NCHSAA football playoff brackets, schedules for 2026. See first-round pairings
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The 2026 North Carolina high school football playoff brackets are set.
The NCHSAA released brackets for the postseason on Oct. 31. The first round of the playoffs is Nov. 6.
Visit newssport.cv for more information.
See matchups for all eight classes below.
Stream North Carolina HS football games live on NFHS Network
1A East
No. 1 Northside (Pinetown) has a first-round bye
No. 9 Washington County at No. 8 Columbia
No. 4 North Edgecombe has a first-round bye
No. 5 Southeast Collegiate Prep Academy has a first-round bye
No. 3 Sallie B. Howard has a first-round bye
No. 11 Jones Senior at No. 6 KIPP Pride
No. 2 Hobgood Charter has a first-round bye
No. 10 Weldon STEM Career Academies at No. 7 Rocky Mount Preparatory
1A West
No. 1 Chatham Central has a first-round bye
No. 9 Bonnie Cone Leadership Academy at No. 8 The College Prep and Leadership Academy
No. 4 Winston-Salem Preparatory Academy has a first-round bye
No. 5 East Columbus Junior-Senior has a first-round bye
No. 3 Robbinsville has a first-round bye
No. 11 North Stokes at No. 6 South Davidson Middle and High School
No. 2 Wilson Preparatory Academy has a first-round bye
No. 10 Andrews at No. 7 Rosman
2A East
No. 1 Tarboro has a first-round bye
No. 17 Pamlico County at No. 16 Rosewood
No. 8 Gates County has a first-round bye
No. 9 North Duplin has a first-round bye
No. 5 Manteo has a first-round bye
No. 21 American Leadership Academy Johnston at No. 12 Camden County
No. 4 Lakewood has a first-round bye
No. 20 Lejeune at No. 13 Northwest Halifax
No. 3 Warren County has a first-round bye
No. 19 Union at No. 14 East Carteret
No. 6 East Bladen has a first-round bye
No. 22 TMSA Triangle at No. 11 Bertie
No. 7 Southside has a first-round bye
No. 10 West Columbus has a first-round bye
No. 18 Northampton County at No. 15 Hobbton
No. 2 John A. Holmes has a first-round bye
2A West
No. 1 Corvian Community has a first-round bye
No. 17 Avery County at No. 16 Langtree Charter Academy
No. 8 East Wilkes has a first-round bye
No. 9 Christ the King Catholic has a first-round bye
No. 5 Alleghany has a first-round bye
No. 21 Elkin at No. 12 Cherryville
No. 4 Community School of Davidson has a first-round bye
No. 20 Bradford Preparatory at No. 13 Albemarle
No. 3 Murphy has a first-round bye
No. 19 South Stanly at No. 14 South Stokes
No. 6 North Rowan has a first-round bye
No. 22 Hayesville at No. 11 Cherokee
No. 7 Mountain Island Charter has a first-round bye
No. 10 Mitchell has a first-round bye
No. 18 Bishop McGuinness Catholic at No. 15 Swain County
No. 2 Starmount has a first-round bye
3A East
No. 1 Northeastern has a first-round bye
No. 17 Greene Central at No. 16 Wake Prep
No. 8 Pasquotank County has a first-round bye
No. 24 Trinity at No. 9 Wallace-Rose Hill
No. 5 Martin County has a first-round bye
No. 21 Dalton L. McMichael at No. 12 South Columbus
No. 4 James Kenan has a first-round bye
No. 20 Ayden-Grifton at No. 13 Louisburg Magnet
No. 3 Midway has a first-round bye
No. 19 Pender at No. 14 Princeton
No. 6 Eastern Randolph has a first-round bye
No. 22 South Lenoir at No. 11 Providence Grove
No. 7 Hertford County has a first-round bye
No. 23 Heide Trask at No. 10 Farmville Central
No. 18 Kinston at No. 15 Northwood
No. 2 Whiteville has a first-round bye
3A West
No. 1 North Stanley has a first-round bye
No. 17 Pine Lake Prep at No. 16 North Wilkes
No. 8 Lincolnton has a first-round bye
No. 24 Bessemer City at No. 9 Mountain Heritage
No. 5 Thomasville has a first-round bye
