NCAA FCS Bracket Predictions: If The 2025 Playoffs Started After Nov. 8

The 2025 NCAA Division I FCS Playoffs don’t begin until Nov. 29, but here’s a look at how the postseason would look if the bracket was set after Nov. 8.

Nov 13, 2025 by Matt Cannizzaro

NCAA FCS Bracket Predictions: If The 2025 Playoffs Started After Nov. 8

We’re so close, yet so far.

Even though Selection Sunday for the 2025 NCAA Division I FCS Championship is only 11 days away, there’s still two Saturdays of football action on the calendar and plenty of time for chaos in the conference standings.

Eleven champions will earn automatic bids to the playoffs. The rest of the teams will continue sweating until the 13 at-large selections are announced Nov. 23.

Until then, two more weeks of practice. Two more chances to put on the pads and jersey on game day. Two more opportunities to run onto the field before the football journey ends and real life begins for so many athletes.

If the season ended after last Saturday’s games (Nov. 8), which teams would be in the mix for the FCS Playoffs?

With help from the latest rankings, current records, conference standings and our understanding of the playoff structure and rules, we’re going to try to paint the picture now and lay out the bracket after more than three months of gridiron battles.

Again, 24 teams will compete in the 2025 Division I FCS Football Championship – 11 automatic berths (conference/league champions) and 13 at-large selections made by the FCS Championship Committee.

To read the introductory edition of this ongoing series, which explains the process in more detail, click here: NCAA FCS Bracket Predictions: If The 2025 Playoffs Started This Week (Oct. 8).

The formal bracket selections and seedings will be revealed Nov. 23 via a selection show, with the top eight teams receiving first-round byes.

Until then, here’s another look as things continue to unfold:

Big Sky Conference

Automatic Bid: Montana

At Large Bids: Montana State, UC Davis

Montana and Montana State are the front-runners in the Big Sky Conference, but UC Davis is like Tom Petty – the Aggies simply won’t back down.

While there will be some heartbreak on the horizon for two of the teams, at least when it comes to the Big Sky championship, all three should feel pretty good about their chances to make the playoff bracket, as they were ranked No. 2, No. 3 and No. 10 in this week’s American Football Coaches Association FCS Coaches Poll.

With two weeks left to play, conference games for all involved, Montana and Montana State sit atop the BSC standings at 6-0. UC Davis is 5-1, with the loss being a recent upset by struggling Idaho State.

The Aggies have an opportunity for redemption this week when they visit Montana State. If they win, it helps their case and puts a ton of pressure on the Bobcats, who end their year on the road against Montana.

This week, Montana heads to Portland State, which is 1-9 overall and 1-5 in conference play. While there are no guarantees, it is likely Montana will be 7-0 in Big Sky play heading into the final week of the regular season.

That means next week could be a showdown between Montana and Montana State to determine the conference champion and the automatic bid, or the season could end in a three-way tie with the top three teams all 7-1, requiring some frantic calculations to sort it all out, since UC Davis and Montana didn’t meet this year.

Of course, at 4-2 in conference games and receiving votes in the latest AFCA poll, Sacramento State remains in the playoff conversation and also could create a little chaos.

The Hornets face Idaho (4-6, 2-4) this week and end the season against UC Davis.

Northern Arizona also received votes in the recent AFCA poll, but at 6-4 overall and 3-3 in conference games, the Lumberjacks can be proud of a solid season, but probably shouldn’t plan anything too extravagant for Selection Sunday.

Coastal Athletic Association

Automatic Bid: Rhode Island

At Large Bids: Villanova, Monmouth

It may not have been the biggest upset of the year, but it definitely was a surprise when Monmouth lost to New Hampshire last Saturday, 34-13.

The conference race was far from over, with four or five teams still eyeing the top prize, but Monmouth entered last week’s action as the highest-ranked CAA team at No. 6 and the favorite to take the conference title.

The loss dropped the Hawks to 5-1 in CAA play (8-2 overall) and No. 12 in the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll, while Villanova (7-2, 6-1) moved up a spot to No. 7, and Rhode Island (8-2, 6-0) crept from a tie for the No. 10 spot to ninth.

UNH’s big win got the Wildcats back onto the “receiving votes” list, but they’re still the fifth-best team in the CAA, at best, so a return to the playoffs likely will have to wait another year.

With two weeks left to play, Rhode Island is in control of the CAA and can win the title outright with victories over Maine (6-4, 5-1) and Hampton (2-8, 0-6).

Villanova will host Stony Brook for its final conference game this week and then have to wait patiently, calculator in hand, to see what URI does the rest of the way. Villanova and Rhode Island did not play each other this year.

