FCS national champions, 1978-2025
Montana State won the 2025 FCS national championship.
Montana State, beating Illinois State 35-34 in overtime. It was their second, and their first since 1984. North Dakota State, with ten. Then Georgia Southern with six, Youngstown State with four and App State with three.
Most national titles
Division I-AA from 1978, FCS since 2006. The year is the season; the title game is played in December or January. Several champions have since moved up to the FBS, and are listed under their school today.
Every title game
Montana State35-34 OTover Illinois State
North Dakota State35-32over Montana State
South Dakota State23-3over MontanaSouth Dakota State45-21over North Dakota StateNorth Dakota State38-10over Montana State
Sam Houston State23-21over South Dakota StateNorth Dakota State28-20over James MadisonNorth Dakota State38-24over Eastern WashingtonNorth Dakota State17-13over James Madison
James Madison28-14over Youngstown StateNorth Dakota State37-10over Jacksonville StateNorth Dakota State29-27over Illinois StateNorth Dakota State35-7over TowsonNorth Dakota State39-13over Sam Houston StateNorth Dakota State17-6over Sam Houston State
Eastern Washington20-19over Delaware
Villanova23-21over Montana
Richmond24-7over Montana
Appalachian State49-21over DelawareAppalachian State28-17over UMassAppalachian State21-16over Northern IowaJames Madison31-21over Montana
Delaware40-0over Colgate
Western Kentucky34-14over McNeese State
Montana13-6over Furman
Georgia Southern27-25over MontanaGeorgia Southern59-24over Youngstown State
UMass55-43over Georgia Southern
Youngstown State10-9over McNeese State
Marshall49-29over MontanaMontana22-20over MarshallYoungstown State28-14over Boise StateYoungstown State17-5over MarshallMarshall31-28over Youngstown StateYoungstown State25-17over MarshallGeorgia Southern36-13over NevadaGeorgia Southern37-34over Stephen F. Austin
Furman17-12over Georgia Southern
Northeast Louisiana43-42over MarshallGeorgia Southern48-21over Arkansas StateGeorgia Southern44-42over FurmanMontana State19-6over Louisiana Tech
Southern Illinois43-7over Western Carolina
Eastern Kentucky17-14over Delaware
Idaho State34-23over Eastern Kentucky
Boise State31-29over Eastern KentuckyEastern Kentucky30-7over Lehigh
Florida A&M35-28over UMassSchool names are as they were at the time.
Questions
Who won the 2025 FCS national championship?
Montana State, beating Illinois State 35-34 in overtime. It was their second, and their first since 1984.
Which school has the most national titles?
North Dakota State, with ten. Then Georgia Southern with six, Youngstown State with four and App State with three.
What is the longest run of titles in a row?
North Dakota State won five straight, 2011 to 2015. The last repeat champion was South Dakota State in 2022 and 2023.
Who won the first FCS national championship?
Florida A&M, beating Massachusetts 35-28 in 1978.
How does the FCS playoff work?
Twenty-four teams: the conference champions with automatic bids and at-large picks, with the top eight seeds getting a first-round bye. The title game is played in early January.