The 24-team FCS playoff bracket for 2025–2026 will begin play on Saturday, November 29, and end on Monday, January 5. The remaining 16 teams in the 24-team field compete in the first round, while the top 16 teams and the top eight seeds automatically advance to the second round.
Everything you need to know about the Division I Football Championship postseason is provided here.
FCS selections
On Sunday, November 23, 2025, the 2025–26 FCS Championship bracket selections were made. At 12 p.m. ET, a selection program on ESPNU announced the bracket.
Playoff places are automatically awarded to eleven conferences (or conference partnerships/alliances). The final 13 at-large bids are chosen by the FCS Championship Committee.
FCS championship 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
- Played at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, TN | 7:30 p.m. ET | ESPN
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 |
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