# List of NCAA Division I FCS playoff appearances by team

The list of current Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) schools that have participated in the playoffs leading to the NCAA Division I Football Championship stands at 92. Known as Division I-AA from 1978 through 2005, it was renamed FCS prior to the 2006 season.

## Field

The playoffs began with four teams in 1978, then expanded to eight in 1981, twelve in 1982, and sixteen in 1986. The bracket went to five rounds with a field of twenty teams in 2010, and to 24 teams in 2013.
    YearsTeamsByes 1978–19804 19818 1982–1985124 1986–2009160 2010–20122012 2013–248
* Since the 2010 season, the championship game has been played in January, three weeks after the semifinals.
* An exception was the 2020 season, delayed until spring 2021 due to COVID-19; it had a reduced field of sixteen teams in the bracket, with the championship game in mid-May, eight days after the semifinals.

## Current FCS members

* This list reflects FCS membership in the upcoming 2025 football season. Teams in bold participated in the 2024 fall postseason.
| Team | Appearances | First | Last | Wins | Losses | Total | Pct. | Championships |
| Abilene Christian Wildcats | 1 | 2024 | 2024 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | |
| Albany Great Danes | 3 | 2011 | 2023 | 2 | 2 | 4 | .500 | |
| Alcorn State Braves | 3 | 1984 | 1994 | 0 | 3 | 3 | .000 | |
| Austin Peay Governors | 2 | 2019 | 2023 | 2 | 2 | 4 | .500 | |
| Bethune–Cookman Wildcats | 5 | 2002 | 2013 | 0 | 5 | 5 | .000 | |
| Butler Bulldogs | 1 | 2013 | 2013 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .000 | |
| Cal Poly Mustangs | 4 | 2005 | 2016 | 1 | 4 | 5 | .200 | |
| Central Arkansas Bears | 5 | 2011 | 2019 | 2 | 5 | 7 | .286 | |
| Central Connecticut Blue Devils | 3 | 2017 | 2024 | 0 | 2 | 2 | .000 | |
| Charleston Southern Buccaneers | 1 | 2015 | 2015 | 1 | 1 | 2 | .500 | |
| Chattanooga Mocs | 5 | 1984 | 2023 | 4 | 5 | 9 | .444 | |
| The Citadel Bulldogs | 5 | 1988 | 2016 | 2 | 5 | 6 | .286 | |
| Colgate Raiders | 11 | 1982 | 2018 | 7 | 11 | 18 | .389 | |
| Davidson Wildcats | 3 | 2020 | 2022 | 0 | 3 | 3 | .000 | |
| Dayton Flyers | 1 | 2015 | 2015 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .000 | |
| Delaware State Hornets | 1 | 2007 | 2007 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .000 | |
| Drake Bulldogs | 2 | 2023 | 2024 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .000 | |
| Duquesne Dukes | 3 | 2015 | 2023 | 1 | 3 | 4 | .250 | |
| East Tennessee State Buccaneers | 3 | 1996 | 2021 | 2 | 3 | 3 | .400 | |
| Eastern Illinois Panthers | 16 | 1982 | 2015 | 4 | 16 | 20 | .200 | |
| Eastern Kentucky Colonels | 23 | 1979 | 2024 | 16 | 20 | 36 | .444 | 1979, 1982 |
| Eastern Washington Eagles | 15 | 1985 | 2021 | 20 | 14 | 34 | .588 | 2010 |
| Elon Phoenix | 4 | 2009 | 2022 | 0 | 4 | 4 | .000 | |
| Florida A&M Rattlers | 8 | 1978 | 2021 | 5 | 7 | 12 | .417 | 1978 |
| Fordham Rams | 6 | 2002 | 2022 | 3 | 6 | 9 | .333 | |
| Furman Paladins | 20 | 1982 | 2023 | 21 | 18 | 39 | .538 | 1988 |
| Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs | 2 | 2022 | 2023 | 1 | 2 | 3 | .333 | |
| Grambling State Tigers | 3 | 1980 | 1989 | 0 | 3 | 3 | .000 | |
| Hampton Pirates | 5 | 1997 | 2006 | 0 | 5 | 5 | .000 | |
| Holy Cross Crusaders | 6 | 1983 | 2022 | 2 | 5 | 7 | .286 | |
| Howard Bison | 1 | 1993 | 1993 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .000 | |
| Idaho Vandals | 14 | 1982 | 2024 | 7 | 12 | 19 | .368 | |
| Idaho State Bengals | 2 | 1981 | 1983 | 3 | 1 | 4 | .750 | 1981 |
| Illinois State Redbirds | 9 | 1998 | 2024 | 10 | 8 | 18 | .556 | |
| Incarnate Word Cardinals | 4 | 2018 | 2024 | 2 | 2 | 4 | .500 | |
| Indiana State Sycamores | 3 | 1983 | 2014 | 2 | 3 | 5 | .400 | |
| Jackson State Tigers | 12 | 1978 | 1997 | 0 | 12 | 12 | .000 | |
| Lafayette Leopards | 5 | 2004 | 2023 | 0 | 5 | 5 | .000 | |
| Lamar Cardinals | 1 | 2018 | 2018 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .000 | |
