The spring regular-season is complete, and now it’s time for the 2021 FCS Playoffs! The 10 automatic qualifiers, full 16 team field, FCS Playoff Schedule, and bracket were announced today by the NCAA.
The 10 automatic qualifiers for the FCS Playoffs won their respective conference championships and are listed below:
- Big Sky – Weber State
- Big South – Monmouth
- CAA – Delaware
- MVFC – South Dakota State
- NEC – Sacred Heart
- OVC – Jacksonville State
- Patriot League – Holy Cross
- PFL – Davidson
- SoCon – VMI
- Southland – Sam Houston
Below are the top four seeds for the spring 2021 FCS playoffs. The top four teams will each host a first-round matchup on Saturday, April 24:
1. South Dakota State (5-1)
2. Sam Houston (6-0)
3. James Madison (5-0)
4. Jacksonville State (9-2)
The remaining 12 qualifiers (6 at-large) also open the FCS Playoffs with a first-round matchup on Saturday, April 24. Below is the schedule for the first round of the spring 2021 FCS Playoffs:
FIRST-ROUND GAMES (APRIL 24)
*All games EST and on ESPN3.
Monmouth at (2) Sam Houston – 12pm
Davidson at (4) Jacksonville State – 2pm
VMI at (3) James Madison – 2pm
Holy Cross at (1) South Dakota State – 3pm
Eastern Washington at NDSU – 3:30pm
Missouri State at North Dakota – 4pm
Southern Illinois at Weber State – 4pm
Sacred Heart at Delaware – 7pm
First-round winners will advance to the Quarterfinals on either Saturday, May 1 or Sunday, May 2, while the Semifinals are slated for Saturday, May 8.
The spring 2021 FCS Championship Game is scheduled for Sunday, May 16 at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. The game will be televised by ABC at 2:00pm ET.