At 5-1, Monmouth and Maine still are very much in the race, but beating Rhode Island this week (at home) is non-negotiable for the Black Bears.

The CAA still will be well-represented in the playoffs, though the outlook changed quickly last weekend and has the potential to be shaken up again.

Rhode Island, Villanova and Monmouth still should feel pretty confident, barring absolute disaster, while this week’s game against URI should be the determining factor for Maine.

Ivy League

Automatic Bid: Harvard

At Large Bids: None

Harvard, No. 11 in the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll, is one of the five undefeated teams in the FCS top 25 this week (8-0), but the race for the Ivy League championship is far from over.

While the Crimson stand alone at the top of the standings at 5-0, Yale is 4-1 and Dartmouth, Penn and Cornell all are 3-2.

Harvard is in control of its own fate, with games against Penn (5-3 overall) and Yale (6-2 overall) ahead on the schedule. Two wins, and the Crimson get the Ivy League crown and the league’s first automatic bid to the FCS Playoffs.

A loss to Penn would mean Harvard would have to beat Yale to win it all. A win over Penn and a loss to Yale would give Yale the title and automatic bid – if Yale beats Princeton this weekend.

It’s very possible that while it previously looked like the Ivy League was only strong enough to get the one spot in the playoff bracket, if Yale were to get the automatic spot, it feels like Harvard’s season has been strong enough to sneak in with an at-large berth, especially with it being the league’s first year of eligibility.

Though Yale and Dartmouth (6-2 overall) did receive votes in the latest AFCA poll, at-large selection just doesn’t feel possible.

Did you miss the reason the Ivy League has opted out of the FCS Playoffs since 1945? Read more: Are Ivy League Teams Eligible For The FCS Playoffs? Here’s What To Know

Missouri Valley Football Conference

Automatic Bid: North Dakota State

At Large Bids: Illinois State, South Dakota State, North Dakota, Youngstown State

The MVFC continues to have a dominant presence in the national polls, with seven of the 10 teams ranked among the top 25 in the latest AFCA poll – North Dakota State (No. 1), Illinois State (No. 13), South Dakota State (No. 15), North Dakota (No. 18), Youngstown State (No. 19), Southern Illinois (No. 21) and South Dakota (No. 22).

These numbers are important because the conference title and automatic bid for the FCS Playoffs already have been determined – North Dakota State took care of that last Saturday with a 15-10 win over North Dakota.

It was the 12th MVFC title for the Bison, the reigning FCS national champions, and helped them improve to 10-0 in 2025. They’re 7-0 in conference play, with their final MVFC contest coming this weekend against Northern Iowa.

The rest of the MVFC teams now have two weeks to turn in their best performances and convince the selection committee that they belong in the 24-team playoff bracket.

Since 2011, North Dakota State has won 10 national championships, and South Dakota State has two (2022 and 2023).

Unfortunately, some of the teams fighting for their postseason lives will need to play each other in the next two weeks, but there’s no reason the MVFC can’t land five or six teams in the playoffs.

Northeast Conference

Automatic Bid: Central Connecticut State

At Large Bids: None

Central Connecticut State remains the team to beat in the Northeast Conference and locked up at least a share of the NEC title with a 40-10 win against Stonehill on Nov. 8.

The Blue Devils are 7-3 overall and 5-0 in conference play with two NEC games remaining. A win in either of their last two games – Duquesne on (5-5, 3-2) on Nov. 15 or Mercyhurst (4-6, 3-2) on Nov. 22 – gets them the title outright.

The likelihood of that happening feels pretty good, so we won’t overanalyze the possibilities unless we have to – next week.

At this point in the season, CCSU received votes in the recent AFCA poll, but no other NEC team was recognized. The Blue Devils will be the pride of the NEC in the 2025 postseason.

Ohio Valley Conference/Big South

Automatic Bid: Tennessee Tech

At Large Bids: None

No. 6 Tennessee Tech is one of five undefeated top-25 teams, 10-0 for the first time in program history, enjoying the team’s second 10-win season (1972), on the longest active winning streak in the nation (15 games) and no doubt is headed to the playoffs, but believe it or not, the Golden Eagles still could lose the OVC-Big South’s automatic bid to the playoffs.

TTU is the first team since the conference merger in 2022 to start an OVC-Big South campaign at 7-0, and the team is guaranteed at least a share of the conference title, but next week’s game against UT Martin could be the deciding factor.

This week, Tennessee Tech will play a nonconference game against FBS standout Kentucky, while UT Martin (5-5, 5-1) faces Charleston Southern (4-6, 3-3) in a conference showdown.

