FCS 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? The 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. FCS playoffs schedule, scores 2025Second round – Saturday, Dec. 6GameTime (ET)TV/Live streamNo. 6 Mercer vs. No. 11 South Dakota12 p.m.ESPN+No. 5 Lehigh vs. No. 12 Villanova12 p.m.ESPN+No. 1 North Dakota State vs. Illinois State1 p.m.ESPN+No. 7 Stephen F. Austin vs. No. 10 Abilene Christian1 p.m.ESPN+No. 4 Tarleton State vs. North Dakota1 p.m.ESPN+No. 2 Montana State vs. Yale2 p.m.ESPN+No. 3 Montana vs. No. 14 South Dakota State2 p.m.ESPN+No. 8 UC Davis vs. No. 9 Rhode Island10 p.m.ESPN2, Fubo, ESPN appQuarterfinalsFriday, Dec. 12GameTime (ET)TV/Live streamTBD9 p.m. ETESPN, ESPN app, FuboSaturday, Dec. 13GameTime (ET)TV/Live streamTBD12 p.m.ESPN, ESPN app, FuboTBD3:30 p.m.ABC, ESPN app, FuboTBDTBDESPN+Semifinals – Saturday, Dec. 20GameTime (ET)TV/Live streamTBD4 p.m.ABC, ESPN app, FuboTBD7:30 p.m.ESPN2, ESPN app, FuboNational championship – Monday, Jan. 5GameTime (ET)TV/Live streamSemifinal winners7:30 p.m.ESPN, ESPN app, FuboFirst round – Saturday, Nov. 29GameTime (ET)TV/Live streamYale 43, No. 15 Youngstown State 42——No. 9 Rhode Island 27, Central Connecticut State 19——No. 12 Villanova 52, Harvard 7——Illinois State 21, No. 16 Southeastern Louisiana 3——No. 10 Abilene Christian 38, Lamar 20——North Dakota 31, No. 13 Tennessee Tech 6——No. 11 South Dakota 38, Drake 17——No. 14 South Dakota State 41, New Hampshire 3——FCS playoffs bracket 2025The bracket for the 2025 FCS playoffs is below. The journey 🛣️ to Nashville starts now! 🤠➡️ https://t.co/WMZy5RKlMK🎟️ https://t.co/JCdOIlf2Th🏆 https://t.co/wrgHHBlacN#FCSPlayoffspic.twitter.com/RSUdlbve8R— NCAA FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) November 23, 2025How to watch FCS playoffs 2025TV channels: ABC, ESPN, ESPN2Live stream: Fubo, ESPN appFCS 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+. Now 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 2025DateRoundTV/Live streamNov. 29First roundESPN+Dec. 6Second roundESPN+Dec. 12-13QuarterfinalsABC, ESPN, ESPN+, ESPN app, FuboDec. 20SemifinalsABC, ESPN2, ESPN app, FuboJan. 5 ChampionshipESPN, ESPN app, FuboFCS champions list The last 10 FCS champions are listed below. YearWinnerRunner-up2024North Dakota StateMontana State 2023South Dakota StateMontana2022South Dakota StateNorth Dakota State2021North Dakota StateMontana State2020Sam HoustonSouth Dakota State2019North Dakota StateJames Madison2018North Dakota StateEastern Washington2017North Dakota StateJames Madison2016James MadisonYoungstown State2015North Dakota StateJacksonville StateRelated LinksLatest college football newsCollege football schedule, scoresThis week’s Top 25 pollsHow to bet on college football