The 2025 FCS playoffs will be an exercise in answering one question: Can anyone stop North Dakota State?
The defending national champion Bison blew through the regular season unbeaten, winning by an average of 31 points per game. That earned them the top seed and obvious favorite status entering postseason play.
The rest of the 24-team bracket features worthy challengers, though, led by rivals Montana State and Montana at No. 2 and 3, respectively. While the Bobcats handed their arch-rivals their first loss in the final game of the regular season, both are built to make a deep playoff run.
And don’t sleep on Lehigh, the only team besides NDSU entering the playoffs without a loss this year. The Mountain Hawks haven’t made it past the quarterfinals since 1980 but have found a way to win all season.
Here is a complete rundown of everything you need to know about the 2025 FCS playoffs, including TV and live stream information for every game.
FCS playoffs schedule, scores 2025
Second round – Saturday, Dec. 6
| Game | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
| No. 6 Mercer vs. No. 11 South Dakota | 12 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| No. 5 Lehigh vs. No. 12 Villanova | 12 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| No. 1 North Dakota State vs. Illinois State | 1 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| No. 7 Stephen F. Austin vs. No. 10 Abilene Christian | 1 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| No. 4 Tarleton State vs. North Dakota | 1 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| No. 2 Montana State vs. Yale | 2 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| No. 3 Montana vs. No. 14 South Dakota State | 2 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| No. 8 UC Davis vs. No. 9 Rhode Island | 10 p.m. | ESPN+ |
Quarterfinals
Friday, Dec. 12
Saturday, Dec. 13
Semifinals – Saturday, Dec. 20
National championship – Monday, Jan. 5
| Game | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
| Semifinal winners | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN, ESPN app, Fubo |
First round – Saturday, Nov. 29
| Game | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
| Yale 43, No. 15 Youngstown State 42 | — | — |
| No. 9 Rhode Island 27, Central Connecticut State 19 | — | — |
| No. 12 Villanova 52, Harvard 7 | — | — |
| Illinois State 21, No. 16 Southeastern Louisiana 3 | — | — |
| No. 10 Abilene Christian 38, Lamar 20 | — | — |
| North Dakota 31, No. 13 Tennessee Tech 6 | — | — |
| No. 11 South Dakota 38, Drake 17 | — | — |
| No. 14 South Dakota State 41, New Hampshire 3 | — | — |
FCS playoffs bracket 2025
The bracket for the 2025 FCS playoffs is below.
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How to watch FCS playoffs 2025
- TV channels: ABC, ESPN, ESPN2
- Live stream: Fubo, ESPN app
FCS playoff games will air across the ESPN networks, with the first two rounds on ESPN+, quarterfinal games on ABC, ESPN and ESPN+, semifinal games on ABC and ESPN2, and the championship game on ESPN.
Fans can stream every game via the ESPN app with the Unlimited plan, which includes every ESPN broadcast network including sports on ABC and everything on ESPN+.
Now you can watch ESPN without cable. Stream live NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, college sports, plus SportsCenter, First Take, and all your favorite ESPN shows—anytime, anywhere—only in the new ESPN app.
Games airing on ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 can also be streamed live on Fubo, which offers a free trial to new users.
FCS playoffs round-by-round schedule 2025
| Date | Round | TV/Live stream |
|---|---|---|
| Nov. 29 | First round | ESPN+ |
| Dec. 6 | Second round | ESPN+ |
| Dec. 12-13 | Quarterfinals | ABC, ESPN, ESPN+, ESPN app, Fubo |
| Dec. 20 | Semifinals | ABC, ESPN2, ESPN app, Fubo |
| Jan. 5 | Championship | ESPN, ESPN app, Fubo |
FCS champions list
The last 10 FCS champions are listed below.
| Year | Winner | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | North Dakota State | Montana State |
| 2023 | South Dakota State | Montana |
| 2022 | South Dakota State | North Dakota State |
| 2021 | North Dakota State | Montana State |
| 2020 | Sam Houston | South Dakota State |
| 2019 | North Dakota State | James Madison |
| 2018 | North Dakota State | Eastern Washington |
| 2017 | North Dakota State | James Madison |
| 2016 | James Madison | Youngstown State |
| 2015 | North Dakota State | Jacksonville State |
