The road to a state championship is almost here for Florida high school football teams.
The Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) is set to release its 2026 football playoff brackets this week, giving teams across the state their postseason matchups and a clearer picture of what it will take to reach a state championship.
The postseason officially begins later this month, with regional quarterfinals in the traditional state championship series. The newly introduced eight-team Open Division also begins pool play that weekend.
Here's everything to know about the 2026 Florida high school football playoffs, including when brackets are released, the postseason schedule and where the state championships will be played.
Watch Florida high school
football playoffs live on NFHS Network
When are brackets for the Florida high school football playoffs released?
The FHSAA will release its 2026 high school football playoff brackets Friday, Nov. 6, at 5 p.m. ET.
The announcement will reveal the playoff qualifiers, seeds and first-round matchups for the upcoming postseason. Teams will learn their paths toward a state championship as the brackets are unveiled.
When do high school football playoffs start in Florida?
The 2026 FHSAA high school football playoffs begin Friday, Nov. 13, with some games likely set to begin on Thursday, Nov. 12.
The traditional state championship series will follow this schedule:
- Nov. 13: Regional quarterfinals
- Nov. 20: Regional semifinals
- Nov. 27: Regional finals
- Dec. 4: State semifinals
- Dec. 9-12: State championship games
The eight-team Open Division will begin pool play Friday, Nov. 13, with additional games scheduled for Friday, Nov. 20 and Friday, Nov. 27. The Open Division semifinals are scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 5.
How to watch the Florida high school football playoffs
Fans can stream the Florida high school football postseason on the NFHS Network.
Where are the state championships located?
The 2026 FHSAA state championship games will be played at South Dade Kia Field at Pitbull Stadium on the campus of Florida International University in Miami.
The venue will host the championship games for Classes 1A-6A and the Open Division during championship week, Dec. 9-12.
The Range at H.G. Morse Stadium in Sumterville will host the Open Division semifinals, along with the Independent League and Florida Invitational Tournament championships.
Watch Florida high school football playoffs live on NFHS Network
Follow Sports Reporter Alex Martin on X at @AlexMartinUSAT or via email: amartin@usatodayco.com. For additional high school sports coverage, be sure to follow USA TODAY High School Sports on Instagram and X.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Florida high school football playoffs: Dates, brackets, schedule
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