No. 21 East Davidson at No. 12 West Davidson
No. 4 Walkertown has a first-round bye
No. 20 Polk County at No. 13 Charles D. Owen
No. 3 Hendersonville has a first-round bye
No. 19 Wheatmore at No. 14 East Surry
No. 6 Mount Airy has a first-round bye
No. 22 Robert Patton at No. 11 Union Academy
No. 7 CHASE has a first-round bye
No. 23 Jimmy C. Draughn at No. 10 West Wilkes
No. 18 West Lincoln at No. 15 East Rutherford
No. 2 Shelby has a first-round bye
4A East
No. 1 East Duplin has a first-round bye
No. 17 Eastern Wayne at No. 16 Washington
No. 8 Southwestern Randolph has a first-round bye
No. 24 Carver at No. 9 Fairmont
No. 5 Reidsville has a first-round bye
No. 21 Hugh M. Cummings at No. 12 Randleman
No. 4 West Craven has a first-round bye
No. 20 Jordan-Matthews at No. 13 Ledford
No. 3 Clinton has a first-round bye
No. 19 Southwest Onslow at No. 14 North Pitt
No. 6 Southwest Edgecombe has a first-round bye
No. 22 Central Davidson at No. 11 Nash Central
No. 7 John Morehead has a first-round bye
No. 23 Lexington at No. 10 Roanoke Rapids
No. 18 Anson at No. 15 Bunn
No. 2 T.W. Andrews has a first-round bye
4A West
No. 1 Hibriten has a first-round bye
No. 17 North Surry at No. 16 East Burke
No. 8 Lake Norman Charter has a first-round bye
No. 24 Lincoln Charter at No. 9 Rutherford-Spindale Central
No. 5 Mount Pleasant has a first-round bye
No. 21 Bandys at No. 12 Wilkes Central
No. 4 Burns has a first-round bye
No. 20 East Gaston at No. 13 Bunker Hill
No. 3 West Iredell has a first-round bye
No. 19 Salisbury at No. 14 West Stanley
No. 6 West Stokes has a first-round bye
No. 22 Forbush at No. 11 South Rowan
No. 7 Stuart Cramer has a first-round bye
No. 23 Fred T. Foard at No. 10 Pisgah
No. 18 Newton-Conover at No. 15 Maiden
No. 2 Tuscola has a first-round bye
5A East
No. 1 Southeast Alamance has a first-round bye
No. 17 Currituck at No. 16 West Carteret
No. 8 Havelock has a first-round bye
No. 24 Charles B. Aycock at No. 9 Rocky Mount
No. 5 Seaforth has a first-round bye
No. 21 South Brunswick at No. 12 South Granville
No. 4 Croatan has a first-round bye
No. 20 Southern Wayne at No. 13 Western Alamance
No. 3 James B. Hunt has a first-round bye
No. 19 J.F. Webb at No. 14 Montgomery Central
No. 6 Fike has a first-round bye
No. 22 Person at No. 11 Saint Pauls
No. 7 Eastern Alamance has a first-round bye
No. 23 Richlands at No. 10 Orange
No. 18 Rockingham County at No. 15 Southern Nash
No. 2 Northside (Jacksonville) has a first-round bye
5A West
No. 1 Crest has a first-round bye
No. 17 Clyde A. Erwin at No. 16 Parkwood
No. 8 Oak Grove has a first-round bye
No. 24 Hunter Huss at No. 9 Hickory
No. 5 Monroe has a first-round bye
No. 21 North Lincoln at No. 12 Northwest Cabarrus
No. 4 South Point has a first-round bye
No. 20 North Buncombe at No. 13 Smoky Mountain
No. 3 Jay M. Robinson has a first-round bye
No. 19 East Rowan at No. 14 North Davidson
No. 6 West Rowan has a first-round bye
No. 22 North Henderson at No. 11 Enka
No. 7 East Lincoln has a first-round bye
No. 23 Forestview at No. 10 Forest Hills
No. 18 Jesse Carson at No. 15 West Henderson
No. 2 Franklin has a first-round bye
6A East
No. 1 J.H. Rose has a first-round bye
No. 17 Felton Grove at No. 16 South Johnston
No. 8 Middle Creek has a first-round bye
No. 24 Lee County at No. 9 Seventy First
No. 5 Union Pines has a first-round bye
No. 21 Terry Sanford at No. 12 Franklinton
No. 4 Scotland has a first-round bye
No. 20 White Oak at No. 13 Swansboro
No. 3 Northern Nash has a first-round bye
No. 19 West Johnston at No. 14 Westover
No. 6 Southern Alamance has a first-round bye