If UT Martin wins, that means the Skyhawks will be 6-1 in conference games when they travel to Tennessee Tech on Nov. 22 for the final game of the regular season.

If UT Martin wins the finale, they’d be co-champions, but the Skyhawks would have the advantage and the automatic bid – likely the only way they’d make the playoffs this year.

A Tennessee Tech victory would mean the Golden Eagles would finish conference play undefeated, take the title outright and claim the auto bid for the OVC-Big South.

Gardner-Webb is third in the conference standings at 4-2 (6-4) overall and did get votes in the latest AFCA poll, so snagging an at-large playoff spot isn’t an impossible goal.

Patriot League

Automatic Bid: Lehigh

At Large Bids: Lafayette

Well, well. The title race in the Patriot League has gotten spicy, and Hollywood couldn’t have scripted it any better. If you love history and drama, this is the league you want to follow for the next two weeks.

With two games left, only two teams have a chance to win the Patriot League crown and the automatic bid to the playoffs – Lehigh and Lafayette – which both are 5-0 in league play.

Lehigh is 10-0 overall, one of five undefeated teams in the AFCA top 25 and ranked No. 4.

The Lafayette Leopards leaped into the No. 25 spot after last week’s 59-42 league win over Colgate. Lafayette is 7-3 overall this year.

In 2023, Lafayette and Holy Cross shared the Patriot League title, but the Leopards got the automatic bid to the playoffs. In 2024, Lehigh and Holy Cross were co-champions, with Lehigh taking the automatic spot.

While it certainly is possible that Lehigh and Lafayette could share the championship this season, their head-to-head showdown Nov. 22 ultimately would decide the automatic qualifier for 2025.

As we’ve seen in other conferences, this might be an instance where Lafayette could win the AQ, and Lehigh likely would advance to the playoffs with an at-large selection, but if Lehigh wins the bid, Lafayette may not have had a strong enough campaign to convince the committee.

Regardless, their meeting to close the regular season will have huge implications, and nothing less should ever be expected from the most-played and longest uninterrupted rivalry game in the country, played between two schools that are less than 20 miles apart. The game literally is called The Rivalry!

This year will be the 161st edition of The Rivalry, with 1896 (due to a disagreement) and 2020 (COVID-19) being the only years they haven’t played since their inaugural clash in October 1884.

Lafayette owns an 82-73-5 advantage in the series, but Lehigh has won 14 of the last 25. Since 2019, Lafayette has won twice (back-to-back both times) for every Lehigh win.

Since Lehigh won last year, 38-14, the pattern would suggest Lafayette winning in 2025 and 2026, but it’s really as good as a coin flip. Both teams have had winning streaks and droughts over the years.

Just looking at this season, Lehigh has scored 337 points to Lafayette’s 336. However, Lehigh has only surrendered 128 points, compared to 275 for Lafayette, hence the difference in the win column.

This year’s battle will take place on Lafayette’s home field in Easton, Pennsylvania, where they’ve each won two of their last four meetings.

Picking a conference winner based on the numbers says Lehigh. Picking based on drama and gut instinct and the peaks and valleys of sports, the forecast is perfect for a late-fall upset out east.

But, before the finale, Lafayette must take care of Patriot League newcomer Richmond (6-4, 3-3), while Lehigh visits Colgate (4-6, 2-3).

Pioneer Football League

Automatic Bid: St. Thomas

At Large Bids: None

The Week 12 edition of The Pioneer Football League Report had this to say:

“The PFL’s “November Pressure Cooker” ramped up in Week 11, as league-leading Drake and second-place Presbyterian both fell. That, combined with wins by St. Thomas and San Diego, has put five teams in the hunt for the PFL title with two weeks remaining in the regular season.

Drake remains the league leader by one game and travels to a well-rested Dayton for its next big test, but the road has been kind to the Bulldogs during their three-plus seasons run in the league.”

TLDR: Things just got crazy in the Pioneer Football League!

Drake is 5-1 at the top of the standings, followed by St. Thomas (5-2), while Presbyterian, Dayton and San Diego all are 4-2. Overall, they are 6-3, 7-3, 8-2, 6-3 and 6-4, respectively.

This week should offer some clarity, however, as Drake and Dayton face off, with Presbyterian and St. Thomas also meeting. San Diego will play Butler, which is 3-3 in league play this year.

It’s so late, but it’s also way too early to try and figure out this one.

In the AFCA poll this week, Presbyterian’s 14-13 stunner of a loss to Davidson (for its first league win of the year) saw the Blue Hose fall out of the top 25, from No. 23 to the “receiving votes” section.

