FCS playoff bracket revealed: North Dakota State, Montana State top seeds in 24-team field

Defending national champion North Dakota State earned the No. 1 overall seed in the 24-team Football Championship Subdivision playoff field, which was revealed Sunday.

The Bison (12-0) finished the regular season unbeaten for the first time since 2019 and averaged 42.2 points per game, which was the most in school history. They beat all but two opponents at least 17 points and allowed an FCS-best 11.7 points and 238 yards per game.

Joining North Dakota State as top seeds were Montana State, Montana and Tarleton State. The Bobcats’ 31-28 win over Montana on Saturday in the annual Brawl of the Wild secured the No. 2 overall seed, but the in-state rivals are now two wins each away from a rematch in the FCS semifinals.

In the FCS, 11 conferences receive automatic berths, and 13 at-large selections fill out the field. The top eight teams receive first-round byes, and every game is played on the campus of the higher seed until the national championship game, which will be held Jan. 5 in Nashville.

The FCS playoffs start on Saturday. The second round kicks off on Dec. 6, followed by the quarterfinals on Dec. 12-13. The national semifinals are played on Dec. 20.

Along with Montana-Montana State, historical rivalries determined multiple automatic FCS bids this weekend. Lehigh beat Lafayette to clinch the Patriot League title, and Yale upset Harvard to win the Ivy League and claim the conference’s first-ever playoff spot. Harvard also earned an at-large berth in the field.

Six Missouri Valley Conference representatives earned bids, including all four teams from the Dakotas. South Dakota State’s overtime win against North Dakota helped the Jackrabbits claim their 15th straight FCS playoff appearance.

The journey 🛣️ to Nashville starts now! 🤠

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— NCAA FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) November 23, 2025

FCS playoff schedule

NDSU Quadrant

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

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

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

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 StateSecond round (Dec. 6): Lamar/Abilene Christian at Montana State; Yale/Youngstown State at Stephen F. Austin