The 2025-26 FCS playoffs are here, and you can feel the buzz. College football fans have been waiting all year for this.
With a 24-team bracket, things are bound to get wild. The playoffs kick off on Saturday, November 29, and the National Championship game wraps it all up on Monday, January 5.
Let’s break down the playoff structure, the key dates, and a few teams you might want to keep an eye on. There’s a lot to take in, but I’ll try to keep it straightforward.
Structure of the 2025-26 FCS Playoffs
The FCS playoffs use a 24-team bracket. It’s set up to highlight the best teams in Division I Football Championship Subdivision.
The top 16 teams get seeded, and the top eight of those receive automatic byes to the second round. It gives the favorites a small advantage, but there’s still plenty of room for chaos.
Automatic Bids and At-Large Selections
Eleven conferences (or conference alliances) earn automatic bids for their champions. It’s a way to make sure conference winners get their shot.
The other 13 spots? Those go to at-large selections, picked by the FCS Championship Committee. It’s a mix that keeps things interesting and unpredictable every season.
Key Dates and Matchups
First-round games start Saturday, November 29. A few matchups that look promising:
- No. 9 Rhode Island vs. Central Connecticut State – 12 p.m. ET on ESPN+
- No. 12 Villanova vs. Harvard – 12 p.m. ET on ESPN+
- No. 15 Youngstown State vs. Yale – 12 p.m. ET on ESPN+
- No. 10 Abilene Christian vs. Lamar – 1 p.m. ET on ESPN+
- No. 11 South Dakota vs. Drake – 1 p.m. ET on ESPN+
- No. 13 Tennessee Tech vs. North Dakota – 1 p.m. ET on ESPN+
- No. 14 South Dakota State vs. New Hampshire – 1 p.m. ET on ESPN+
- No. 16 Southeastern Louisiana vs. Illinois State – 1 p.m. ET on ESPN+
Bracket Progression
After the first round, the second round lands on Saturday, December 6. Quarterfinals follow on Friday, December 12, and Saturday, December 13, with coverage on ESPN, ESPN+, and ABC.
Semifinals will be played Saturday, December 20. The first game is at 4 p.m. ET on ABC, and the second at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
The National Championship game is set for Monday, January 5, at 7:30 p.m. ET. FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, TN, will host, and you can catch it live on ESPN.
Reigning Champions and Historical Context
North Dakota State comes into these playoffs as the defending champs. They grabbed their 10th title in 2024, edging Montana State 35-32 in a wild finish.
It’s hard to ignore how much they’ve dominated the FCS in recent years. Just take a look at the last decade:
- 2024 – North Dakota State (Coach: Tim Polasek) defeated Montana State 35-32
- 2023 – South Dakota State (Coach: Jimmy Rogers) defeated Montana 23-3
- 2022 – South Dakota State (Coach: John Stiegelmeier) defeated North Dakota State 45-21
- 2021 – North Dakota State (Coach: Matt Entz) defeated Montana State 38-10
- 2020 – Sam Houston (Coach: K.C. Keeler) defeated South Dakota State 23-21
- 2019 – North Dakota State (Coach: Matt Entz) defeated James Madison 28-20
- 2018 – North Dakota State (Coach: Chris Klieman) defeated Eastern Washington 38-24
- 2017 – North Dakota State (Coach: Chris Klieman) defeated James Madison 17-13
- 2016 – James Madison (Coach: Mike Houston) defeated Youngstown State 28-14
- 2015 – North Dakota State (Coach: Chris Klieman) defeated Jacksonville State 37-10
What to Expect This Year
It’s shaping up to be another wild FCS postseason. There are the usual favorites, sure, but don’t sleep on a few underdogs making some noise.
With the bracket set, everyone’s just waiting to see who’ll rise up—or fall flat. It’s the kind of drama you only get in college football playoffs.
How to Follow the Action
If you want to keep up with the latest news and results from the 2025-26 FCS playoffs, the official NCAA website is your best bet. You’ll find scores and updates posted there as things unfold.
Games will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN+, and ABC. So, if you’re the type who prefers watching rather than reading, you’ve got options.
Craving more details or maybe some behind-the-scenes chatter? The selection show airs on ESPNU at 12 p.m. ET on Sunday, November 23. That’s where they’ll break down the matchups and probably toss in a few hot takes.
Whether you live for college football or just tune in for the big moments, the FCS playoffs always bring something wild. Seriously, it’s hard not to get swept up in the energy when these teams are fighting for everything.
Need a full bracket or the complete schedule? You’ll find all that and more on the NCAA’s official page. Worth bookmarking, honestly.
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