The 2025 FCS playoffs is a study of change and familiarity in equal parts.
For the first time in the event’s near 50-year history, the Ivy League will send its champion to compete for a national championship. (Depending on what happens in the final weekend, the Ivy could send up to three teams. More on that later.) Ivy League schools claim a whopping 77 national championships, though none since Princeton in 1950 (and that one is dubious).
Additionally, the championship game is moving. After a decade and a half in Frisco, Texas (the stadium had three different names during that time), the FCS National Championship is returning to Tennessee this January. After spending 1997-09 at Chattanooga’s Finley Stadium, the 2025 national title will be played at Vanderbilt’s FirstBank Stadium in Nashville.
But with that change comes familiarity. North Dakota State won 10 of the 15 championship games in Frisco, and Bison fans spent so much time in suburban north Dallas they undoubtedly became regulars at certain Collin County hotels and restaurants. Will NDSU Nation build up the same inherent knowledge of Nashville? Time will tell.
One thing is certain, though. Like so many years past, the 2025 FCS national title is North Dakota State’s to lose. The No. 1-ranked, defending national champion Bison have played all of two games decided by fewer than 17 points.
With Selection Sunday coming, uh, Sunday, here’s a look at how the bracket is likely to shake out.
Playoff Format
— 24 teams, chosen by selection committee
— 11 auto bids awarded to conference champions, and 13 at-large bids
Beyond the 11 auto bids, I count 10 at-large teams safely in the field, six on the bubble, with the possibility of up the three bids stolen on the final weekend.
Big Sky
Has the Brawl of the Wild ever meant more? No. 2 Montana hosts No. 3 Montana State on Saturday, which will not only decide arguably the hottest rivalry in all of college football (MSU has won six of the last eight, but Montana has won the last two at home) and the Big Sky title, the winner will be awarded the No. 2 seed in the playoffs, which means they get to avoid North Dakota State as long as possible. The loser could easily be the No. 3 seed, which means this game could also decide home field for a possibly-inevitable semifinal rematch. Elsewhere, UC Davis is a lock for an at-large bid — the Aggies are likely to earn a national seed, which means a first-round home game — but Sacramento State looks to spoil UCD’s plans by winning their way into the tournament.
Champ: Montana/Montana State winner
At-large: Montana/Montana State loser, UC Davis
On the Bubble: Sacramento State
CAA
Like almost every FBS conference these days, the CAA is a 14-team conference with no divisions, which means 7-0 Rhode Island did not play 7-1 Villanova or 6-1 Monmouth. URI can obviously clinch the CAA title with a win over Hampton (the Pirates are 0-7 in league play), but Monmouth wins the league with a URI loss and a win over UAlbany (also 0-7). Villanova would need URI and Monmouth to both lose to the CAA’s last-place teams. Monmouth is likely to host, while Villanova should be one of the highest-seeded road teams next weekend. William & Mary is sitting on the bubble.
Champ: Most likely Rhode Island
At-large: Monmouth, Villanova
On the Bubble: William & Mary
Ivy League
The 141st Game between Harvard and Yale will decide the 69th Ivy League championship and the grand old conference’s first FCS playoff bid. It would be better for the conference’s hopes of advancing if Harvard won; the Crimson are 9-0 and in line for a top-16 seed, which means a home game in the first round and perhaps even the second depending on what happens elsewhere this weekend. Yale is 7-2 and, due to the Ivy’s lack of general schedule strength, not on the radar for an at-large bid. Problem is: Yale has won three straight and six of the last eight, including a 34-29 upset in Cambridge that cost the Crimson an outright Ivy League title. Dartmouth, with a win over likely NEC champ Central Connecticut and 7-4 New Hampshire, has a better shot at an at-large than Yale.
Champ: Harvard/Yale winner
At-large: Harvard (if it loses to Yale)
On the Bubble: Dartmouth
MEAC
The schedule-makers deserve a postseason bonus, because 4-0 South Carolina State visits 4-0 Delaware State on Saturday for the MEAC title. The winner advances to meet the SWAC champ in the Celebration Bowl Dec. 13 in Atlanta. South Carolina State is looking to defend its MEAC title, while Delaware State, led by DeSean Jackson, looks to play in its first Celebration Bowl.