| Lehigh Mountain Hawks | 12 | 1979 | 2024 | 6 | 11 | 17 | .353 | |
| Maine Black Bears | 8 | 1987 | 2018 | 5 | 8 | 13 | .385 | |
| McNeese Cowboys | 16 | 1991 | 2015 | 11 | 16 | 27 | .407 | |
| Mercer Bears | 2 | 2023 | 2024 | 1 | 1 | 2 | .500 | |
| Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils | 1 | 1984 | 1984 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .000 | |
| Monmouth Hawks | 3 | 2017 | 2020 | 1 | 3 | 4 | .250 | |
| Montana Grizzlies | 28 | 1982 | 2024 | 38 | 25 | 63 | .603 | 1995, 2001 |
| Montana State Bobcats | 14 | 1984 | 2024 | 14 | 12 | 26 | .538 | 1984 |
| Morgan State Bears | 1 | 2014 | 2014 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .000 | |
| Murray State Racers | 5 | 1979 | 2002 | 1 | 5 | 6 | .167 | |
| New Hampshire Wildcats | 18 | 1991 | 2024 | 15 | 17 | 32 | .469 | |
| Nicholls Colonels | 7 | 1986 | 2023 | 3 | 7 | 10 | .300 | |
| Norfolk State Spartans | 1 | 2011 | 2011 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .000 | |
| North Carolina A&T Aggies | 5 | 1986 | 2016 | 1 | 5 | 6 | .167 | |
| North Carolina Central Eagles | 1 | 2023 | 2023 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .000 | |
| North Dakota Fighting Hawks | 5 | 2016 | 2023 | 1 | 5 | 6 | .167 | |
| North Dakota State Bison | 15 | 2010 | 2024 | 51 | 5 | 56 | .911 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2024 |
| Northern Arizona Lumberjacks | 6 | 1996 | 2024 | 1 | 5 | 6 | .167 | |
| Northern Iowa Panthers | 22 | 1985 | 2021 | 26 | 22 | 48 | .542 | |
| Northwestern State Demons | 6 | 1988 | 2004 | 4 | 6 | 10 | .400 | |
| Portland State Vikings | 2 | 2000 | 2015 | 0 | 2 | 2 | .000 | |
| Rhode Island Rams | 4 | 1981 | 2024 | 2 | 3 | 5 | .400 | |
| Richmond Spiders | 14 | 1984 | 2024 | 17 | 12 | 29 | .586 | 2008 |
| Robert Morris Colonials | 1 | 2010 | 2010 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .000 | |
| Sacramento State Hornets | 4 | 2019 | 2023 | 2 | 4 | 6 | .333 | |
| Sacred Heart Pioneers | 4 | 2013 | 2021 | 0 | 4 | 4 | .000 | |
| Saint Francis Red Flash | 2 | 2016 | 2022 | 0 | 2 | 2 | .000 | |
| Samford Bulldogs | 6 | 1991 | 2022 | 3 | 5 | 8 | .375 | |
| San Diego Toreros | 5 | 2014 | 2019 | 2 | 5 | 7 | .286 | |
| South Carolina State Bulldogs | 6 | 1981 | 2013 | 2 | 6 | 8 | .250 | |
| South Dakota Coyotes | 4 | 2017 | 2024 | 2 | 2 | 4 | .500 | |
| South Dakota State Jackrabbits | 14 | 2009 | 2024 | 22 | 11 | 33 | .667 | 2022, 2023 |
| Southeast Missouri State Redhawks | 5 | 2010 | 2024 | 1 | 4 | 5 | .200 | |
| Southeastern Louisiana Lions | 5 | 2013 | 2022 | 4 | 5 | 9 | .444 | |
| Southern Illinois Salukis | 11 | 1983 | 2023 | 11 | 10 | 21 | .524 | 1983 |
| Southern Utah Thunderbirds | 3 | 2013 | 2017 | 0 | 3 | 3 | .000 | |
| Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks | 8 | 1988 | 2021 | 7 | 8 | 15 | .467 | |
| Stony Brook Seawolves | 4 | 2011 | 2018 | 3 | 4 | 7 | .429 | |
| Tarleton State Texans | 1 | 2024 | 2024 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | |
| Tennessee State Tigers | 5 | 1986 | 2024 | 1 | 4 | 5 | .200 | |
| Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles | 1 | 2011 | 2011 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .000 | |
| Towson Tigers | 3 | 2011 | 2018 | 3 | 3 | 6 | .500 | |
| UC Davis Aggies | 3 | 2018 | 2024 | 1 | 2 | 3 | .333 | |
| UT Martin Skyhawks | 3 | 2006 | 2024 | 1 | 2 | 3 | .333 | |
| Villanova Wildcats | 16 | 1989 | 2024 | 13 | 13 | 26 | .500 | 2009 |
| VMI Keydets | 1 | 2020 | 2020 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .000 | |
| Wagner Seahawks | 1 | 2012 | 2012 | 1 | 1 | 2 | .500 | |
| Weber State Wildcats | 10 | 1987 | 2022 | 8 | 10 | 18 | .444 | |
| Western Carolina Catamounts | 1 | 1983 | 1983 | 3 | 1 | 4 | .750 | |
| Western Illinois Leathernecks | 11 | 1988 | 2017 | 7 | 11 | 18 | .389 | |
| William & Mary Tribe | 11 | 1986 | 2022 | 8 | 10 | 18 | .444 | |
| Wofford Terriers | 10 | 2003 | 2019 | 9 | 10 | 19 | .474 | |
| Youngstown State Penguins | 13 | 1987 | 2023 | 30 | 9 | 39 | .769 | 1991, 1993, 1994, 1997 |

