FCS Playoffs Schedule 2026: Dates, Kickoff Times and TV Channels, How to watch FCS Postseason matchups
The FCS Playoffs Schedule begins with first-round games on Saturday, Nov. 28, followed by second-round action on Saturday, Dec. 5. The quarterfinals will then take place on Dec. 11 and 12, with the national semifinals scheduled for Dec. 19.
The quarterfinal round opens Friday, Dec. 11, with a 7 p.m. MT kickoff on ESPN. Two more quarterfinals are scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 12, at 10 a.m. MT and 6 p.m. MT, both on ESPN. The fourth quarterfinal will also be played Dec. 12 and streamed on ESPN+, with its kickoff time yet to be announced.
Both national semifinal games are set for Saturday, Dec. 19. The first will begin at 2 p.m. MT on ABC, followed by the second semifinal at 6 p.m. MT on ESPN2.
In the FCS Postseason top eight national seeds will receive first-round byes, while teams seeded ninth through 16th seed teams will host first-round games.
When is the 2026 FCS Selection Sunday?
The 24-team FCS playoff bracket will be revealed Sunday, Nov. 22, at noon ET on ESPNU.
FCS Playoffs Schedule 2026
First round: Saturday, Nov. 28
Second round: Saturday, Dec. 5
Quarterfinals: Friday, Dec. 11 through Saturday, Dec. 12
Semifinals: Saturday, Dec. 19
2026 FCS National Championship: Monday, Jan. 11 at FirstBank Stadium.
FCS Playoffs First Round Schedule
All FCS playoffs first round game will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
FCS Playoffs 2ns round Schedule
All FCS playoffs second round game will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
FCS Playoffs Quarterfinal Schedule
Friday, December 11: Game 1 — 9 p.m. ET on ESPN
Saturday, December 12
Game 2 — 12 p.m. ET on ESPN
Game 3 — 8 p.m. ET on ESPN
Game 4 — Time TBD on ESPN+
FCS Playoffs Semifinal Schedule
Semifinals: Saturday, Dec. 19
Game 1 — 4 p.m. ET on ABC
Game 2 — 8 p.m. ET on ESPN2
When is the FCS National Championship Game Schedule?
The FCS National Championship 2026 is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 11, 2027, at 7:30 p.m. ET (5:30 p.m. MT) on ESPN at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee.
How many teams make the FCS playoffs?
A total of 24 teams make the NCAA Division I FCS football playoffs.
The field is selected and structured based on the following breakdown:
How Teams Qualify
11 Automatic Bids: Granted to the champions of 11 eligible FCS conferences, including the Ivy League.
13 At-Large Bids: Chosen by the FCS Playoff Selection Committee based on regular-season performance.
Bracket Format & Seeding
Top 16 Teams Seeded: The selection committee officially seeds the top 16 teams in the bracket.
First-Round Byes: The top 8 seeds receive an automatic bye into the second round.
Opening Round: The remaining 16 unseeded and lower-seeded teams (seeds 9 through 16) play against each other in the first round to advance. Seeds 9–16 host these opening matches on their home campuses…
Who won the FCS National Championship last year?
The FCS championship game was held in Nashville last year for the first time after a 15 year run in Frisco, Texas. Montana State defeated Illinois State 35-34 in double overtime to win its first national title since 1984.
FCS championship winners list by year last 10 years, History
2026 — TBD
2025 — Montana State 35-34 (OT) Illinois State
2024 — North Dakota State 35-32 Montana State
2023 — South Dakota State 23-3 Montana
2022 — South Dakota State 45-21 North Dakota State
2021 — North Dakota State 38-10 Montana State
2020 — Sam Houston 23-21 South Dakota State
2019 — North Dakota State 28-20 James Madison
2018 — North Dakota State 38-24 Eastern Washington
2017 — North Dakota State 17-13 James Madison
2016 — James Madison 28-14 Youngstown State
2015 — North Dakota State 37-10 Jacksonville State
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