Kansas High School Football Playoff Brackets: 2026 KSHSAA First-Round Matchups and Schedule

The regular season is over, the brackets are set and the road to nine Kansas high school football state championships is about to begin.

The 2026 Kansas State High School Activities Association football playoffs kick off Thursday, Oct. 29, with first-round games across the state. The majority of the opening-round contests will be played Friday, Oct. 30.

The postseason features nine classifications, from Class 6A through six-player football, with teams competing in single-elimination tournaments.

Several undefeated teams enter the postseason with championship aspirations, including Derby and Mill Valley in Class 6A, Andover and Kapaun Mt. Carmel in Class 5A, Bishop Miege in Class 4A and perennial powerhouse Andale in Class 3A.

The opening round features plenty of intriguing matchups, with traditional powers, emerging contenders and underdogs all hoping to extend their seasons.

Here is a classification-by-classification look at the 2026 Kansas high school football playoff brackets, opening-round matchups and top championship contenders.

Class 6A Kansas High School Football Playoff Bracket

Two undefeated teams enter the Class 6A tournament atop opposite sides of the bracket.

Derby earned the No. 1 seed in the West after completing an 8-0 regular season, while Mill Valley claimed the top seed in the East with an identical record.

Derby opens against Wichita North, while Mill Valley begins its postseason against Shawnee Mission West.

Maize, Gardner-Edgerton, Manhattan and Olathe Northwest are among the other teams positioned to make deep postseason runs.

VIEW THE UPDATED CLASS 6A PLAYOFF BRACKET

Class 6A First-Round Matchups

West Bracket

No. 1 Derby vs. No. 16 Wichita North
No. 8 Lawrence Free State vs. No. 9 Dodge City
No. 4 Wichita Northwest vs. No. 13 Wichita South
No. 5 Wichita Southeast vs. No. 12 Wichita Heights
No. 2 Maize vs. No. 15 Haysville Campus
No. 7 Junction City vs. No. 10 Washburn Rural
No. 3 Manhattan vs. No. 14 Topeka
No. 6 Garden City vs. No. 11 Wichita East

East Bracket

No. 1 Mill Valley vs. No. 16 Shawnee Mission West
No. 8 Olathe South vs. No. 9 Shawnee Mission North
No. 4 Lawrence vs. No. 13 Shawnee Mission South
No. 5 Olathe North vs. No. 12 Kansas City Wyandotte
No. 2 Gardner-Edgerton vs. No. 15 Olathe East
No. 7 Shawnee Mission Northwest vs. No. 10 Blue Valley Northwest
No. 3 Olathe Northwest vs. No. 14 Blue Valley West
No. 6 Olathe West vs. No. 11 Shawnee Mission East

Class 5A Kansas High School Football Playoff Bracket

Class 5A features three undefeated teams with legitimate championship aspirations.

Andover earned the No. 1 seed in the West after an 8-0 regular season, while Kapaun Mt. Carmel also enters the postseason unbeaten.

In the East, De Soto claimed the top seed after completing its own perfect regular season.

Spring Hill, Bishop Carroll, Hays and Basehor-Linwood are among the teams hoping to challenge the favorites.

VIEW THE UPDATED CLASS 5A PLAYOFF BRACKET

Class 5A First-Round Matchups

West Bracket

No. 1 Andover vs. No. 16 Wichita West
No. 8 Emporia vs. No. 9 Hutchinson
No. 4 Bishop Carroll vs. No. 13 Liberal
No. 5 Salina South vs. No. 12 Maize South
No. 2 Kapaun Mt. Carmel vs. No. 15 Newton
No. 7 Salina Central vs. No. 10 Goddard
No. 3 Hays vs. No. 14 Valley Center
No. 6 Goddard-Eisenhower vs. No. 11 Andover Central

East Bracket

No. 1 De Soto vs. No. 16 Topeka West
No. 8 St. James Academy vs. No. 9 Kansas City Harmon
No. 4 Kansas City Washington vs. No. 13 Blue Valley Southwest
No. 5 Blue Valley vs. No. 12 Leavenworth
No. 2 Spring Hill vs. No. 15 Kansas City Turner
No. 7 Seaman vs. No. 10 Blue Valley North
No. 3 Basehor-Linwood vs. No. 14 Shawnee Heights
No. 6 Kansas City Piper vs. No. 11 Pittsburg

Class 4A Kansas High School Football Playoff Bracket

Bishop Miege enters the Class 4A playoffs as the top seed in the East after completing a perfect 8-0 regular season.

