FCS playoffs bracket 2025: Updated schedule, TV channels, scores for college football quarterfinal games originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here. A year after the top four seeds advanced to the semifinals, this year's FCS playoffs have produced early upsets.

Here are the scores, complete bracket and schedule for the 2025 playoffs for the NCAA Division-I Football Championship Series. The NCAA Football Championship Series playoffs continued with the quarterfinals on Saturday, Dec. 13. Illinois State pulled off another upset, defeating UC Davis to advance to the semifinals.

After a thrilling 2025 season, FCS football will crown a new champion when Montana State and Illinois State battle on a Monday night. As the Bobcats and Redbirds near the pinnacle of the sport, let's take a look back at their journeys.

Illinois State is making its second FCS title game appearance. The Redbirds last made it during the 2014 season, losing 29-27 to North Dakota State.

Another x-factor will be how effective Villanova's defense has been in key situations. The Wildcats have held opponents to 28% on third-down attempts, while also making several key red zone stops in all three postseason games. The best example was the forced fumble on Lehigh's final possession, sealing the win for the Wildcats.

Here's everything you need to know about the 2025-26 FCS Championship Game, the 48th championship game. The 2025-26 FCS Championship is on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Reigning FCS champion and top-ranked North Dakota State was stunned by Illinois State 29-28 in the second round of the FCS playoffs

The teams set to play in the 2025 FCS national championship at Vanderbilt's FirstBank Stadium will be known after the semifinals are played on Dec. 20. This much is guaranteed: one of the recent FCS champions will not claim the championship when it is played Jan. 5, 2026 (ESPN, 6:30 p.m. CT).

SP+ projection: Villanova 29.5, Illinois State 24.9

Paul Brott has been a mainstay on a Montana State defensive line that had to retool some after last year's FCS title game appearance. In fact, that 2024 team saw heavy losses on both sides of the ball,