The 2025 FCS playoff bracket has 24 teams, featuring 11 auto-bids from 11 conferences and 13 at-large bids. Sixteen teams will be seeded, with the Top 8 receiving first-round byes and seeds 9-16 hosting first-round games.
Nashville hosts the FCS championship game for the first time this season. The game was played in Frisco, Texas, for the last 15 years.
When Is The 2025 FCS Playoff Selection Show?
The 2025 FCS playoff bracket will be announced on Sunday, Nov. 23. The selection show airs at 11 a.m. CT on ESPNU.
When Are The FCS Playoffs?
The playoffs begin Nov. 29 with the first-round games. The second-round games are on Dec. 6, the quarterfinals are on the weekend of Dec. 12 and 13, and the semifinals are held on Dec. 20. The title game is on Monday, Jan. 5, in Nashville.
FCS Playoff TV Schedule
The TV schedule is below, subject to change:
1st, 2nd round (Nov. 29, Dec. 6):
Times TBD on ESPN+
Quarterfinals (Dec. 12-13):
Friday – 8 p.m. CT on ESPN
Saturday – 2:30 p.m. CT on ABC
Saturday – 11 a.m. CT on ESPN
Saturday – TBD on ESPN+
Semifinals (Dec. 20):
Saturday – 3 p.m. CT on ABC
Saturday – 6:30 p.m. CT on ESPN2
Championship (Jan. 5):
Monday – 6:30 p.m. CT on ESPN
Past FCS Champions
Here are the past FCS national champions in the Frisco era:
| Year | Champ | Opponent | Score |
| 2024 | NDSU | Montana St. | 35-32 |
| 2023 | SDSU | Montana | 23-3 |
| 2022 | SDSU | NDSU | 45-21 |
| 2021 | NDSU | Montana St | 38-10 |
| 2020-21 | SHSU | SDSU | 23-21 |
| 2019 | NDSU | JMU | 28-20 |
| 2018 | NDSU | EWU | 38-24 |
| 2017 | NDSU | JMU | 17-13 |
| 2016 | JMU | YSU | 28-14 |
| 2015 | NDSU | JSU | 37-10 |
| 2014 | NDSU | Illinois St | 29-27 |
| 2013 | NDSU | Towson | 35-7 |
| 2012 | NDSU | SHSU | 39-13 |
| 2011 | NDSU | SHSU | 17-6 |
| 2010 | EWU | Delaware | 20-19 |
