A year after the top four seeds advanced to the semifinals, this year’s FCS playoffs have produced early upsets.
Leading that list was one of the most seismic results in recent memory, Illinois State’s stunning win over top seed and defending champion North Dakota State last weekend.
With the Bison and 2022-23 champion South Dakota State out, only two of the teams still alive entering the quarterfinals have won the title in the last 25 years: No. 12 seed Villanova (2009) and No. 3 seed Montana (2001). Could it finally be the year for 2024’s losing finalist, Montana State, which hasn’t won the championship since 1984?
The next step comes this weekend. Here’s how to watch all the action.
FCS playoffs bracket, updated schedule 2025
Quarterfinals
Friday, Dec. 12
| Game | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
| No. 2 Montana State vs. No. 7 Stephen F. Austin | 9 p.m. ET | ESPN, ESPN app, Fubo |
Saturday, Dec. 13
| Game | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
| No. 4 Tarleton State vs. No. 12 Villanova | 12 p.m. | ESPN, ESPN app, Fubo |
| No. 3 Montana vs. No. 11 South Dakota | 3:30 p.m. | ABC, ESPN app, Fubo |
| No. 8 UC Davis vs. Illinois State | 5 p.m. | ESPN+ |
Semifinals – Saturday, Dec. 20
National championship – Monday, Jan. 5
| Game | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
| Semifinal winners | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN, ESPN app, Fubo |
How to watch FCS playoffs: TV channels, live streams for quarterfinals
The FCS quarterfinals will be spread across multiple outlets. Friday night’s Montana State-SFA game and Saturday’s Tarleton State-Villanova showdown will be on ESPN, while the Montana-South Dakota matchup will air on ABC.
All of those games can be streamed live via the ESPN app and Fubo.
Fubo offers a free trial for new subscribers, so you can try the service before you buy. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and 100+ top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)
The last quarterfinal between UC Davis and Illinois State will stream exclusively on ESPN+.
FCS playoffs round-by-round schedule 2025
| Date | Round | TV/Live stream |
|---|---|---|
| Nov. 29 | First round | ESPN+ |
| Dec. 6 | Second round | ESPN+ |
| Dec. 12-13 | Quarterfinals | ABC, ESPN, ESPN+, ESPN app, Fubo |
| Dec. 20 | Semifinals | ABC, ESPN2, ESPN app, Fubo |
| Jan. 5 | Championship | ESPN, ESPN app, Fubo |
