{"id":396032,"date":"2026-01-06T20:44:11","date_gmt":"2026-01-06T20:44:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/396032\/"},"modified":"2026-01-06T20:44:11","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T20:44:11","slug":"2025-26-fcs-national-championship-game-date-time-tv-channel-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/396032\/","title":{"rendered":"2025-26 FCS National Championship Game: Date, time, TV channel, history"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Montana State won the first-ever FCS Championship Game to go into overtime, defeating Illinois State 35-34. Here’s everything you need to know about the 2025-26 FCS Championship Game, the 48th championship game.<\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfc6: CLICK OR TAP HERE FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE OF THE 2025 FCS PLAYOFFS<\/a><\/p>\n

When is the 2025-26 FCS National Championship Game?<\/p>\n

The 2025-26 FCS Championship is on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. ET.<\/p>\n

Where is the 2025-26 FCS Championship?<\/p>\n

The championship game will be played at theFirstBank Stadium on the campus of Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. It will be the first time the FCS Championship Game will be played in Nashville as the championship returns to the state of Tennessee for the 14th time \u2014 first since 2009.<\/p>\n

How to watch the 2025-26 FCS Championship<\/p>\n

The title game will air on the ESPN family of networks. You can stream the game by clicking or tapping here.<\/a><\/p>\n

Who’s playing in the 2025-26 FCS National Championship Game?<\/p>\n

The 2025-26 FCS Championship Game participants will be decided as the championship bracket progresses. The two semifinal winners will meet for the title.<\/p>\n

Montana State clinched the first title game berth with a 48-23 win over Montana in the semifinal round.<\/a><\/p>\n

Illinois State clinched the second title game berth with a 30-14 win over Villanova in the semifinal round.<\/a><\/p>\n

When are the 2025-26 FCS Championship selections?<\/p>\n

The bracket selections for the 2025-26 FCS Championship will be on Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025. The bracket will be revealed via a selection show.<\/p>\n

How are FCS Championship teams selected?<\/p>\n

Twenty-four teams will play for the 2025-26 FCS Championship. At the conclusion of the regular season, 11 conferences (or conference partnerships\/alliances) will receive automatic bids to the playoffs. The FCS Championship Committee will select the remaining\u00a013 at-large bids. The committee will also seed the top 16 teams, with the top eight seeds receiving a first-round bye.<\/p>\n

What does the 2025-26 FCS bracket look like?<\/p>\n

The 2025-26 FCS playoffs have a 24-team bracket that have the top 16 teams seeded and the top eight seeds receiving automatic byes to the second round. The rest of the 24-team field (the remaining 16 teams) will play in the first round.<\/p>\n

First round matchups are regionalized with the No. 9 to No. 16 seeds playing unseeded teams to ensure the least travel for teams as possible. Likewise, the first round will try to avoid any matchups featuring conference teams that have played each other.<\/p>\n

When it comes to hosting games, there will still be minimum bids required. In the first round, if the seeded team puts in a viable bid, the higher seed will get the opportunity to host.<\/p>\n

Click or tap here for an interactive bracket.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"bracket\"\/<\/p>\n

What are the current FCS football standings?<\/p>\n

Click or tap here to view the latest<\/a>\u00a0FCS football standings<\/a>, which will be updated throughout the season.<\/p>\n

Past FCS champions from 1978 to today<\/p>\n

Here are the previous winners of the FCS Championship Game, which started in the 1978 season.<\/p>\n

