FCS Playoffs 2025: North Dakota State, Montana State Lead Seeds
The Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoffs are here, and honestly, the anticipation is hard to ignore. The 24-team field is locked in, and defending champ North Dakota State sits at the top as the No. 1 overall seed after wrapping up a spotless 12-0 regular season.
They’ve been steamrolling opponents, putting up an average of 42.2 points per game while only allowing 11.7—the best in the FCS. With the playoffs about to start, fans can expect some wild matchups, all leading to the national championship game on January 5 in Nashville.
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The Top Seeds and Their Paths to the Championship
North Dakota State isn’t alone at the top. Montana State, Montana, and Tarleton State round out the top four seeds in the bracket. Each team has put together a strong season to earn their spot.
North Dakota State Quadrant
North Dakota State gets a first-round bye and will meet the winner of Illinois State vs. Southeastern Louisiana. The Bison have been a nightmare for opponents this year, so whoever advances will have their work cut out for them.
UC Davis, seeded No. 8, also has a bye. They’ll play whoever comes out on top between Central Connecticut State and Rhode Island.
- Byes: No. 1 North Dakota State (12-0), No. 8 UC Davis (8-3)
- First Round (Nov. 29): Illinois State (8-4) at No. 16 Southeastern Louisiana (9-3); Central Connecticut State (8-4) at No. 9 Rhode Island (10-2)
- Second Round (Dec. 6): Illinois State/Southeastern Louisiana at North Dakota State; CCSU/Rhode Island at UC Davis
Tarleton State Quadrant
Tarleton State, at No. 4, will see either North Dakota or Tennessee Tech in the second round. Lehigh, the No. 5 seed, is set to face the winner of Harvard vs. Villanova.
Tarleton State’s 11-1 record is nothing to sneeze at—they’ve been tough all year.
- Byes: No. 4 Tarleton State (11-1), No. 5 Lehigh (12-0)
- First Round (Nov. 29): North Dakota (7-5) at No. 13 Tennessee Tech (11-1); Harvard (9-1) at No. 12 Villanova (9-2)
- Second Round (Dec. 6): North Dakota/Tennessee Tech at Tarleton State; Harvard/Villanova at Lehigh
Montana Quadrant
Montana, the No. 3 seed, is waiting for the winner of New Hampshire vs. South Dakota State. Mercer, at No. 6, will play whoever emerges from Drake vs. South Dakota.
Montana’s 11-1 record says a lot about their consistency this season.
- Byes: No. 3 Montana (11-1), No. 6 Mercer (9-2)
- First Round (Nov. 29): New Hampshire (8-4) at No. 14 South Dakota State (8-4); Drake (8-3) at No. 11 South Dakota (8-4)
- Second Round (Dec. 6): New Hampshire/SDSU at Montana; Drake/South Dakota at Mercer
Montana State Quadrant
Montana State, the No. 2 seed, will play the winner of Lamar vs. Abilene Christian. Stephen F. Austin, seeded seventh, is set to face whoever takes Yale vs. Youngstown State.
Montana State’s perfect 12-0 mark and their win in the Brawl of the Wild have them looking pretty scary in this quadrant.
- Byes: No. 2 Montana State (12-0), No. 7 Stephen F. Austin (10-2)
- First Round (Nov. 29): Lamar (8-4) at No. 10 Abilene Christian (8-4); Yale (8-2) at No. 15 Youngstown State
- Second Round (Dec. 6): Lamar/Abilene Christian at Montana State; Yale/Youngstown State at Stephen F. Austin
Rivalries and Key Matchups
This year’s FCS playoffs are packed with old rivalries that have decided automatic bids. Lehigh’s win over Lafayette locked up the Patriot League, while Yale’s upset of Harvard gave the Ivy League its first playoff spot ever.
Harvard still managed to grab an at-large berth, which adds another layer of drama to the bracket.
Lehigh vs. Lafayette
Lehigh’s win over Lafayette not only gave them the Patriot League title, but also showed they’re ready for the postseason. As the No. 5 seed, they’ll meet the winner of Harvard vs. Villanova in the second round.
Lehigh’s perfect 12-0 record is tough to argue with.
Yale vs. Harvard
Yale’s upset over Harvard was a big deal, landing them the Ivy League’s first-ever playoff spot. Yale faces Youngstown State in round one, and the winner gets Stephen F. Austin next.
Harvard, even after the loss, still made it in and will play Villanova in the first round.
Missouri Valley Conference Dominance
The Missouri Valley Conference is stacked this year, sending six teams to the FCS playoffs. All four Dakota schools—North Dakota State, South Dakota State, South Dakota, and North Dakota—are in, which really shows how deep the conference is.
South Dakota State
South Dakota State’s overtime win against North Dakota punched their ticket for a 15th straight playoff appearance. They’ll open against New Hampshire, and whoever wins moves on to face Montana.
The Jackrabbits have been around the block—they’re always a tough out in the playoffs.
South Dakota and North Dakota
South Dakota and North Dakota both earned playoff spots as well. South Dakota opens against Drake, while North Dakota gets Tennessee Tech.
Both teams have had their moments this season, and it wouldn’t be shocking if one of them made a deep run.
The Road to Nashville
The road to the national championship game in Nashville kicks off on November 29 with the first round. The second round starts on December 6.
Quarterfinals are set for December 12 and 13. Then, the national semifinals land on December 20.
Each game gets played on the higher seed’s campus, which really cranks up the excitement. That home-field edge? It means a lot for the top teams.
As the playoffs roll out, fans are in for some wild competition. There’s always the chance for a few upsets—maybe even a jaw-dropper or two.
If you want all the details—the bracket, the schedule, seeds, all that good stuff—take a look at the New York Times Athletic.
