The race for high school football glory is here.
The North Carolina High School Athletic Association finalized its football playoff brackets over the weekend as the first round will begin Friday. For the first time since the 2020-21 season, there will be eight state champions crowned from Dec. 11-13.
NCHSAA football state championship games will be held at three locations. Kenan Stadium will host four games while first-time hosts Durham County Memorial Stadium and Helen and Leonard Moretz Stadium on the campus of Lenoir-Rhyne University will host two games each.
At the same time, the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association will begin the first round of its playoffs Friday as two champions will be crowned across two divisions. Championship games will be held at the home of the higher seed on Nov. 21.
Ahead of what’s shaping up to be an exciting month of prep football across the state of North Carolina, here’s a preview of every bracket across the two associations.
NCHSAA 8A (24 teams)
Top seeds: Hoggard (East, 10-0, 6-0 in Carolina Coast 6A/7A/8A conference); Hough (West, 10-0, 5-0 in Greater Charlotte 7A/8A conference)
Players to watch: The 8A playoffs are loaded with defensive talent. Myers Park edge Rodney Dunham, a Notre Dame commit, will be one of the top defenders to keep an eye on in as he’s notched eight sacks and 13 tackles for loss in his senior season. His teammate Camdin Portis (Miami commit), a cornerback and son of former NFL pro bowler Clinton Portis, has snagged three interceptions this year. Other key defenders include Jordan defensive lineman Noah Clark, a South Carolina commit, Hough cornerback Samari Matthews, a Texas commit, West Forsyth defensive lineman and Georgia commit Pierre Dean and Millbrook edge Rashad Streets.
Deep run watch: East: No.1 Hoggard, No.2 Millbrook, No.3 Jordan, No. 5 Rolesville; West: No.1 Hough, No.2 West Charlotte, No.3 Myers Park, No. 4Mallard Creek
NCHSAA 7A (48 teams)
Top seeds: Cardinal Gibbons (East, 9-1, 4-0 in Triangle Six 6A/7A conference); Grimsley (West, 10-0, 6-0 in Metro 6A/7A conference, defending 4A champions)
Players to watch: All eyes will be on Grimsley quarterback Faizon Brandon, 247’s No.1 player in the 2026 class and a Tennessee commit, as he tries to lead his team to back-to-back state titles. Weddington’s Aiden and Andrew Harris, twin defensive standouts and South Carolina commits, and Thomas Davis Jr., the future Notre Dame linebacker, will look to lift their team to its third state title in the past 10 years. South Garner offensive lineman Ekene Ogboko, a Georgia commit, will also be a top recruit to watch in 7A.
Deep run watch: East: No.1 Cardinal Gibbons, No. 2 Cleveland, No. 3 Clayton, No. 5 Cape Fear; West: No.1 Grimsley, No. 2 Weddington, No.3 Independence, No. 4Mooresville, No. 6 Richmond
NCHSAA 6A (48 teams)
Top seeds: Jacksonville (East, 9-0, 5-0 in Big Carolina 6A/7A conference); Watauga (West, 10-0, 5-0 in Northwestern 6A/7A conference)
Players to watch: Kings Mountain tight end William Vaughn, a Boston College commit, will be a top recruit to follow. Jacksonville running back Amari Pearson will look to light up opposing defenses after rushing for over 1,400 yards and 24 touchdowns during the regular season. J.H. Rose’s Jaleek Parson and Watauga’s Evan Burroughs are two of the top receivers entering the 6A playoffs.
Deep run watch: East: No.1 Jacksonville, No. 3 Middle Creek, No.4 Union Pines, No.7 Seventy-First; West: No.1 Watauga, No.2 Northern Guilford, No. 3 Ashbrook, No. 5 Sun Valley
NCHSAA 5A (48 teams)
Top seeds: Hunt (East, 8-2, 5-1 in Big East 5A/6A conference); South Point (West, 8-2, 4-2 in Big South 5A/6A conference)
Players to watch: East Lincoln tight end Jaxon Dollar will be a top recruit to watch during the 5A playoffs. Dollar’s quarterback Grant Lawless, a Wake Forest commit, and West Carteret quarterback Tanner Payne, an Elon commit, will be the top field generals to follow with both throwing for at least 2,500 yards each in the regular season. Havelock’s Christopher Bispham, a James Madison commit, and St. Pauls’ De’Zhian Roberts will be key defensive players as they’ve recorded over 13 sacks each this fall.
