FCS Playoff Bracket Announced

Bassyonni

ago 12 minutes

The NCAA has announced the bracket for the upcoming Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoffs. This year marks a significant change, as the championship will take place in Nashville, Tennessee, for the first time. The playoffs will begin on Saturday, with the championship game scheduled for January 5, 2026, at FirstBank Stadium.

Key Details of the FCS Playoff Bracket

The final regular-season results were revealed late Saturday, confirming North Dakota State’s position as the overall No. 1 seed. The Bison, who are the defending champions, have secured ten titles since 2011.

Top Seeds in the FCS Playoffs

No. 1 Seed: North Dakota State
No. 2 Seed: Montana State
No. 3 Seed: Montana
No. 4 Seed: Tarleton State

Montana State earned its high seed after a thrilling 31-28 victory over its rival in the annual ‘Brawl of the Wild’. Tarleton State claimed the United Athletic Conference title with a dramatic overtime win against Austin Peay.

Remaining National Seeds

The following programs round out the top eight seeds, all of which receive first-round byes:

No. 5: Abilene Christian University
No. 6: South Dakota State
No. 7: Southeastern Louisiana
No. 8: Idaho

Moreover, at-large bids have been granted to Illinois State, Central Connecticut State, Harvard, North Dakota, Drake, and New Hampshire among others.

Important Dates for the FCS Playoffs

The FCS playoffs will follow this schedule:

First Round: Saturday, November 24, 2025
Second Round: Saturday, December 6, 2025
Quarterfinals: December 12-13, 2025
Semifinals: December 20, 2025
Championship Game: January 5, 2026

Notable Streaks and First-time Appearances

North Dakota State will make its 16th consecutive playoff appearance, while South Dakota State will participate for the 14th time in a row. In an exciting development, Tennessee Tech returns to the FCS playoffs for the first time since 2011 under head coach Bobby Wilder.

This year’s FCS playoffs will also feature Harvard and Yale, both of which will participate for the first time following the Ivy League’s decision to join the postseason.

The FCS bracket promises to deliver thrilling matchups and competitive spirit as teams vie for the championship in Nashville.