FCS playoff history is full of dynasty programs and teams winning national championships in consecutive seasons, but plenty of winners have not been the No. 1 seed. In fact, the number of champions that were not in the top four seeds or seeded at all are in double figures.
Throughout history, the FCS playoffs haven’t quite been covered in chalk.
Since 1978, the first 47 FCS national champions have come from a wide-ranging group of playoff seeds – some even unseeded.
The No. 2 seed (13 times) has emerged as champion more times than the No. 1 seed (12 times), and many others have had reason to believe they can turn the playoff seeding upside down.
The first three playoffs from 1978 to ’80 were four-team fields and did not utilize seeding. The field was doubled to eight teams and included four seeds in 1981, and today, 16 of the 24 teams have seeds.
Nine different seeds have produced FCS champions – 1 through 8 plus No. 11 UMass in a fully seeded 16-team field in 1995. Five unseeded teams, when the field had either four or eight seeds, also have claimed national titles.
Not surprisingly, North Dakota State, the all-time leader with 10 FCS titles, has been the No. 1 seed the most times – six, including four that ended with the Bison as FCS champions.
FCS Champions by Seed
Through 2024 season
No. 1 Seed (12): Eastern Kentucky (1982), Southern Illinois (1983), Georgia Southern (1989), Youngstown State (1994), Montana (2001), Appalachian State (2006), North Dakota State (2012, 2013, 2018, 2019), South Dakota State (2022, 2023)
No. 2 Seed (13): Idaho State (1981), Northeast Louisiana (1987), Marshall (1996), Georgia Southern (1999), Delaware (2003), Appalachian State (2005), Villanova (2009), North Dakota State (2011, 2014, 2017, 2021, 2024), Sam Houston State (2020)
No. 3 Seed (4): Montana State (1984), Georgia Southern (1990, 2000), North Dakota State (2015)
No. 4 Seed (3): Georgia Southern (1986), Furman (1988), James Madison (2016)
No. 5 Seed (2): Appalachian State (2007), Eastern Washington (2010)
No. 6 Seed (1): Montana (1995)
No. 7 Seed (1): Richmond (2008)
No. 8 Seed (2): Youngstown State (1997), James Madison (2004)
No. 11 Seed (1): UMass (1998)
Unseeded (5): Georgia Southern (1985), Youngstown State (1991, 1993), Marshall (1992), Western Kentucky (2002)
No Seeds Utilized (3): 1978, 1979, 1980
No. 1 Playoff Seeds by School
*-FCS champion
No seeds were utilized from 1978-80
North Dakota State (6): 2012*, 2013*, 2016, 2018*, 2019*, 2025
Montana (4): 1996, 2000, 2001*, 2009
Appalachian State (3): 1987, 2006*, 2010
Georgia Southern (3): 1989*, 1993, 1998
McNeese State (3): 1995, 2002, 2003
South Dakota State (3): 2020, 2022*,2023*
Eastern Kentucky (2): 1981, 1982*
James Madison (2): 2008, 2017
Middle Tennessee State (2): 1985, 1990
Nevada (2): 1986, 1991
New Hampshire (2): 2005, 2014
Sam Houston State (2): 2011, 2021
Southern Illinois (2): 1983*, 2004
Alcorn State (1): 1984
Idaho (1): 1988
Jacksonville State (1): 2015
Montana State (1): 2024
Northeast Louisiana (1): 1992
Northern Iowa (1): 2007
Tennessee State (1): 1999
Villanova (1): 1997
Youngstown State (1): 1994*
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