FCS logoMarc LancasterThu, November 27, 2025 at 7:00 AM UTC·4 min readFCS playoffs schedule 2025: Full TV channels, times, live streams, scores for every college football game originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The 2025 FCS playoffs will be an exercise in answering one question: Can anyone stop North Dakota State?
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe 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.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementFCS playoffs schedule, scores 2025
First round - Saturday, Nov. 29
Game
Time (ET)
TV/Live stream
No. 15 Youngstown State vs. Yale
12 p.m.
ESPN+
No. 9 Rhode Island vs. Central Connecticut State
12 p.m.
ESPN+
No. 12 Villanova vs. Harvard
12 p.m.
ESPN+
No. 16 Southeastern Louisiana vs. Illinois State
1 p.m.
ESPN+
No. 10 Abilene Christian vs. Lamar
1 p.m.
ESPN+
No. 13 Tennessee Tech vs. North Dakota
1 p.m.
ESPN+
No. 11 South Dakota vs. Drake
1 p.m.
ESPN+
No. 14 South Dakota State vs. New Hampshire
1 p.m.
ESPN+
Second round - Saturday, Dec. 6
Game
Time (ET)
TV/Live stream
No. 6 Mercer vs. No. 11 South Dakota/Drake
12 p.m.
ESPN+
No. 5 Lehigh vs. No. 12 Villanova/Harvard
12 p.m.
ESPN+
No. 1 North Dakota State vs. No. 16 SE Louisiana/Illinois State
1 p.m.
ESPN+
No. 7 Stephen F. Austin vs. No. 10 Abilene Christian/Lamar
1 p.m.
ESPN+
No. 4 Tarleton State vs. No. 13 Tennessee Tech/North Dakota
1 p.m.
ESPN+
No. 2 Montana State vs. No. 15 Youngstown State/Yale
2 p.m.
ESPN+
No. 3 Montana vs. No. 14 South Dakota State/New Hampshire
2 p.m.
ESPN+
No. 8 UC Davis vs. No. 9 Rhode Island/Central Conn. State
3 p.m.
ESPN+
Quarterfinals
Friday, Dec. 12
Game
Time (ET)
TV/Live stream
TBD
9 p.m. ET
ESPN, ESPN app, Fubo
Saturday, Dec. 13
Game
Time (ET)
TV/Live stream
TBD
12 p.m.
ESPN, ESPN app, Fubo
TBD
3:30 p.m.
ABC, ESPN app, Fubo
TBD
TBD
ESPN+
Semifinals - Saturday, Dec. 20
Game
Time (ET)
TV/Live stream
TBD
4 p.m.
ABC, ESPN app, Fubo
TBD
7:30 p.m.
ESPN2, ESPN app, Fubo
National championship - Monday, Jan. 5
Game
Time (ET)
TV/Live stream
Semifinal winners
7:30 p.m.
ESPN, ESPN app, Fubo
FCS playoffs bracket 2025
The bracket for the 2025 FCS playoffs is below.
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+.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementNow 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
Related Links
Latest college football news
College football schedule, scores
This week's Top 25 polls
How to bet on college football
