Everything to know about the 2025 FCS semifinal matchups

The 2025 FCS championship semifinals are here, and four teams remain in the fight to lift this year's trophy. From the 24-team FCS playoff field, No. 2 Montana State, No. 3 Montana, No. 12 Villanova and Illinois State still have a chance at the title.

LIVE UPDATES: Click or tap here for live coverage of the 2025 FCS playoffs

Here is everything you need to know about the national semifinals: 

Friday, Dec. 20 | No. 3 Montana vs. No. 2 Montana State | 4 p.m. on ABC

Montana State has its eyes set on back-to-back FCS championship game appearances. The Bobcats have won 12 straight games since starting the season 0-2. Montana State ran the table in the Big Sky behind a top-10 scoring offense and defense, with a top-five rushing attack that has turned into a tradition in Bozeman under head coach Brent Vigen.

The Bobcats also have a win on the road at Montana in the regular-season-ending Brawl of the Wild. Now at home for the playoff matchup, Montana State will look to keep its win streak alive, continuing a trend of teams making the FCS title game after having home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

SEEDS: The importance of a top seed in the FCS playoffs, explained

On the other sideline, Montana will be trying to avenge its only loss of the season to the Bobcats. It'll be the second time in the last three years that Montana has made the FCS semifinals.

The Grizzlies have opened the playoffs on a tear, averaging 51 points across two games. Quarterback Keali'i Ah Yat has been on a tear with over 300 passing yards in each game while completing more than 70 percent of his passes and throwing for at least three touchdowns. Star wide receiver Michael Wortham has been dominant too, catching 11 passes for 201 yards and two touchdowns in the quarterfinals, rushing for another score.

Both teams are playing at the highest level at the right time as Montana and Montana State meet for the first time in the FCS playoffs during their storied rivalry.

Here's more on how Montana and Montana State stack up:

BRACKET: See the official 2025 FCS playoff bracket

Saturday, Dec. 20 | Illinois State vs. No. 12 Villanova | 7:30 p.m. on ESPN2

Unseeded Illinois State is on the verge of making history as it enters the semifinal round. The only unseeded team in the 24-team era to make the national championship game was Youngstown State in 2016. But there were only eight seeds then, and Youngstown State opened the playoffs at home.

No team has won all road games and made the national championship game since the playoffs expanded to 24 teams. The last team to make the national championship after playing every postseason game on the road was 2004 James Madison, which ultimately won the national title from a 16-team bracket.

Illinois State is a win away from making history, after an already impressive run where they knocked off the defending champion, North Dakota State.

In the semifinal round, expect the Redbirds to lean on star wide receiver Daniel Sobkowicz. Sobkowicz had 150 receiving yards and two touchdowns in the quarterfinals, three receiving touchdowns in the second round, and even a passing touchdown in the first round. Against a Villanova defense that allowed a 100-yard receiver in the quarterfinals, Sobkowicz's success could continue.

NATIONAL TITLE INFO: 2025-26 FCS National Championship Game: Date, time, TV channel, history

Meanwhile, Villanova returns to the FCS semifinals for the first time since back-to-back from 2009-10. The Wildcats have home-field advantage in the semifinal round, a surprise for a 12 seed. 

That said, Villanova is on an 11-game win streak dating back to September. The Wildcat defense has been strong, only allowing a combined 14 points across the first two playoff rounds before holding Tarleton State's FCS-leading scoring offense to just a mere 21 points.

The Villanova offense has done its part too, with only an FCS-low six total turnovers this season. Quarterback Pat McQuaide has made plays when it matters, while the running back tandem of Ja'Briel Mace and Isaiah Ragland present a 1-2 punch that is hard to stop.

The Wildcats enter the semifinals looking to defend their home turf for one last time this season. Villanova will put a 23-game home win streak on the line  — dating back to September 2022 — with a chance to advance to Tennessee for a title.

Interestingly enough, the last time the state of Tennessee hosted an FCS title game was in 2009, with Chattanooga as the host. 2009 is the same year Villanova last won the national title.

Here's more on how Illinois State and Villanova stack up: