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What time is the FCS championship game? TV channel, schedule, live stream to watch Montana State vs. Illinois State originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The 2025 FCS season concludes with a fascinating matchup between two schools hoping to break long title droughts in Montana State and Illinois State.
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The second-seeded Bobcats (13-2) are the clear favorite, flying high with a 13-game winning streak after opening the season with a loss at Oregon and a double-overtime defeat against South Dakota State. Montana State lost a heartbreaker to North Dakota State in last year's final and is looking for its first championship since winning the I-AA title in 1984.
Underdog status won't bother the unseeded Redbirds (12-4), who have had an unprecedented run of coast-to-coast road victories on their way through the bracket. After an ugly home loss against Southern Illinois to close the regular season, Illinois State has won at Southeastern Louisiana, North Dakota State, UC Davis and Villanova to reach the championship game for the second time.
The Redbirds fell to NDSU in the final 11 years ago and have never won a national title.
Who will lift the trophy Monday night? Here's everything you need to know to watch.
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What time is the FCS championship game?
Date: Monday, Jan. 5
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET | 6:30 p.m. CT | 5:30 p.m. MT
The FCS championship game between Montana State and Illinois State is set to kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET on Monday, Jan. 5. The game will be played at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., home of Vanderbilt's football team.
Where to watch FCS championship game
TV channels: ESPN
The FCS championship game will be broadcast by ESPN with Dave Flemming, Brock Osweiler and Stormy Buonantony on the call. Fans can stream the game live via the ESPN app.
Now you can watch ESPN without cable. Stream live NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, college sports, plus SportsCenter, First Take, and all your favorite ESPN shows—anytime, anywhere—only in the new ESPN app.
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Montana State vs. Illinois State can also be streamed live on Fubo, which offers a free trial to new users.
FCS championship game radio station
Radio station:SiriusXM channel 84
You can listen to the Montana State vs. Illinois State radio broadcast on SiriusXM. Coverage will be available on channel 84 for those in vehicles.
New subscribers can listen to SiriusXM for free for four months. Listen to live NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL games, plus NASCAR, college sports and more. Stay updated with all the news and get all the analysis on multiple sport-specific channels.
FCS playoffs schedule, scores 2025
National championship - Monday, Jan. 5
Game played at Nashville, Tenn.
Semifinals - Saturday, Dec. 20
Game | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
No. 2 Montana State 48, No. 3 Montana 23 | — | — |
Illinois State 30, No. 12 Villanova 14 | — | — |
Quarterfinals
Friday, Dec. 12
Game | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
No. 2 Montana State 44, No. 7 Stephen F. Austin 28 | — | — |
Saturday, Dec. 13
Game | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
No. 12 Villanova 26, No. 4 Tarleton State 21 | — | — |
No. 3 Montana 52, No. 11 South Dakota 22 | — | — |
Illinois State 42, No. 8 UC Davis 31 | — | — |
Second round - Saturday, Dec. 6
Game | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
No. 11 South Dakota 47, No. 6 Mercer 0 | — | — |
No. 12 Villanova 14, No. 5 Lehigh 7 | — | — |
Illinois State 29, No. 1 North Dakota State 28 | — | — |
No. 7 Stephen F. Austin 41, No. 10 Abilene Christian 34 | — | — |
No. 4 Tarleton State 31, North Dakota 13 | — | — |
No. 2 Montana State 21, Yale 13 | — | — |
No. 3 Montana 50, No. 14 South Dakota State 29 | — | — |
No. 8 UC Davis 47, No. 9 Rhode Island 26 | — | — |
First round - Saturday, Nov. 29
Game | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
Yale 43, No. 15 Youngstown State 42 | — | — |
No. 9 Rhode Island 27, Central Connecticut State 19 | — | — |
No. 12 Villanova 52, Harvard 7 | — | — |
Illinois State 21, No. 16 Southeastern Louisiana 3 | — | — |
No. 10 Abilene Christian 38, Lamar 20 | — | — |
North Dakota 31, No. 13 Tennessee Tech 6 | — | — |
No. 11 South Dakota 38, Drake 17 | — | — |
No. 14 South Dakota State 41, New Hampshire 3 | — | — |
FCS champions list
The last 10 FCS champions are listed below.
2024 | North Dakota State | Montana State |
2023 | South Dakota State | Montana |
2022 | South Dakota State | North Dakota State |
2021 | North Dakota State | Montana State |
2020 | Sam Houston | South Dakota State |
2019 | North Dakota State | James Madison |
2018 | North Dakota State | Eastern Washington |
2017 | North Dakota State | James Madison |
2016 | James Madison | Youngstown State |
2015 | North Dakota State | Jacksonville State |
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