### No appearances

Conference alignments are current for the upcoming 2025 season.
* Big Sky Conference (1) – Northern Colorado
* CAA Football† (2) – Bryant, Campbell
* Independents (1) – Merrimack
* Ivy League (8) – Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Penn, Princeton, Yale
* Northeast Conference (3) – LIU, Mercyhurst, Stonehill (Mercyhurst eligible in 2027)
* OVC–Big South Football Association* (1) – Lindenwood
* Patriot League (2) – Bucknell, Georgetown
* Pioneer Football League (6) – Marist, Morehead State, Presbyterian, St. Thomas (MN), Stetson, Valparaiso
* Southland Conference (2) – East Texas A&M, Houston Christian
* Southwestern Athletic Conference (6) – Alabama A&M, Alabama State, Arkansas–Pine Bluff, Prairie View A&M, Southern, Texas Southern
* United Athletic Conference‡ (3) – North Alabama, Utah Tech, West Georgia (eligible in 2027)
* – The OVC–Big South Football Association began play in 2023 as a de facto merger of the football leagues of the Big South Conference and Ohio Valley Conference.
† – CAA Football is technically separate from the all-sports Coastal Athletic Association, although both leagues share the same administration.
‡ – The United Athletic Conference began play in 2023 as a merger of the football leagues of the Atlantic Sun Conference and Western Athletic Conference.