\t\t\tYEAR
\n\t\t\tCHAMPION
\n\t\t\tCOACH
\n\t\t\tSCORE
\n\t\t\tRUNNER-UP
\n\t\t\tSITE<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2024
\n\t\t\tNorth Dakota State<\/a>
\n\t\t\tTim Polasek
\n\t\t\t35-32
\n\t\t\tMontana State
\n\t\t\tFrisco, Texas<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2023
\n\t\t\tSouth Dakota State<\/a>
\n\t\t\tJimmy Rogers
\n\t\t\t23-3
\n\t\t\tMontana
\n\t\t\tFrisco, Texas<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2022
\n\t\t\tSouth Dakota State<\/a>
\n\t\t\tJohn Stiegelmeier
\n\t\t\t45-21
\n\t\t\tNorth Dakota State
\n\t\t\tFrisco, Texas<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2021
\n\t\t\tNorth Dakota State<\/a>
\n\t\t\tMatt Entz
\n\t\t\t38-10
\n\t\t\tMontana State
\n\t\t\tFrisco, Texas<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2020
\n\t\t\tSam Houston<\/a>
\n\t\t\tK.C. Keeler
\n\t\t\t23-21
\n\t\t\tSouth Dakota State
\n\t\t\tFrisco, Texas<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2019
\n\t\t\tNorth Dakota State<\/a>
\n\t\t\tMatt Entz
\n\t\t\t28-20
\n\t\t\tJames Madison
\n\t\t\tFrisco, Texas<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2018
\n\t\t\tNorth Dakota State<\/a>
\n\t\t\tChris Klieman
\n\t\t\t38-24
\n\t\t\tEastern Washington
\n\t\t\tFrisco, Texas<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2017
\n\t\t\tNorth Dakota State<\/a>
\n\t\t\tChris Klieman
\n\t\t\t17-13
\n\t\t\tJames Madison
\n\t\t\tFrisco, Texas<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2016
\n\t\t\tJames Madison<\/a>
\n\t\t\tMike Houston
\n\t\t\t28-14
\n\t\t\tYoungstown State
\n\t\t\tFrisco, Texas<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2015
\n\t\t\tNorth Dakota State<\/a>
\n\t\t\tChris Klieman
\n\t\t\t37-10
\n\t\t\tJacksonville State
\n\t\t\tFrisco, Texas<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2014
\n\t\t\tNorth Dakota State
\n\t\t\tChris Klieman
\n\t\t\t29-27
\n\t\t\tIllinois State
\n\t\t\tFrisco, Texas<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2013
\n\t\t\tNorth Dakota State
\n\t\t\tCraig Bohl
\n\t\t\t35-7
\n\t\t\tTowson
\n\t\t\tFrisco, Texas<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2012
\n\t\t\tNorth Dakota State
\n\t\t\tCraig Bohl
\n\t\t\t39-13
\n\t\t\tSam Houston State
\n\t\t\tFrisco, Texas<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2011
\n\t\t\tNorth Dakota State
\n\t\t\tCraig Bohl
\n\t\t\t17-6
\n\t\t\tSam Houston State
\n\t\t\tFrisco, Texas<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2010
\n\t\t\tEastern Washington
\n\t\t\tBeau Baldwin
\n\t\t\t20-19
\n\t\t\tDelaware
\n\t\t\tFrisco, Texas<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2009
\n\t\t\tVillanova
\n\t\t\tAndy Talley
\n\t\t\t23-21
\n\t\t\tMontana
\n\t\t\tChattanooga, Tenn.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2008
\n\t\t\tRichmond
\n\t\t\tMike London
\n\t\t\t24-7
\n\t\t\tMontana
\n\t\t\tChattanooga, Tenn.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2007
\n\t\t\tAppalachian State
\n\t\t\tJerry Moore
\n\t\t\t49-21
\n\t\t\tDelaware
\n\t\t\tChattanooga, Tenn.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2006
\n\t\t\tAppalachian State
\n\t\t\tJerry Moore
\n\t\t\t28-17
\n\t\t\tMassachusetts
\n\t\t\tChattanooga, Tenn.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2005
\n\t\t\tAppalachian State
\n\t\t\tJerry Moore
\n\t\t\t21-16
\n\t\t\tUNI
\n\t\t\tChattanooga, Tenn.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2004
\n\t\t\tJames Madison
\n\t\t\tMickey Matthews
\n\t\t\t31-21
\n\t\t\tMontana
\n\t\t\tChattanooga, Tenn.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2003
\n\t\t\tDelaware
\n\t\t\tK.C. Keeler
\n\t\t\t40-0
\n\t\t\tColgate
\n\t\t\tChattanooga, Tenn.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2002
\n\t\t\tWestern Kentucky
\n\t\t\tJack Harbaugh
\n\t\t\t34-14
\n\t\t\tMcNeese State
\n\t\t\tChattanooga, Tenn.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2001
\n\t\t\tMontana
\n\t\t\tJoe Glenn
\n\t\t\t13-6
\n\t\t\tFurman
\n\t\t\tChattanooga, Tenn.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t2000
\n\t\t\tGeorgia Southern
\n\t\t\tPaul Johnson
\n\t\t\t27-25
\n\t\t\tMontana
\n\t\t\tChattanooga, Tenn.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1999
\n\t\t\tGeorgia Southern
\n\t\t\tPaul Johnson