Missouri Valley
North Dakota State has clinched its 12th MVFC championship in 15 seasons, and will be in prime position to defend its FCS title while hunting for national championship No. 11 during this ongoing 15-year run. South Dakota, Illinois State and North Dakota are battling for seeds and first-round home games, while Youngstown State seems to be on the right side of the bubble. 2022-23 national champion and 2024 semifinalist South Dakota State is on the outside looking in right now; Dan Jackson’s team hasn’t won a game since losing the Dakota Marker to NDSU in a 1 vs. 2 game in late October, and they travel to No. 13 North Dakota on Saturday.
Champ: North Dakota State
At-large: Illinois State, North Dakota, South Dakota
On the Bubble: Youngstown State, South Dakota State
NEC
5-1 Central Connecticut clinches the NEC title with a win over 4-2 Mercyhurst, while 4-2 Duquesne requires a win over Robert Morris and a CCSU loss. 4-2 Mercyhurst is in eligible to win the NEC title, and 4-2 Wagner has been eliminated. This will be a one-bid league.
Champ: CCSU/Duquense
At-large: None
On the Bubble: None
OVC-Big South
Again, give the schedule maker a bonus: 7-0 Tennessee Tech hosts 6-1 UT Martin on Saturday for the conference championship. Alas, UT-Martin’s 1-5 start (three losses to FBS teams) left the Skyhawks grounded for a potential at-large bid. Tennessee Tech, at 10-1 with only a loss at Kentucky, would make the field as an at-large.
Champ: Tennessee Tech/UT-Martin winner
At-large: Tennessee Tech (with a loss to UTM)
On the Bubble: None
Patriot League
Here’s a fifth conference title decided on the field in the final regular-season weekend, but like in the Ivy League we don’t need to dole out extra dollars for making this one happen. Lafayette and Lehigh is college football’s most-played rivalry, and the 161st(!!) edition of The Rivalry is among the biggest — both teams are 6-0 in Patriot League play. Lehigh enters the game at 11-0 and looking for a first-round bye, while 8-3 Lafayette, with its non-conference win to 3-6 Princeton, must win its way in.
Champ: Lehigh/Lafayette loser
At-large: Lehigh (with a loss to Lafayette)
On the Bubble: None
Pioneer
Drake holds the steering wheel at 6-1, but Presbyterian can win the conference with a win over Marist, a Drake loss to Morehead State, and a San Diego loss to Stetson. This will be a one-bid league.
Champ: Likely Drake
At-large: None
On the Bubble: None
SoCon
Mercer has already wrapped up the conference title with room to spare, and now takes a paycheck at Auburn this weekend. The Bears are in the hunt for a first-round bye. This will be a one-bid league.
Champ: Mercer
At-large: None
On the Bubble: None
Southland
Stephen F. Austin has wrapped up its first Southland title since 2010 (the Lumberjacks won the WAC in 2022) and are right on the edge of hosting a first-round game. Southeastern Louisiana and Lamar are in the field, pending upset losses this weekend.
Champ: Stephen F. Austin
At-large: Lamar, Southeastern Louisiana
On the Bubble: None
SWAC
Jackson State wins the SWAC East with a win over Alcorn State on Saturday, while Alabama State needs a JSU loss plus a win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Prairie View A&M has clinched the SWAC West and advanced to the SWAC Championship on Dec. 6. The winner of the conference title game will play in the Celebration Bowl the following Saturday.
United Athletic
Abilene Christian wins the UAC with a win over Central Arkansas, while Tarleton needs a win over Austin Peay and an ACU loss. Even though ACU won head-to-head, 10-1 Tarleton is in line for a higher seed than 7-4 ACU, who was blown out by 4-7 Incarnate Word in non-conference play. 7-4 Austin Peay is firmly on the bubble.
Champ: Abilene Christian
At-large: Tarleton
On the Bubble: Austin Peay