Deep run watch: East: No.1 Hunt, No.2 Northeast Guilford, No.3 Northside-Jacksonville, No. 4 Croatan, No. 12 Havelock; West: No.1 South Point, No. 2 Jay M. Robinson, No. 4 Crest, No. 5 East Lincoln
NCHSAA 4A (48 teams)
Top seeds: Reidsville (East, 8-2, 6-0 in Mid-State 3A/4A/5A conference); Brevard (West, 10-0, 7-0 in Mountain Eight 4A/5A conference)
Players to watch: Reidsville tight end Kendre Harrison, an Oregon commit, headlines the 4A playoffs. Bandys quarterback Brady Swett has thrown for over 2,400 yards and 25 touchdowns entering the postseason. Bandys receiver Ryder McClure and Brevard receiver Tristan Thompsson-Wynn have been two of the most productive pass catchers in 4A.
Deep run watch: East: No.1 Reidsville, No.2 West Craven, No. 3 East Duplin, No. 4 Central Davidson; West: No. 1 Brevard, No.2 Hibriten, No. 6 Maiden, No. 10 Bandys
NCHSAA 3A (48 teams)
Top seeds: James Kenan (East, 9-1, 6-0 in Swine Valley 2A/3A conference); Mountain Heritage (West, 9-1, 6-0 in Western Highlands 2A/3A conference)
Players to watch: Kinston’s Tyler Jones and Shelby’s Lan Farmer enter the postseason as the top two quarterbacks in 3A with both throwing for over 2,400 yards and over 30 touchdowns. Jones’ top target Tyreek Copper, an NC State commit will look to continue his explosive 21-touchdown season. Wallace-Rose Hill’s Jamarae Lamb, Princeton’s Teo McPhatter and James Kenan’s Jeremiah Hall, who averages 13 yards per carry, are three of the most dangerous running backs in the class.
Deep run watch: East: No. 1 James Kenan, No. 2 Pender, No. 3 Midway, No. 5 Martin County; West: No. 1 Mountain Heritage, No. 2 Mount Airy, No. 3 Eastern Randolph, No. 4 North Stanly
NCHSAA 2A (42 teams)
Top seeds: Tarboro (East, 10-0, 5-0 in Eastern Plains 2A/3A conference, defending 1A champions, eight straight state title appearances); Murphy (West, 8-2, 6-0 in Smoky Mountain 1A/2A conference)
Players to watch: North Duplin’s Trashawn Ruffin, a future UNC defensive lineman, and running back Carell Phillips highlight are included in 2A’s biggest postseason names. Tarboro running back Kamerin McDowell-Moore, an Elon commit, has rushed for 20 touchdowns while averaging 11.1 yards per carry.
Deep run watch: East: No. 1 Tarboro, No. 2 Warren County, No. 3. North Duplin, No. 4 East Bladen; West: No. 1 Murphy, No. 2 Starmount, No. 3 Alleghany, No. 4 East Wilkes
NCHSAA 1A (22 teams)
Top seeds: KIPP Pride (East, 10-0, 5-0 in Roanoke River 1A/2A conference); Robbinsville (West, 7-3, 5-1 in Smoky Mountain 1A/2A conference)
Players to watch: Wilson Prep’s Zalik Cannady enters the postseason as 1A’s most disruptive defensive ends after recording 11 sacks in the regular season. His teammate Travon Usher will look to continue his outstanding season of over 1,250 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns.
Deep run watch: East: No. 1 KIPP Pride, No. 2 Northside Pinetown, No. 3 Bear Grass Charter, No. 4 Wilson Prep; West: No. 1 Robbinsville, No. 2. South Davidson, No. 3 Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy
NCISAA Division I (Eight teams)
Top seeds: 1. Providence Day School (10-0); 2. Rabun Gap School (6-4, defending Division I champions)
Players to watch: Providence Day has numerous big-time athletes including offensive lineman Leo Delaney (Clemson commit), receiver Gordon Sellars (Clemson commit) and quarterback Zaid Lott (Syracuse commit). Cannon quarterback Lucas Lopez has been the classification’s most productive passer with over 2,000 passing yards and 27 touchdowns.
Deep run watch: No. 1 Providence Day, No. 2 Rabun Gap School, No. 3. Charlotte Christian
NCISAA Division II (Seven teams)
Top seeds: 1. High Point Christian (10-0); 2. Asheville School (5-2-1, defending Division II champions)
Players to watch: High Point Christian running back Jaylen Moore, a Cornell commit, rushed for over 1,850 yards and 30 touchdowns in the regular season. Harrells Christian running back Jeremiah Davis averaged 12 yards per carry with 971 yards and 12 touchdowns before the postseason. High Point Christian linebacker Micah Russell recorded 16 sacks during the regular season.
Deep run watch: No. 1 High Point Christian, No. 2 Asheville School, No. 3 Trinity Christian School
