2025 FCS Playoffs: Official Bracket, Schedule, Scores

The 2025 FCS playoff bracket is set. Below are the seeds, bubble teams, and the official bracket.

The information below will be updated after each round with the final scores and new matchups.

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Big Sky: Montana State (10-2)

CAA: Rhode Island (10-2)

Ivy League: Yale (8-2)

MVFC: North Dakota State (12-0)

NEC: Central Connecticut State (8-4)

OVC-Big South: Tennessee Tech (11-1)

Patriot League: Lehigh (12-0)

Pioneer League: Drake (8-3)

SoCon: Mercer (9-2)

Southland: Stephen F. Austin (10-2)

UAC: Abilene Christian (8-4)

Seeds:

1. North Dakota State (12-0)

2. Montana State (10-2)

3. Montana (11-1)

4. Tarleton State (11-1)

5. Lehigh (12-0)

6. Mercer (9-2)

7. Stephen F. Austin (10-2)

8. UC Davis (8-3)

9. Rhode Island (10-2)

10. Abilene Christian (8-4)

11. South Dakota (8-4)

12. Villanova (9-2)

13. Tennessee Tech (11-1)

14. South Dakota State (8-4)

15. Youngstown State (8-4)

16. Southeastern Louisiana (9-3)

Bubble Teams:

Last Four In:

Harvard (9-1)

Illinois State (8-4)

Lamar (8-4)

New Hampshire (8-4)

First Four Out:

Austin Peay (7-5)

Monmouth (9-3)

Presbyterian (10-2)

Southern Utah (7-5)

First Round Matchups:

No. 9 Rhode Island 27, Central Connecticut State 19

No. 10 Abilene Christian 38, Lamar 20

No. 11 South Dakota 38, Drake 17

No. 12 Villanova 52, Harvard 7

North Dakota 31, No. 13 Tennessee Tech 6

No. 14 South Dakota State 41, New Hampshire 3

Yale 43, No. 15 Youngstown State 42

Illinois State 21, No. 16 Southeastern Louisiana 3

Second Round Matchups:

No. 8 UC Davis 47, No. 9 Rhode Island 26

No. 7 Stephen F. Austin 41, No. 10 Abilene Christian 34

No. 11 South Dakota 47, No. 6 Mercer 0

No. 12 Villanova 14, No. 5 Lehigh 7

No. 4 Tarleton State 31, North Dakota 13

No. 3 Montana 50, No. 14 South Dakota State 29

No. 2 Montana State 21, Yale 13

Illinois State 29, No. 1 North Dakota State 28

Quarterfinal Matchups:

No. 2 Montana State 44, No. 7 Stephen F. Austin 28

No. 12 Villanova 26, No. 4 Tarleton State 21

No. 3 Montana 52, No. 11 South Dakota 22

Illinois State 42, No. 8 UC Davis 31

Semifinal Matchups:

No. 2 Montana State 48, No. 3 Montana 23

Illinois State 30, No. 12 Villanova 14

2026 FCS National Championship:

Illinois State vs No. 2 Montana State (Jan. 5 at 6:30 pm ET on ESPN)

2025 FCS Playoff Bracket:

2025 FCS Playoff Schedule:

First Round: Nov. 29

Second Round: Dec. 6

Quarterfinals: Dec. 12-13

Semifinals: Dec. 20

FCS National Championship: Jan. 5, 2026 (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)

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