## Former FCS members

Thirty former FCS schools have participated in the playoffs. Of these, 27 have moved up to the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), while the other three no longer sponsor football.
| Team | Appearances | First | Last | Wins | Losses | Total | Pct. | Championships |
| Akron Zips | 1 | 1985 | 1985 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .000 | |
| Arkansas State Red Wolves | 4 | 1984 | 1987 | 6 | 4 | 10 | .600 | |
| Appalachian State Mountaineers | 20 | 1986 | 2012 | 24 | 17 | 41 | .585 | 2005, 2006, 2007 |
| Boise State Broncos | 5 | 1980 | 1994 | 8 | 4 | 12 | .667 | 1980 |
| Boston University Terriers | 5 | 1982 | 1994 | 2 | 5 | 7 | .286 | |
| Coastal Carolina Chanticleers | 6 | 2006 | 2015 | 4 | 6 | 10 | .400 | |
| Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens | 19 | 1981 | 2023 | 26 | 18 | 44 | .591 | 2003 |
| Florida Atlantic Owls | 1 | 2003 | 2003 | 2 | 1 | 3 | .667 | |
| Georgia Southern Eagles | 19 | 1985 | 2012 | 45 | 13 | 58 | .776 | 1985, 1986, 1989 1990, 1999, 2000 |
| Hofstra Pride | 5 | 1995 | 2001 | 2 | 5 | 7 | .286 | |
| Jacksonville State Gamecocks | 10 | 2003 | 2020 | 7 | 10 | 17 | .412 | |
| James Madison Dukes | 18 | 1987 | 2021 | 24 | 16 | 40 | .600 | 2004, 2016 |
| Kennesaw State Owls | 4 | 2017 | 2021 | 5 | 4 | 9 | .556 | |
| Liberty Flames | 1 | 2014 | 2014 | 1 | 1 | 2 | .500 | |
| Louisiana–Monroe Warhawks | 4 | 1987 | 1993 | 5 | 3 | 8 | .625 | 1987 |
| Louisiana Tech Bulldogs | 2 | 1982 | 1984 | 4 | 2 | 6 | .667 | |
| Marshall Thundering Herd | 8 | 1987 | 1996 | 23 | 6 | 29 | .793 | 1992, 1996 |
| Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders | 7 | 1984 | 1994 | 6 | 7 | 13 | .462 | |
| Missouri State Bears | 4 | 1989 | 2021 | 1 | 4 | 5 | .200 | |
| Nevada Wolf Pack | 7 | 1978 | 1991 | 9 | 7 | 16 | .563 | |
| North Texas Mean Green | 4 | 1983 | 1994 | 0 | 4 | 4 | .000 | |
| Northeastern Huskies | 1 | 2002 | 2002 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .000 | |
| Old Dominion Monarchs | 2 | 2011 | 2012 | 2 | 2 | 4 | .500 | |
| Sam Houston Bearkats | 13 | 1986 | 2021 | 24 | 12 | 36 | .667 | 2020 |
| Texas State Bobcats | 2 | 2005 | 2008 | 2 | 2 | 4 | .500 | |
| Troy Trojans | 7 | 1993 | 2000 | 5 | 7 | 12 | .417 | |
| UCF Knights | 2 | 1990 | 1993 | 2 | 2 | 4 | .500 | |
| UConn Huskies | 1 | 1998 | 1998 | 1 | 1 | 2 | .500 | |
| UMass Minutemen | 8 | 1978 | 2007 | 10 | 7 | 17 | .588 | 1998 |
| Western Kentucky Hilltoppers | 8 | 1987 | 2004 | 8 | 7 | 15 | .533 | 2002 |