The 2025 FCS playoffs are nearing, with a total of 11 automatic bids available for various teams. A majority of these bids will be determined through conference affiliations. While 10 teams will gain automatic qualifications, an additional 13 spots will be awarded through at-large bids, as selected by the FCS Playoff Committee. The complete 24-team bracket will be revealed on Sunday, November 23, 2024. The playoffs will culminate in the national championship, scheduled for Monday, January 5, 2025, in Frisco, Texas.
Automatic Bids and Current Standings
As teams continue to compete, the following conferences are vying for automatic bids:
- ASUN-WAC (UAC)
- Big Sky
- CAA
- Ivy League
- Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC)
- North East Conference (NEC)
- Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) – Big South
- Patriot League
- Pioneer Football League
- Southern Conference (SoCon)
- Southland Conference
Teams That Have Clinched Automatic Bids
As of now, two teams have secured their automatic bids:
- North Dakota State (MVFC) – Clinched by defeating North Dakota 15-10 in Week 11.
- Mercer (SoCon) – Clinched by beating Western Carolina 49-47 in Week 11.
Upcoming Automatic Bid Scenarios
Several teams have the opportunity to clinch their automatic bids in Week 12. Here’s a breakdown of the key scenarios:
CAA
Rhode Island can clinch the CAA auto-bid with the following:
- Defeat Maine
- Villanova loses to Stony Brook
- Monmouth loses to North Carolina A&T
Ivy League
Harvard can secure the Ivy League auto-bid by:
- Defeating Penn
- Yale losing to Princeton
NEC
Central Connecticut State would clinch the NEC auto-bid if they:
- Beat Duquesne
OVC-Big South
Tennessee Tech can secure the auto-bid by:
- Winning against UT Martin
- Charleston Southern losing to UT Martin
Southland
Stephen F. Austin can clinch with the following results:
- Defeating Lamar
- Southeastern Louisiana losing to UIW
ASUN-WAC (UAC)
For Abilene Christian to claim their auto-bid, they must:
- Win against Eastern Kentucky
- Ensure Tarleton State loses to North Alabama
- Southern Utah loses to Central Arkansas
SWAC East and West
In the SWAC East, Jackson State needs to:
- Defeat Bethune-Cookman
- Hope Alabama State loses to Mississippi Valley State
Meanwhile, Prairie View A&M in the SWAC West can clinch by:
- Winning against Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Looking Ahead
Some conferences such as the Big Sky, MEAC, Patriot, and Pioneer will have to wait until Week 13 to determine their automatic bids. The upcoming weeks are critical for teams aiming for playoff spots in the competitive landscape of the FCS.