No. 22 Western Harnett at No. 11 Harnett Central
No. 7 Walter Williams has a first-round bye
No. 23 South View at No. 10 Triton
No. 18 Northern Durham at No. 15 Gray's Creek
No. 2 Jacksonville has a first-round bye
6A West
No. 1 Asheville has a first-round bye
No. 17 Statesville at No. 16 A.C. Reynolds
No. 8 James B. Dudley has a first-round bye
No. 24 St. Stephens at No. 9 Sun Valley
No. 5 Mount Tabor has a first-round bye
No. 21 Central Cabarrus at No. 12 Ashbrook
No. 4 Kings Mountain has a first-round bye
No. 20 Olympic at No. 13 Watauga
No. 3 Asheboro has a first-round bye
No. 19 Eastern Guilford at No. 14 Robert B. Glenn
No. 6 Alexander Central has a first-round bye
No. 22 South Caldwell at No. 11 Northern Guilford
No. 7 Freedom has a first-round bye
No. 23 Piedmont at No. 10 Charlotte Catholic
No. 18 Phillip O. Berry Academy of Tech at No. 15 Lucy Ragsdale
No. 2 T.C. Roberson has a first-round bye
7A East
No. 1 Cleveland has a first-round bye
No. 17 Topsail at No. 16 Fuquay-Varina
No. 8 Cape Fear has a first-round bye
No. 24 East Wake at No. 9 D.H. Conley
No. 5 New Bern has a first-round bye
No. 21 Pine Forest at No. 12 Eugene Ashley
No. 4 Southern School of Energy and Sustainability has a first-round bye
No. 20 Overhills at No. 13 Holly Springs
No. 3 Clayton has a first-round bye
No. 19 Sanderson at No. 14 South Central
No. 6 Wake Forest has a first-round bye
No. 22 South Garner at No. 11 Hillside
No. 7 Cardinal Gibbons has a first-round bye
No. 23 New Hanover at No. 10 Southeast Raleigh
No. 18 North Brunswick at No. 15 Heritage
No. 2 Garner Magnet has a first-round bye
7A West
No. 1 Weddington has a first-round bye
No. 17 Porter Ridge at No. 16 Hopewell
No. 8 East Forsyth has a first-round bye
No. 24 Chapel Hill at No. 9 Hickory Ridge
No. 5 A.L. Brown has a first-round bye
No. 21 Parkland at No. 12 West Cabarrus
No. 4 Ronald W. Reagan has a first-round bye
No. 20 Richard J. Reynolds at No. 13 Jack Britt
No. 3 Lake Norman has a first-round bye
No. 19 Ballantyne Ridge at No. 14 Richland Senior
No. 6 Marvin Ridge has a first-round bye
No. 22 South Iredell at No. 11 Mooresville
No. 7 Page has a first-round bye
No. 23 Lumberton at No. 10 Davie County
No. 18 Independence at No. 15 David W. Butler
No. 2 Grimsley has a first-round bye
8A East
No. 1 Millbrook has a first-round bye
No. 9 Emsley A. Laney at No. 8 Panther Creek
No. 4 Rolesville has a first-round bye
No. 12 Willow Spring at No. 5 Green Hope
No. 3 John T. Hoggard has a first-round bye
No. 11 Wakefield at No. 6 Charles E. Jordan
No. 2 Apex Friendship has a first-round bye
No. 10 Broughton at No. 7 Leesville Road
8A West
No. 1 William Amos Hough has a first-round bye
No. 9 Ardrey Kell at No. 8 Palisades
No. 4 West Forsyth has a first-round bye
No. 12 South Mecklenburg at No. 5 Myers Park
No. 3 Mallard Creek has a first-round bye
No. 11 Providence at No. 6 Pinecrest
No. 2 Julius Chambers has a first-round bye
No. 10 Hoke County at No. 7 West Charlotte
Zachary Huber is a high school sports reporter for the Hendersonville Times-News. Email him at [email protected] or follow him on X @zacharyahuber.
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This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: NCHSAA football playoff brackets, schedules for 2026. See first-round pairings
Our editors independently choose our recommendations. Some content is produced with paid support from a third party, however our editorial decisions remain independent. If you buy through our links, the USA TODAY Network may earn a commission. Prices and availability may change.