Presbyterian was the only PFL team to get a mention, so the writing is pretty clear – there likely will be just one Pioneer Football League team in the playoffs. But which team isn’t going to be able to climb out from the pile?

It certainly looked like Drake had the momentum. After Presbyterian did. Now, with both of those teams losing, St. Thomas seems to have the hot hand late in the campaign.

This week’s meeting with Presbyterian will be St. Thomas’ final league game. The Tommies have won five consecutive games, while scoring 45 or more points four times. Clearly, they have the momentum now.

St. Thomas closes the regular season against the No. 1 team in the nation, reigning national champion North Dakota State. That could be the perfect warm-up for a playoff-bound Tommies team.

Southern Conference

Automatic Bid: Mercer

At Large Bids: Western Carolina

More drama, and another instance of a team “claiming at least a share of the conference title.”

That’s all well and good, but if the trophy presentation doesn’t ultimately end with a spot in the playoffs, how much is that going to sting?

In the Southern Conference, Mercer is going about it the best way possible.

The Bears locked up a share of the title by beating second-place Western Carolina (49-47) to improve to 8-1 overall and 7-0 in conference play. Western Carolina is 6-4 overall and 5-1 in SoCon action.

Mercer already is the first team in six seasons to claim the SoCon championship in back-to-back seasons, but the Bears would love to raise the bar with a win against Chattanooga on Saturday to become the first team since 2009 to win the title outright in consecutive years.

The loss for Western Carolina was the 10th in a row for the Catamounts against Mercer and gives the advantage to the Bears, should they somehow tie atop the standings at 7-1. WCU still must face East Tennessee State (5-5, 3-3) and VMI (1-9, 0-6).

Mercer landed at No. 8 on the latest AFCA poll, and Western Carolina dropped from No. 24 to just outside the top 25.

The Bears likely are headed to the playoffs, regardless, while a strong finish definitely could catapult the Catamounts into the conversation.

Western Carolina opened the season with three consecutive losses and then rattled off six straight wins. The team is playing good football and should be able to make the late push.

Southland Conference

Automatic Bid: Stephen F. Austin

At Large Bids: Lamar, Southeastern Louisiana

It’s very possible that three teams from the Southland Conference will appear in the 2025 postseason bracket, but Stephen F. Austin now has the clearest path to get there as the conference’s automatic seed.

A 50-3 win for the Lumberjacks over Houston Christian last week helped SFA remain undefeated in conference play (6-0), while Lamar handled Southeastern Louisiana 14-12 to land the two teams in a tie for second place at 5-1.

The Stephen F. Austin victory was the 100th for head coach Colby Carthel and the eighth consecutive win for the team, marking its longest winning streak since 1989. It’s SFA’s first 6-0 league start in program history and the first time since 1999 the Lumberjacks have won six conference games.

Now, the Lumberjacks are a win away from claiming at least a share of the Southland Conference title. They’ll host Lamar on Saturday afternoon, while SLU heads to the University of the Incarnate Word hoping to stay alive in the title race.

In this week’s AFCA poll, Lamar moved up four places to No. 14, Stephen F. Austin jumped from No. 21 to No. 17 and Southeastern Louisiana slid from No. 14 to No. 21.

The Southland Conference’s UT Rio Grande Valley (7-3, 3-3) received votes this week and certainly has an outside chance of catapulting into consideration.

United Athletic Conference

Automatic Bid: Abilene Christian

At Large Bids: Tarleton State

The United Athletic Conference may only have nine teams, but with two weeks to play, five still have a chance to claim at least a share of the conference title - Tarleton State (5-1), Abilene Christian (5-1), Southern Utah (4-2), West Georgia (4-3) and Austin Peay (4-3).

Southern Utah (5-5 overall) might have the momentum heading into the final two games, as the Thunderbirds are riding a four-game conference winning streak, including a 31-24 upset of Abilene Christian on Oct. 18.

West Georgia also has won two consecutive games to remain in contention.

Tarleton State, the highest-ranked team in the conference at No. 5, is 9-1 overall but coming off a 38-21 loss to Abilene Christian on Nov. 1. The Texans haven’t played since and return to action this week against North Alabama, which is 2-8 overall and 1-5 in conference play.

Abilene Christian remained at No. 20 in the latest rankings, West Georgia snuck in at No. 24 and Austin Peay received votes.

Austin Peay will finish the regular season against Tarleton State after a nonconference game against Samford, and the finale could make or break Austin Peay’s season.

