INDIANAPOLIS — The field of 24 teams competing for the 2025 NCAA Division I Football Championship was announced today by the NCAA Division I Football Championship Committee. The top 16 teams were seeded in the bracket with each earning the ability to host their first playoff game. The top eight receiving byes are:
North Dakota State (12-0), winners of the Missouri Valley Football Conference, earned the top seed in their 16th consecutive appearance in the championship. The Bison are the defending champions and have won 16 straight games dating back to last season.
Montana State (10-2) is the number two seed and winners of the Big Sky Conference. The Bobcats are making their fifth consecutive appearance that includes two runner-up finishes in that stretch.
Montana (11-1) is the number three seed as an at-large from the Big Sky Conference. The Grizzlies extend their all-time championship appearance record to 29 years, including five straight.
Tarleton State (11-1) rounds out the top four seeds as an at-large from the United Athletic Conference. The Texans boast the nation’s top scoring offense at 45.2 points per game and lead the country in turnover margin. This will be their second appearance in the playoffs.
Lehigh (12-0) secured the number five seed after winning the Patriot League. The Mountain Hawks will make their 13th appearance in the FCS championship entering with the nation’s best rushing defense at 73.7 yards per game allowed.
Mercer (9-2) will be the sixth seed after winning the Southern Conference title with a 8-0 record. The Bears are making their third playoff appearance in the last three years and lead the country in total offense with 504.1 yards per game.
Stephen F. Austin (10-2) clinched the seventh seed. The Lumberjacks earned the automatic qualifier from the Southland Conference and are making their eighth appearance in the FCS championship and first since 2021.
UC Davis (8-3) rounds out the top eight seeds receiving first round byes. The Aggies finished third in the Big Sky Conference and will be making their fourth appearance in the FCS championship since 2018.
During the previous 47 years of the championship, 23 schools have won a national title, six of which earned a place in this year’s historic bracket. For the first time, the Ivy League will use their automatic bid and participate in the championship. Additionally, this will be the first FCS playoff to feature two undefeated 12-win teams.
The 2025 championship field consists of 11 automatic qualifiers and 13 at-large qualifiers. Unseeded teams are paired in the first round with teams seeded 9-16 primarily according to geographical proximity.
Teams from the same conference will not be paired for first round games (except for teams from the same conference that did not play against each other during the regular season; such teams may play each other in the first round).
| Conference | Team | 2025 Record | Prev. YEARS | PREV. WINS | PREV. LOSSES | Last appearance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Sky | Montana St. | 10-2 | 14 | 17 | 13 | 2024 |
| Coastal | Rhode Island | 10-2 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 2024 |
| Ivy League | Yale | 8-2 | First | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Missouri Valley Football | North Dakota St. | 12-0 | 15 | 51 | 5 | 2024 |
| Northeast | Central Conn. St. | 8-4 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 2024 |
| Ohio Valley/Big South | Tennessee Tech | 11-1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2011 |
| Patriot | Lehigh | 12-0 | 12 | 7 | 12 | 2024 |
| Pioneer | Drake | 8-3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2024 |
| Southern | Mercer | 9-2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Southland | SFA | 10-2 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 2021 |
| United | Abilene Christian | 8-4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Team | Conference | 2025 Record | Prev. YEARS | PREV. WINS | PREV. LOSSES | Last Appearance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harvard | Ivy | 9-1 | First | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Illinois St. | MVFC | 8-4 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 2024 |
| Lamar University | Southland | 8-4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2018 |
| Montana | Big Sky | 11-1 | 28 | 39 | 26 | 2024 |
| New Hampshire | CAA | 8-4 | 18 | 15 | 18 | 2024 |
| North Dakota | MVFC | 7-5 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 2023 |
| South Dakota | MVFC | 8-4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| South Dakota St. | MVFC | 8-4 | 14 | 24 | 12 | 2024 |
| Southeastern La. | Southland | 9-3 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 2022 |
| Tarleton St. | United | 11-1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| UC Davis | Big Sky | 8-3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2024 |
| Villanova | CAA | 9-2 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 2024 |
| Youngstown St. | MVFC | 8-4 | 13 | 29 | 9 | 2023 |
Longest Consecutive Tournament Appearances in the Championship (Including 2025):
- North Dakota St. – 16
- South Dakota St. – 14
- Montana – 5
- Montana St. – 5
Consecutive Tournament Appearances in the Championship Ending:
- Idaho – 3
- Richmond – 3
Most Tournament Appearances in the Championship (Including 2025):
- Montana – 29
- New Hampshire – 19
- Villanova – 17
- North Dakota St. – 16
- Montana St. – 15
- South Dakota St. – 15
Schools Making the Championship for the First Time
Longest Stretch between Championship Appearances
- Tennessee Tech – 2011
- Lamar University – 2018
- SFA – 2021
Schools by Conference
- Missouri Valley Football Conference – 6
- Big Sky Conference – 3
- Coastal Athletic Association – 3
- Southland Conference – 3
DATES/SITES/PAIRINGS-FIRST-ROUND GAMES
November 29 at Hammond, Louisiana, 1 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
- Illinois St. (8-4) at Southeastern La. (9-3)
November 29 at Kingston, Rhode Island, Noon ET (ESPN+)
- Central Conn. St. (8-4) at Rhode Island (10-2)
November 29 at Villanova, Pennsylvania, Noon ET (ESPN+)
- Harvard (9-1) at Villanova (9-2)
November 29 at Cookeville, Tennessee, 1 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
- North Dakota (7-5) at Tennessee Tech (11-1)
November 29 at Brookings, South Dakota, 1 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
- New Hampshire (8-4) at South Dakota St. (8-4)
November 29 at Vermillion, South Dakota, 1 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
- Drake (8-3) at South Dakota (8-4)
November 29 at Abilene, Texas, 1 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
- Lamar University (8-4) at Abilene Christian (8-4)
November 29 at Youngstown, Ohio, Noon ET (ESPN+)
- Yale (8-2) at Youngstown St. (8-4)
Television schedules and game times for all rounds of the 2025 championship will be updated at www.NCAA.com/fcs. All rounds of the FCS playoffs can be seen on ESPN’s family of networks with first-round games taking place Saturday, November 29 and concluding with the national championship game at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, Monday, January 5 at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
