2025 FCS Playoff Bracket: Bracket, Scores & Championship Road

The 2025 FCS playoffs have delivered electrifying drama underdog stories, and historic comebacks. With the field now narrowed to eight teams, we break down the updated bracket, key scores, and what to expect as the championship journey intensifies.

Bracket Structure & Key Upsets

The 24-team bracket kicked off on November 29, top 16 seeds received byes to the second round, and first-round action set the stage for chaos. The biggest shock came from Illinois State, who stunned No. 1 North Dakota State 29-28 in the second round—a monumental upset in Fargo. This followed Yale's historic 43-42 comeback against Youngstown State, erasing a 28-point deficit in the first round.

Updated Bracket & Quarterfinals Schedule

After two rounds, the quarterfinals feature compelling matchups:

Friday, Dec. 12 (9 p.m. ET): No. 7 Stephen F. Austin at No. 2 Montana State (ESPN)
Saturday, Dec. 13:
- 12 p.m. ET: No. 12 Villanova at No. 4 Tarleton State (ESPN)
- 3:30 p.m. ET: No. 11 South Dakota at No. 3 Montana (ABC)
- 5 p.m. ET: Illinois State at No. 8 UC Davis (ESPN+)

Second Round Results Recap

The second round (Dec. 6) saw more surprises:

Illinois State 29, No. 1 NDSU 28: Redbirds' defense forced a late stop to end NDSU's 14-game winning streak in the series.
No. 2 Montana State 21, Yale 13: Bobcats advanced despite Yale's valiant effort.
No. 3 Montana 50, No. 14 South Dakota State 29: Offensive explosion from the Grizzlies.
No. 4 Tarleton State 31, North Dakota 13: Texans' defense stifted the Fighting Hawks.

"The FCS playoffs thrive on chaos. Yale's 28-point comeback and Illinois State's road upset prove that seeding doesn't dictate destiny."

Quarterfinals Preview

Expect defensive battles and high-stakes offense:

Stephen F. Austin vs. Montana State: Lumberjacks' high-octane offense (41 points vs. Abilene Christian) vs. Bobcats' elite run defense.
South Dakota vs. Montana: Coyotes' stifling defense (held Mercer scoreless) vs. Grizzlies' record-setting offense.
Illinois State vs. UC Davis: Redbirds' momentum vs. Aggies' balanced attack.
Villanova vs. Tarleton State: Wildcats' rushing attack (300+ vs. Harvard) vs. Texans' No. 1 run defense.

Championship Road to Nashville

Winners advance to the semifinals (Dec. 20) with one game on ABC and another on ESPN2. The national championship is set for Monday, Jan. 5 at 7:30 p.m. ET at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, TN, airing on ESPN.