas
Click here for a full list of every champion since 1978 (https://www.ncaa.com/history/football/fcs).
More College Football Action:
2025 DII football championship: Bracket, schedule, scores
Follow along for coverage of the 2025 NCAA DII football championship, including the bracket, stats, and scores.
READ MORE (https://www.ncaa.com/news/football/article/2025-11-29/2025-dii-football-championship-bracket-schedule-scores?utm_campaign=article-carousel)
2025 Big Ten Championship Game: Date, time, TV channel, history
Here's the quick guide to the 2025 Big Ten Championship Game.
READ MORE (https://www.ncaa.com/news/football/article/2025-11-29/2025-big-ten-championship-game-date-time-tv-channel-history?utm_campaign=article-carousel)
2025 SEC Championship Game: Date, time, TV channel, history
Here's the quick guide to the 2025 SEC Championship Game.
READ MORE (https://www.ncaa.com/news/football/article/2025-11-29/2025-sec-championship-game-date-time-tv-channel-history?utm_campaign=article-carousel)
So, who do you think will be hoisting the trophy in Nashville? Are there any teams you feel were unfairly snubbed by the selection committee? And what are your thoughts on the balance between automatic bids and at-large selections? Let's hear your predictions and hot takes in the comments below!
