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The Ultimate Guide to Understanding FCS Football and Its Championship Structure
As someone who's spent over a decade analyzing college football structures, I've always found the Football Championship Subdivision to be one of the most compelling yet misunderstood aspects of American sports. When I first started researching FCS football back in 2012, I was struck by how many casual fans confused it with its more famous cousin, the FBS. Let me tell you, there's something special about this level of competition that often produces the kind of stunning upsets that remind me of Eala's remarkable victory over Swiatek at the Miami Open - where a 19-year old underdog reached the semifinals in what became the best result of her professional career. That same underdog spirit permeates FCS football, where smaller programs regularly topple giants in ways that defy conventional wisdom.
The FCS championship structure represents what I consider the purest form of college football competition. Unlike the FBS with its controversial four-team playoff system, the FCS has maintained a 24-team tournament format since 2013, which creates what I believe is the most exciting postseason in college sports. Having attended multiple FCS playoff games across different conferences, I can personally attest to the electric atmosphere that surrounds these contests. The single-elimination format means every game could end a team's championship dreams, creating tension that's palpable from the opening kickoff. I remember watching James Madison's incredible 2016 championship run where they defeated five consecutive opponents, including a dramatic 28-14 victory over Youngstown State in the final. That team finished with a perfect 14-0 record, something that's only happened three times in FCS history.
What many people don't realize is that the FCS comprises 13 distinct conferences plus independent programs, creating a diverse competitive landscape that produces unexpected champions year after year. The Missouri Valley Football Conference has consistently been what I'd call the powerhouse conference, sending multiple teams to the playoffs annually. North Dakota State's dynasty, which included winning 9 championships between 2011 and 2021, demonstrates how certain programs can dominate while still facing those shocking upsets that make March Madness so compelling. It's that same unpredictability we saw when Eala, then ranked outside the top 150, defeated the world number one - proof that in sports, rankings don't always determine outcomes.
The regular season structure differs significantly from FBS football, with FCS teams playing 11-game schedules that include both conference matchups and what I like to call "statement games" against FBS opponents. These contests often provide the most memorable moments of the season, like when Appalachian State famously defeated Michigan in 2007 or more recently, when Eastern Washington beat Washington State in 2016. These victories aren't just moral triumphs - they're program-defining moments that can shape recruiting and funding for years. I've tracked these FCS-over-FBS upsets for years, and the numbers are telling: between 2003 and 2022, FCS teams have won 74 games against FBS opponents, with the peak being 2013 when they notched 16 victories.
The playoff selection process involves both automatic qualifiers from conference champions and at-large bids determined by the NCAA selection committee. Having studied their selection criteria extensively, I can tell you that strength of schedule, head-to-head results, and overall record all factor into those difficult decisions. The committee typically selects 10 automatic qualifiers and 14 at-large bids, creating what I consider the most balanced postseason in college sports. The tournament bracket is regionalized in early rounds to reduce travel costs, which sometimes creates intriguing matchups between familiar opponents. I'll never forget the 2019 quarterfinal between Weber State and Montana, two Big Sky rivals who had already met during the regular season, creating a rubber match with championship implications.
Attendance figures tell an interesting story about FCS football's popularity. While the FCS championship game typically draws between 15,000 and 20,000 fans, regular season rivalries can attract much larger crowds. The annual Brawl of the Wild between Montana and Montana State regularly draws over 26,000 spectators, demonstrating the passionate fan bases that support these programs. Having been to that rivalry game twice, I can confirm the atmosphere rivals any Power Five conference matchup I've attended. The economic impact of FCS football is often overlooked too - a 2018 study I reviewed estimated that FCS programs generate approximately $450 million annually in direct economic activity for their communities.
The scholarship structure represents another key difference that directly impacts team composition and depth. While FBS programs offer up to 85 full scholarships, FCS teams are limited to 63 equivalencies, which can be divided among more players. This creates what I've observed to be more balanced rosters and often leads to closer games. Having spoken with numerous FCS coaches over the years, they consistently mention how this scholarship difference forces them to be more creative in roster construction and player development. It's part of why we see so many FCS players eventually make NFL rosters - they've had to fight for every opportunity.
Television coverage has dramatically improved FCS football's visibility over the past decade. ESPN's multi-year agreement to broadcast the FCS championship game through 2025 has brought unprecedented exposure to the subdivision. Having analyzed the ratings data, I can report that the 2022 championship game between North Dakota State and Montana State drew 1.54 million viewers, making it the most-watched FCS title game since 2016. The increased media presence has helped create household names out of FCS stars like Trey Lance and Jimmy Moreland, both of whom parlayed their FCS success into NFL careers.
Looking toward the future, I'm particularly excited about how conference realignment might reshape the FCS landscape. The recent moves involving James Madison, Sam Houston State, and Jacksonville State to the FBS level create opportunities for new programs to rise to prominence. Having followed these transitions closely, I've noticed they typically create power vacuums that ambitious programs quickly fill. The ASUN-WAC partnership announcement in 2021 created what I believe could become the next powerhouse FCS conference, demonstrating how fluid the conference landscape remains.
Ultimately, what makes FCS football special isn't just the championship structure or the playoff format - it's the stories that emerge each season. Whether it's a perennial power adding another trophy to their case or a Cinderella team making an unexpected run, the FCS delivers drama that's increasingly rare in modern college sports. Just like Eala's stunning semifinal run at the Miami Open demonstrated that rankings don't always predict outcomes, the FCS postseason regularly reminds us why we love sports - for those magical moments when expectation and reality diverge in the most spectacular fashion. After all my years covering college football, I still find myself most drawn to these underdog stories and the pure competitive spirit that defines FCS football.