The 2025 FCS playoffs are underway, so it’s time to provide a recap of the 126 FCS versus FBS matchups to take place this season. Of note, the 126 FCS-FBS games broke the previous record of 121 set in the 2024 season. We’ll start by looking at the FCS over FBS wins, some records, firsts, and notables, and provide a look at some trends.
2025 FCS Over FBS Wins (4)
There were four FCS over FBS wins in 2025, which is two fewer than 2024 (6) and matched the total from 2023 (4). For reference, there were 8 wins in 2022 and 12 in 2021. A graphical representation of all the FCS-FBS games since 1978 can be found here, which has been updated through the 2025 season.
- Tarleton State @ Army, 30-27 (2 OT)
- Austin Peay @ Middle Tennessee, 34-14
- Bryant @ Massachusetts, 27-26
- Long Island @ Eastern Michigan, 28-23
Records, Firsts, and Notables
2025 saw numerous records set specific to FCS versus FBS matchups. Most were not good records, although some are just a byproduct of the increased number of FCS versus FBS games.
- 126: The number of FCS-FBS matchups in 2025 (the previous record high was 121 set in 2024).
- 122: The number of FCS losses against the FBS in 2025 (the previous record was 115 set in 2024).
- 74: The number of games in which the FBS team won by 30 or more points, besting the previous mark of 65 set in 2018 and 2024.
- 49: The number of games in which the FBS team won by 40 or more points, besting the previous mark of 41 set in 2024.
- 33.5: The average margin of victory for the FBS over the FCS in 2025. That is the highest since the NCAA Division I split in 1978 and is more than 2 points higher than the previous mark (31.13 in 2018).
- 18: The FCS was shut out 18 times against the FBS in 2025, tying the record for most in a season (2022).
- 11.2: The average number of FCS points scored against FBS teams. It is the lowest since the 1978 NCAA Division I split and lower than the previous mark of 11.7 set in 2006.
- 11: The number of games in which the FBS team won by 60 or more points, tying the previous marks set in 2013 and 2014.
- 2: The United Athletic Conference won two games against FBS opposition this year. It was the first time in the conference’s three-year history that it won multiple games against the FBS in a single season.
- 2: Bryant and Long Island both posted their first FCS over FBS wins. Bryant defeated Massachusetts 27-26, while Long Island defeated Eastern Michigan 28-23
- 1: The NEC posted a win against the FBS for the second straight year. It’s the first time the conference has defeated an FBS opponent in back-to-back seasons.
- 0: The Missouri Valley Football Conference had no wins against the FBS for the second straight season. It was the first time since the 2008 and 2009 seasons that the conference failed to record a win against the FBS in back-to-back seasons.
- 0: There were no FCS-FBS games that had more than 100+ total points scored in a single game for the first time since 2012.
Stats Nuggets and Annual Trends
In the 2024 review, it was noted that the average margin of defeat was nearly a record, but ended up .04 points per game short of the mark. The 2025 average margin of defeat blew past the old record of 31.13 and came in at 33.5 (33.45 to be exact). There were also 18 games in which the FCS team was shut out by the FBS opponent, which ties the mark set in 2022. I’ll repost what I said from the 2023 review about these two trends.
The higher frequency of FCS-FBS matchups leads to the raw numbers increasing. The rule changes in the last 20 years have been friendly to the offenses, while the spread formation makes it easier than ever to score. Add in the fact that FBS teams historically had 22 more scholarships than FCS teams, making it easier for them to recruit, build depth, and leave FCS teams behind the eight ball before stepping onto the field. Under the House settlement, the FCS programs could theoretically match the FBS at 105 scholarships, but the economic differences between the FBS and FCS make it impractical.
One aspect I noticed in 2025 was that more FCS opted to go for field goals late in the game instead of trying for a touchdown. The obvious reason for this is to get something on the board. Everyone says “we don’t believe in moral victories,” but they still opt for a field goal down 48-0 instead of going for the touchdown. A field goal isn’t going to impact the game, but there was also another reason that dawned on me: Field goals are an uncommon play in football. Most teams typically get 4 to 6 (give or take) field goal/extra point opportunities in a game. Compare that to any other type of play, like a pass or run, and it makes sense to give the special teams an in-game opportunity to make a kick.
For some year-over-year FCS trends, there were some positives and negatives. We’ll start with the bad: the FCS averaged only 11.2 points per game in 2025, a full point lower than last year and half a point lower than the previous record (11.7 in 2006). The FCS also gained 20 fewer yards per game in 2025 compared to last year. I have stats going back to 2018 and this was by far the lowest, with 2024’s mark of 259 being the second lowest. The FCS yards per carry (2.7) was the lowest since at least 2017, while the FBS yards per carry (5.8) tied the 2019 mark.
On the positive side, the FCS turnovers per game (1.40) were about the same as last year (1.36) and still below other years since 2018, which were at 1.50 or higher. Penalties committed by FCS teams (6 penalties for 48 yards) were similar to 2019 (5.8 and 47.3). In addition to some of the factors I mentioned above about the FBS advantages, the new clock rules are likely having an impact as well. A decade ago, there were about 70 plays per game and now it’s around 65 for FCS teams. Even the decline from 2018 to 2025, which was from 69 to 65, equates to roughly a 6% decrease in plays. That is a noticeable decrease.
2025 FCS Annual and Weekly Conference Records
The table below shows how each FCS conference performed against the FBS with the annual and weekly records provided.
| Conference | Games | 2025 Record | Week 0 | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 8 | Week 11 | Week 12 | Week 13 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Sky | 15 | 0-15 | 0-1 | 0-5 | 0-7 | 0-1 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| CAA | 16 | 1-15 | 0-0 | 0-5 | 1-2 | 0-5 | 0-1 | 0-1 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| FCS Independents | 2 | 0-2 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| Ivy League | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| MEAC | 8 | 0-8 | 0-0 | 0-2 | 0-3 | 0-2 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| MVFC | 9 | 0-9 | 0-0 | 0-3 | 0-2 | 0-3 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| NEC | 10 | 1-9 | 0-0 | 0-6 | 1-1 | 0-0 | 0-2 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| OVC-Big South | 14 | 0-14 | 0-0 | 0-4 | 0-5 | 0-0 | 0-2 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 0-1 |
| Patriot League | 7 | 0-7 | 0-0 | 0-4 | 0-0 | 0-2 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| Pioneer | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| SoCon | 10 | 0-10 | 0-0 | 0-2 | 0-2 | 0-1 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-3 |
| Southland | 14 | 0-14 | 0-0 | 0-5 | 0-3 | 0-3 | 0-3 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| SWAC | 12 | 0-12 | 0-0 | 0-4 | 0-5 | 0-3 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| United Athletic | 9 | 2-7 | 0-0 | 2-4 | 0-1 | 0-2 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| Totals | 126 | 4-122 | 0-1 | 2-45 | 2-31 | 0-23 | 0-12 | 0-2 | 0-1 | 0-1 | 0-1 | 0-1 | 0-4 |
2025 Charts
Below is a chart for each of the following statistical categories: points, total yards, passing yards, rushing yards, completion percentage, yards per carry, turnovers, first downs, penalty yards, and third down conversion percentage. The graphic below will show only one category at a time and is sorted by the highest total for the FCS, with each matchup (week) shown on the left. In addition, you can choose to select only the FBS teams, FCS teams, or both, with FBS teams in blue and FCS teams in orange. Hovering over a bar will give more info, which can be useful if the FBS or FCS data series is selected by itself. Finally, any bar that is missing represents a zero value, which is present in the points, turnovers, and penalty yardage charts.
Photo Credit to Long Island University Athletics
