2025 NCAA Division I FCS football season

This bracket is notable as it represents the climax of the FCS season, offering teams outside the major Football Bowl Subdivision a prestigious national stage. The playoff format is designed to include a diverse field of conference champions and at-large selections, making the bracket release a highly anticipated event that shapes the national narrative for the sport.

The FCS playoff bracket has been a prominent news topic recently due to the completion of the selection process for the 2025 tournament. Multiple sports outlets have published comprehensive analyses of the finalized bracket, including reactions to the teams selected, first-round matchups, and the overall tournament schedule. The immediate news cycle has focused on evaluating the selections and previewing the upcoming games, with specific first-round pairings such as Drake versus South Dakota being announced by participating institutions.

The postseason is scheduled to begin on November 29, 2025, and will conclude with the championship game on January 5, 2026, in Nashville, Tennessee. This structured timeline provides a clear and exciting roadmap for the tournament, maintaining significant fan and media interest from the bracket's unveiling through to the final game.