Last Four In

Youngstown, Southeastern Louisiana, Lafayette, Western Carolina

First Four Out

West Georgia, Yale, Gardner-Webb, Sacramento State

First-Round Matchups

Southeastern Louisiana at No. 16 Stephen F. Austin
Lafayette at No. 9 Rhode Island
Western Carolina at No. 12 Monmouth
Youngstown State at No. 13 Illinois State
Abilene Christian at No. 14 Lamar
Central Connecticut State at No. 11 Harvard
St. Thomas at No. 10 UC Davis
North Dakota at No. 15 South Dakota State

Second-Round Matchups

SLU/SFA at No. 1 North Dakota State
Lafayette/Rhode Island at No. 8 Mercer
Western Carolina/Monmouth at No. 5 Tarleton State
Youngstown State/Illinois State at No. 4 Lehigh
Abilene Christian/Lamar at No. 3 Montana State
CCSU/Harvard at No. 6 Tennessee Tech
St. Thomas/UC Davis at No. 7 Villanova
North Dakota/South Dakota State at No. 2 Montana

About The 2025 NCAA Division I FCS Playoffs

The 2025 FCS Playoffs will feature a 24-team bracket. The top 16 teams will be seeded, and the top eight seeds will receive first-round byes.

The rest of the field (the remaining 16 teams) will play in the first round, with the No. 9 through No. 16 expected to host, if possible. Their opponents are selected by regional proximity, if possible, to ensure the shortest trip possible for the teams.

However, the first round will try to avoid any matchups featuring conference teams that have played each other.

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Saturday, Nov. 15

All Times Eastern

AFCA FCS Coaches Poll For Nov. 10

1. North Dakota State, Prev: 1
2. Montana, Prev: 2
3. Montana State, Prev: 3
4. Lehigh, Prev: 4
5. Tarleton State, Prev: 7
6. Tennessee Tech, Prev: 5
7. Villanova, Prev: 8
8. Mercer, Prev: T10
9. Rhode Island, Prev: T10
10. UC Davis, Prev: 12
11. Harvard, Prev: 13
12. Monmouth, Prev: 6
13. Illinois State, Prev: 17
14. Lamar, Prev: 18
15. South Dakota State, Prev: 9
16. Jackson State, Prev: 19
17. Stephen F. Austin, Prev: 21
18. North Dakota, Prev: 15
19. Youngstown State, Prev: 22
20. Abilene Christian, Prev: 20
21. Southeastern Louisiana, Prev: 14
22. South Dakota, Prev: 25
23. Southern Illinois, Prev: 16
24. West Georgia, Prev: NR
25. Lafayette, Prev: NR

Others Receiving Votes: Western Carolina, 33; Alabama State, 26; Yale, 18; Dartmouth, 11; Gardner-Webb, 11; Sacramento State, 11; Presbyterian, 9; UT Rio Grande Valley, 9; Northern Arizona, 8; Austin Peay, 4; Central Connecticut State, 3; New Hampshire, 2; South Carolina State, 2; North Carolina Central, 1.

Stats Perform FCS Top 25 After Nov. 8, 2025

1. North Dakota State, Prev: 1
2. Montana, Prev: 2
3. Montana State, Prev: 3
4. Lehigh, Prev: 4
5. Tennessee Tech, Prev: 5
6. Tarleton State, Prev: 6
7. Harvard, Prev: 9
8. Mercer, Prev: 12
9. UC Davis, Prev: 11
10. Villanova, Prev: 10
11. Rhode Island, Prev: 14
12. Monmouth, Prev: 7
13. North Dakota, Prev: 13
14. Illinois State, Prev: 16
15. Stephen F. Austin, Prev: 17
16. South Dakota State, Prev: 8
17. South Dakota, Prev: 22
18. Abilene Christian, Prev: 18
19. Lamar, Prev: 20
20. Youngstown State, Prev: 21
21. Southern Illinois, Prev: 15
22. Jackson State, Prev: 23
23. Southeastern Louisiana, Prev: 19
24. Northern Arizona, Prev: NR
25. Western Carolina, Prev: 24

Dropped Out: Presbyterian (25)

Others Receiving Votes: New Hampshire, 74; Alabama State, 69; Lafayette, 39; West Georgia, 36; Delaware State, 35; Austin Peay, 22; Yale, 18; Sacramento State, 11; Dartmouth, 10; Central Connecticut State, 9; South Carolina State, 7; Southern Utah, 3

When Do The 2025 FCS College Football Playoffs Start?

The FCS Playoffs begin Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, featuring 24 teams.

The 2025 Division I FCS College Football Championship game will be played on Jan. 5, 2026, at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee.

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