The Stags open against Coffeyville Field Kindley and will attempt to navigate a bracket that includes Louisburg, Fort Scott, Tonganoxie and several other capable challengers.

In the West, McPherson earned the No. 1 seed with a 7-1 record, followed by Wamego, Buhler and Wellington.

One of the more intriguing first-round matchups features Paola hosting St. Thomas Aquinas, with both teams entering at 5-3.

VIEW THE UPDATED CLASS 4A PLAYOFF BRACKET

Class 4A First-Round Matchups

West Bracket

No. 1 McPherson vs. No. 16 El Dorado
No. 8 Augusta vs. No. 9 Rose Hill
No. 4 Wellington vs. No. 13 Arkansas City
No. 5 Ulysses vs. No. 12 Winfield
No. 2 Wamego vs. No. 15 Abilene
No. 7 Rock Creek vs. No. 10 Highland Park
No. 3 Buhler vs. No. 14 Circle
No. 6 Great Bend vs. No. 11 Mulvane

East Bracket

No. 1 Bishop Miege vs. No. 16 Coffeyville Field Kindley
No. 8 Paola vs. No. 9 St. Thomas Aquinas
No. 4 Fort Scott vs. No. 13 Lansing
No. 5 Eudora vs. No. 12 Chanute
No. 2 Louisburg vs. No. 15 Bonner Springs
No. 7 Tonganoxie vs. No. 10 Labette County
No. 3 Kansas City Sumner Academy vs. No. 14 Kansas City Schlagle
No. 6 Independence vs. No. 11 Ottawa

Class 3A Kansas High School Football Playoff Bracket

Andale enters the Class 3A postseason as the top seed in the West following an undefeated 8-0 regular season.

The Indians open against Larned and are among the leading contenders to capture another state championship.

The East features two undefeated teams at the top of the bracket, with Frontenac earning the No. 1 seed and Wellsville claiming the second seed.

Holcomb, Hesston, Hoisington and Jefferson West are among the other teams positioned for potentially deep playoff runs.

VIEW THE UPDATED CLASS 3A PLAYOFF BRACKET

Class 3A First-Round Matchups

West Bracket

Larned at Andale
Cheney at Pratt
Clay Center at Hoisington
Concordia at Chapman
Wichita Trinity Academy at Holcomb
Goodland at Wichita Collegiate
Scott City at Hesston
Lyons at Hugoton

East Bracket

Osawatomie at Frontenac
Iola at Columbus
Girard at Hayden
Anderson County at Baldwin
Atchison at Wellsville
Perry-Lecompton at Nemaha Central
Santa Fe Trail at Jefferson West
Holton at Burlington

Class 2A Kansas High School Football Playoff Bracket

The Class 2A postseason features another competitive field, with teams from across the state battling for a trip to the championship game.

Silver Lake enters the tournament as the top seed in the East and opens against West Franklin.

Sabetha, Osage City, Baxter Springs and Riverside are among the other teams hoping to emerge from the eastern half of the bracket.

In the West, several traditional small-school powers will look to make their presence felt as the postseason progresses.

VIEW THE UPDATED CLASS 2A PLAYOFF BRACKET

Featured Class 2A First-Round Matchups

East Bracket

West Franklin at Silver Lake
Cherryvale at Sabetha
Oskaloosa at Riverside
Royal Valley at Baxter Springs
Riverton at Osage City

West Bracket

Council Grove at Norton
Halstead at Riley County
Southeast of Saline at Marysville

Class 1A Kansas High School Football Playoff Bracket

Sterling enters the Class 1A tournament as the top seed in the West following an undefeated 8-0 regular season.

Thomas More Prep-Marian also completed a perfect regular season and earned the No. 2 seed.

In the East, Jefferson County North claimed the top seed, followed by Rossville, Olpe and Centralia.

The opening round includes several intriguing matchups, with Jackson Heights visiting Centralia and Wabaunsee traveling to Valley Heights.