\n\t\t\t59-24
\n\t\t\tYoungstown State
\n\t\t\tChattanooga, Tenn.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1998
\n\t\t\tMassachusetts
\n\t\t\tMark Whipple
\n\t\t\t55-43
\n\t\t\tGeorgia Southern
\n\t\t\tChattanooga, Tenn.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1997
\n\t\t\tYoungstown State
\n\t\t\tJim Tressel
\n\t\t\t10-9
\n\t\t\tMcNeese State
\n\t\t\tChattanooga, Tenn.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1996
\n\t\t\tMarshall
\n\t\t\tBob Pruett
\n\t\t\t49-29
\n\t\t\tMontana
\n\t\t\tHuntington, W.Va.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1995
\n\t\t\tMontana
\n\t\t\tDon Read
\n\t\t\t22-20
\n\t\t\tMarshall
\n\t\t\tHuntington, W.Va.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1994
\n\t\t\tYoungstown State
\n\t\t\tJim Tressel
\n\t\t\t28-14
\n\t\t\tBoise State
\n\t\t\tHuntington, W.Va.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1993
\n\t\t\tYoungstown State
\n\t\t\tJim Tressel
\n\t\t\t17-5
\n\t\t\tMarshall
\n\t\t\tHuntington, W.Va.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1992
\n\t\t\tMarshall
\n\t\t\tJim Donnan
\n\t\t\t31-28
\n\t\t\tYoungstown State
\n\t\t\tHuntington, W.Va.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1991
\n\t\t\tYoungstown State
\n\t\t\tJim Tressel
\n\t\t\t25-17
\n\t\t\tMarshall
\n\t\t\tStatesboro, Ga.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1990
\n\t\t\tGeorgia Southern
\n\t\t\tTim Stowers
\n\t\t\t36-13
\n\t\t\tNevada
\n\t\t\tStatesboro, Ga.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1989
\n\t\t\tGeorgia Southern
\n\t\t\tErk Russell
\n\t\t\t37-34
\n\t\t\tStephen F. Austin *
\n\t\t\tStatesboro, Ga.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1988
\n\t\t\tFurman
\n\t\t\tJimmy Satterfield
\n\t\t\t17-12
\n\t\t\tGeorgia Southern
\n\t\t\tPocatello, Idaho<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1987
\n\t\t\tLouisiana-Monroe
\n\t\t\tPat Collins
\n\t\t\t43-42
\n\t\t\tMarshall
\n\t\t\tPocatello, Idaho<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1986
\n\t\t\tGeorgia Southern
\n\t\t\tErk Russell
\n\t\t\t48-21
\n\t\t\tArkansas State
\n\t\t\tTacoma, Wash.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1985
\n\t\t\tGeorgia Southern
\n\t\t\tErk Russell
\n\t\t\t44-42
\n\t\t\tFurman
\n\t\t\tTacoma, Wash.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1984
\n\t\t\tMontana State
\n\t\t\tDave Arnold
\n\t\t\t19-6
\n\t\t\tLouisiana Tech
\n\t\t\tCharleston, S.C.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1983
\n\t\t\tSouthern Illinois
\n\t\t\tRey Dempsey
\n\t\t\t43-7
\n\t\t\tWestern Carolina
\n\t\t\tCharleston, S.C.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1982
\n\t\t\tEastern Kentucky
\n\t\t\tRoy Kidd
\n\t\t\t17-14
\n\t\t\tDelaware
\n\t\t\tWichita Falls, Texas<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1981
\n\t\t\tIdaho State
\n\t\t\tDave Kragthorpe
\n\t\t\t34-23
\n\t\t\tEastern Kentucky
\n\t\t\tWichita Falls, Texas<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1980
\n\t\t\tBoise State
\n\t\t\tJim Criner
\n\t\t\t31-29
\n\t\t\tEastern Kentucky
\n\t\t\tSacramento, Calif.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1979
\n\t\t\tEastern Kentucky
\n\t\t\tRoy Kidd
\n\t\t\t30-7
\n\t\t\tLehigh
\n\t\t\tOrlando, Fla.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t1978
\n\t\t\tFlorida A&M
\n\t\t\tRudy Hubbard
\n\t\t\t35-28
\n\t\t\tMassachusetts
\n\t\t\tWichita Falls, Texas<\/p>\n

* — Stephen F. Austin’s participation in 1989 championship vacated.<\/p>\n

Stan Becton joined NCAA.com in 2021 and has since served as a college football, FCS football, track and field, cross country and HBCU beat reporter. He has covered numerous NCAA championship events, including the FCS Championship, DI Track & Field Championships and Men’s Frozen Four. Additionally, he has covered the College Football Playoff and HBCU sporting events like the Celebration Bowl, MEAC\/SWAC Challenge and Legacy Classic. Stan graduated from Carnegie Mellon University, earning a degree in Professional Writing and playing football as a five-year letterman. You can follow him on Twitter @stan_becton<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NCAA or its member institutions.<\/p>\n

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