FCS playoff bracket 2025: Updated schedule, TV channels, college football quarterfinal scores originally appeared on The Sporting News. Click here to add Sports News as your go-to source.
One year after the top four seeds advanced to the semifinals, this year’s FCS playoffs suffered an early upset.
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Leading that list is one of the most shocking results in recent memory, Illinois State’s shocking win over top-seeded and defending champion North Dakota State last weekend.
With the Bison and 2022-23 champion South Dakota State out, only two teams still alive to reach the quarterfinals have won the title in the past 25 years: No. 12 seed Villanova (2009) and No. 3 seed Montana State (2001). Could this be the last year that 2024 losing finalist Montana State hasn’t won a championship since 1984?
The next step will be this weekend. Here’s how to watch all the action.
FCS playoff brackets, updated schedule for 2025
quarterfinals
Friday, December 12
|
game |
Time (Eastern Time) |
TV/live broadcast |
|
No. 2 Montana State vs. No. 7 Stephen F. Austin |
9 p.m. ET |
ESPN, ESPN App, Fubo |
Saturday, December 13
|
game |
Time (Eastern Time) |
TV/live broadcast |
|
No. 4 Tarleton State vs. No. 12 Villanova |
12 noon |
ESPN, ESPN App, Fubo |
|
No. 3 Montana State vs. No. 11 South Dakota State |
3:30 pm |
ABC, ESPN App, Fubo |
|
8 UC Davis vs Illinois State University |
5pm |
ESPN+ |
Semifinals – Saturday, December 20
|
game |
Time (Eastern Time) |
TV/live broadcast |
|
To be determined and to be determined |
4pm |
ABC, ESPN App, Fubo |
|
To be determined and to be determined |
7:30pm |
ESPN2, ESPN App, Fubo |
National Championship—— Monday, January 5
|
game |
Time (Eastern Time) |
TV/live broadcast |
|
semifinal winner |
7:30pm |
ESPN, ESPN App, Fubo |
How to watch FCS playoffs: TV channels, quarterfinals live broadcast
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The FCS Quarterfinals will be played on multiple channels. Friday night’s Montana State-SFA game and Saturday’s Tarleton State-Villanova matchup will air on ESPN, while Montana State’s game against South Dakota State will air on ABC.
All of these games can be streamed live on the ESPN app and Fubo.
Fubo offers a free trial to new subscribers, so you can try out the service before buying. Watch ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and more than 100 of the top live TV and sports channels without cable. (Participating programs only. Taxes and fees may apply.)
The final quarterfinal game between UC Davis and Illinois State will be streamed exclusively on ESPN+.
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2025 FCS Playoffs round-by-round schedule
|
date |
round |
TV/live broadcast |
|---|---|---|
|
November 29 |
first round |
ESPN+ |
|
December 6 |
second round |
ESPN+ |
|
December 12-13 |
quarterfinals |
ABC, ESPN, ESPN+, ESPN App, Fubo |
|
December 20 |
semifinals |
ABC, ESPN2, ESPN App, Fubo |
|
January 5 |
championship |
ESPN, ESPN App, Fubo |