VIEW THE UPDATED CLASS 1A PLAYOFF BRACKET

Class 1A First-Round Matchups

West Bracket

Syracuse at Sterling
Belle Plaine at Moundridge
Remington at Conway Springs
Sedgwick at Smith Center
Bluestem at Thomas More Prep-Marian
Plainville at Medicine Lodge
Sacred Heart at Inman
Ellinwood at Hillsboro

East Bracket

Mission Valley at Jefferson County North
Onaga at St. Marys
Jackson Heights at Centralia
Uniontown at McLouth
Atchison County at Rossville
Maur Hill-Mount Academy at St. Mary's Colgan
Northeast at Olpe
Wabaunsee at Valley Heights

Class 8-Player Division I Kansas High School Football Playoff Bracket

The eight-player Division I tournament features several undefeated contenders hoping to make a championship run.

Lincoln enters as the top seed in the West with an 8-0 record, while Oswego leads the eastern half of the bracket with an identical mark.

Wichita County also completed an undefeated regular season and will open against Spearville.

South Central, Hoxie, Clifton-Clyde and Chase County are among the other programs looking to advance.

VIEW THE UPDATED 8-PLAYER DIVISION I PLAYOFF BRACKET

8-Player Division I First-Round Matchups

West Bracket

Rawlins County at Lincoln
Stanton County at Central Plains
Bennington at Hoxie
Elkhart at Kiowa County
South Gray at South Central
Trego at Hill City
Spearville at Wichita County
Decatur Community at Ell-Saline

East Bracket

Dexter at Oswego
Cair Paravel at Washington County
Southeast at Oxford
Canton-Galva at Lyndon
Solomon at Chase County
Erie at Caldwell
Pleasanton at Clifton-Clyde
Central at Yates Center

Class 8-Player Division II Kansas High School Football Playoff Bracket

The eight-player Division II tournament features a competitive field of small-school programs hoping to extend their seasons deep into November.

Among the intriguing opening-round contests, Hanover hosts Wakefield, Axtell welcomes Hartford and Lebo faces Linn.

The western side of the bracket includes matchups involving Hodgeman County, Wallace County, Thunder Ridge, Osborne and Quinter.

VIEW THE UPDATED 8-PLAYER DIVISION II PLAYOFF BRACKET

8-Player Division II First-Round Matchups

West Bracket

Ellis at Hodgeman County
St. John's/Tipton Catholic at Wallace County
Minneola at Sylvan-Lucas
Dighton at Thunder Ridge
Ness City at Osborne
Meade at Little River
Lakeside at Quinter
Victoria at Kinsley

East Bracket

Norwich at Marmaton Valley
Wakefield at Hanover
Sedan at Cunningham
Troy at Waverly
Linn at Lebo
Madison/Hamilton at Central Christian
Hartford at Axtell
Attica at Flinthills

Class 6-Player Kansas High School Football Playoff Bracket

Kansas' smallest football classification features a postseason field with several teams receiving first-round byes.

Ingalls, Weskan, Peabody-Burns and Tescott advance directly to the second round.

The remaining teams compete for an opportunity to join them in the next stage of the tournament.

One opening-round contest has already been decided, with South Barber advancing past Triplains/Brewster by forfeit.

VIEW THE UPDATED 6-PLAYER PLAYOFF BRACKET

6-Player First-Round Matchups

West Bracket

Golden Plains at Bucklin
Wheatland-Grinnell at Moscow
Ashland at Triplains
Satanta at Northern Valley
Cheylin at Deerfield

East Bracket

Palco at Elyria Christian
Otis-Bison at Altoona-Midway
Chase at Marais des Cygnes Valley
Chetopa at Pawnee Heights
Centre at Western Plains
Logan at Southern Coffey County

Already decided: South Barber advances by forfeit over Triplains/Brewster.

First-round byes: Ingalls, Weskan, Peabody-Burns and Tescott.

What's Next in the Kansas High School Football Playoffs?

The opening round of the 2026 Kansas high school football playoffs begins Thursday, Oct. 29, with games continuing Friday, Oct. 30.

The winners advance to the next stage of the postseason, with regional, sectional and substate rounds determining which teams reach the state championship games.

The nine KSHSAA state football championships are scheduled for Thanksgiving weekend, Nov. 27-28.

High School On SI will continue following the Kansas high school football playoffs with updated brackets, scores and championship matchups throughout the postseason.

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