After a long weekend of exciting games in the College Football Playoff (CFP), there’s a small break from the CFP on Monday, Jan. 5, but for those who have to get their football on, there’s still an important game to watch on Monday.
The FCS Championship game begins Monday, Jan. 5, Nashville, Tennessee, at 7:30 p.m. Eastern on ESPN. In this showdown, Illinois State, with their 12-4 record, goes up against Montana State, 13-2, for a national title on the line. Montana State is a favorite to win, according to research from FanDuel, but an upset may be in order.
The 2024 winner was North Dakota State under head coach Tim Polasek.
About the FCS Championship
So, how were the FCS Championship football teams selected? According to the NCAA, 24 teams played 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,” they state in their official rules. “The FCS Championship Committee will select the remaining 13 at-large bids. The committee will also seed the top 16 teams, with the top eight seeds receiving a first-round bye.”
So, is there a star college football player to watch for in the FCS? Yes, and that’s safety Caden Dowler.
“Caden Dowler might be the biggest story of the game: He’s the best safety in FCS — and maybe the best player on either of these rosters — and he has made 6 picks with 4 breakups, 6.5 TFLs and 2 forced fumbles this season,” Bill Connelly of ESPN notes in a preview piece. “But he left the semifinal win with an injured arm, and although Vigen expressed optimism about his availability, it’s a race against time, and he might not be 100 percent even if he plays.”
As for who will win, Connelly says, “It’s hard to bet against Spack’s Redbirds considering the odds they’ve defied just to get to this point. But it’s also pretty easy to see this as Montana State’s moment.”
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As for the remaining college football playoff games, there are only three games left, including the championship showdown. The next game will take place on Thursday, Jan. 8, at the Fiesta Bowl with Miami going up against Ole Miss at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN. Then, on Friday, Jan. 9, the Peach Bowl will take place, with Oregon going up against Indiana at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN.
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Finally, the national championship game is set for Jan. 19 at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN.