The high school football playoffs 2026 are well under way. Several states opened their brackets in mid-October, a large group started on Friday, November 6, and more begin this week. This guide lists the playoff start date for every state and Washington, D.C., so you can find your team’s first postseason game quickly.
Teams are chasing state titles, and the best of them are also chasing national recognition. The Super 15 regional teams in the West, East, Southeast, Southwest and Midwest compete for a place in the national Super 25 rankings, and a shot at the national championship crown.
High School Football Playoff 2026 Start Dates by State
Dates are for the first round of each state’s postseason. Where a state splits its start by class or division, each group is listed.
Which States Start Their High School Football Playoffs 2026 First?
The earliest postseason openers in 2026 are:
- Wisconsin (8-man): Thursday, October 15
- Minnesota: October 20
- South Dakota: October 22
- Arizona (8-man, Class 1A), Illinois, Indiana, Iowa (8-man, A, 1A, 2A), Vermont and Wisconsin (11-man): October 23
Alaska has already finished its season, so there is no playoff to wait for there.
High School Football Playoffs 2026 Starting October 29 to 31
A second wave opened at the end of October.
- Thursday, October 29: Kansas
- Friday, October 30: Idaho, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, Ohio, Utah and Wyoming, plus Arizona Class 2A, Iowa Classes 3A, 4A and 5A, New Jersey public schools, New Mexico 6-man and 8-man, and North Dakota Divisions AA and AAA
- Saturday, October 31: Colorado Class 2A
High School Football Playoffs 2026 That Started November 6
Friday, November 6 was the busiest opening night of the postseason. These states began on that date:
- Alabama
- California
- Kentucky
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- New Hampshire
- North Carolina
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Arizona Classes 3A, 4A and 5A
- Colorado 6-man, 8-man and Classes 1A, 3A, 4A and 5A
- Mississippi Classes 1A, 2A, 3A and 4A
- New Jersey non-public schools
- New Mexico Classes 2A through 6A
- New York Catholic Leagues
High School Football Playoffs 2026 Starting November 12 to 14
The next big block of openers is this week:
- Thursday, November 12: Texas
- Friday, November 13: Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Washington and West Virginia, plus Arizona Class 6A and the Open Division, Mississippi Classes 5A, 6A and 7A, and New York’s Long Island playoffs
- Saturday, November 14: Virginia and Washington, D.C.
Late Starters: 2026 High School Football Playoffs in Late November and December
Four states open later than the rest:
- Friday, November 20: Delaware and Pennsylvania
- Friday, November 27: New York public schools
- Tuesday, December 1: Connecticut
Playoff Start Dates in the Biggest Football States
Fans searching for the most popular football states will find these dates:
- Texas: Thursday, November 12
- Florida: Friday, November 13
- Georgia: Friday, November 13
- California: Friday, November 6
- Ohio: Friday, October 30
- Pennsylvania: Friday, November 20
What Are the Super 15 and Super 25 Rankings?
The Super 15 is made up of regional teams from five areas: West, East, Southeast, Southwest and Midwest. The best of those teams compete for a spot in the national Super 25 rankings, which sets the national picture and the path to the national championship crown. Because state playoffs shape these rankings, a deep run in your state bracket matters beyond the state title.
How to Watch High School Football Playoff 2026 Games
Streaming and broadcast options differ by state and by round. Many state associations and local stations carry playoff games, so check your state association’s website and your local station for the broadcast and streaming plan for your team’s game. Team and school pages usually post the final kickoff time and link.
High School Football Playoffs 2026: Frequently Asked Questions
When do high school football playoffs start in 2026?
The earliest playoffs began on Thursday, October 15 with Wisconsin’s 8-man teams. Most states start between October 23 and November 13. The latest start is Connecticut on Tuesday, December 1.
Which state’s high school football playoffs start first?
Wisconsin’s 8-man playoffs started first, on Thursday, October 15. Minnesota (October 20) and South Dakota (October 22) followed.
Which state’s high school football playoffs start last?
Connecticut starts last, on Tuesday, December 1. New York’s public school playoffs begin on Friday, November 27.
When do high school football playoffs start in Texas?
Texas playoffs start on Thursday, November 12.
When do high school football playoffs start in Florida and Georgia?
Both states start on Friday, November 13.
When do high school football playoffs start in California?
California’s playoffs started on Friday, November 6.
When do Arizona high school football playoffs start?
Arizona’s start depends on class. The 8-man, Class 1A playoffs began October 23, Class 2A on October 30, Classes 3A, 4A and 5A on November 6, and Class 6A and the Open Division begin November 13.
Which states have already started their high school football playoffs?
As of November 11, most states have started, including Alabama, California, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Tennessee, North Carolina and Kentucky. Texas begins November 12 and the November 13 group follows.
Is there a high school football playoff in Alaska?
Alaska’s season is already complete, so there is no playoff start date to watch for.
What are the Super 15 and Super 25 in high school football?
The Super 15 are regional teams in the West, East, Southeast, Southwest and Midwest. They compete for a place in the national Super 25 rankings and a chance at the national championship crown.
Do all classes in a state start their playoffs on the same day?
No. Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Mississippi, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York and North Dakota all stagger the start by class, division or school type.