Florida high school football enters a transformative postseason era as the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) officially released the 2026 state tournament brackets. The most significant shift in this year’s landscape is the introduction of a completely new Open Division, a move that fundamentally alters how the state’s most elite programs compete for a championship.
While the traditional six classifications—running from Class 1A through Class 6A—remain the backbone of the postseason, the Open Division creates a concentrated “super-tournament” for the state’s top-tier programs.
The Open Division pool play format shifts the postseason stakes
Unlike the single-elimination structure that defines the rest of the Florida playoffs, the Open Division will utilize a pool-play format to filter its eight qualifiers. The teams are divided into two groups based on postseason seeds: Pool A contains seeds No. 1, 4, 5, and 8, while Pool B consists of seeds No. 2, 3, 6, and 7. Each program must navigate three pool games before the top two finishers from each group advance to the state semifinals.
The Open Division schedule is set to begin on November 13, with subsequent pool play rounds following on November 20 and November 27. The semifinals for this division will be held between December 3 and December 5 at The Range at H.G. Morse Stadium in Sumterville, before the championship game takes place in Miami on December 12.
Traditional classifications and the road to Miami
While the Open Division captures much of the conversation, the traditional playoff structure remains a massive undertaking for the hundreds of schools across the state. The regional quarterfinals for Classes 1A through 6A are scheduled to kick off on Friday, November 13. Each of these six classifications features a 32-team tournament, organized into four distinct regions. For the largest schools in Class 6A, the postseason includes prominent programs such as Venice, Lake Mary, Seminole, Vero Beach, Edgewater, and Miami Palmetto, though some of the highest-rated teams in this group may find themselves redirected into the new Open Division race.
The timeline for these traditional brackets follows a rigorous progression of regional semifinals on November 20, regional finals on November 27, and state semifinals on December 4. The journey culminates in a high-profile championship week at South Dade Kia Field at Pitbull Stadium on the campus of Florida International University in Miami. From December 9 through December 12, the winners of the six traditional classifications and the inaugural Open Division champion will be crowned on the same stage.
Additional championship opportunities through FIT and Independent Leagues
Beyond the primary classifications and the Open Division, the 2026 postseason provides pathways for other programs through the Florida Invitational Tournament (FIT) and the Independent League. These brackets offer additional championship opportunities for programs that fall outside the standard six-class structure.
The scheduling for these secondary tournaments runs parallel to the main playoffs. The Independent League and FIT opening rounds are set for Thursday, November 12, followed by second-round matchups on November 19. The third round of competition will take place on November 27. The postseason for these specific leagues will conclude with championship games held between December 3 and December 5 at The Villages Charter School and The Range at H.G. Morse Stadium.
| Tournament Type | Key Opening Date | Championship Location | Championship Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open Division | Nov. 13 | Pitbull Stadium, Miami | Dec. 12 |
| Classes 1A–6A | Nov. 13 | Pitbull Stadium, Miami | Dec. 9–12 |
| Independent League | Nov. 12 | The Range at H.G. Morse | Dec. 3–4 |
| Florida Invitational (FIT) | Nov. 12 | The Range at H.G. Morse | Dec. 3–4 |
For fans and families, the FHSAA has confirmed that digital tickets for all playoff games will be accessible via GoFan, and most matchups will be available for streaming through the NFHS Network. Because tournament dates and locations are subject to change, the FHSAA advises stakeholders to contact host schools directly to confirm specific game times.
The first major movement on the calendar arrives next week, as the regional quarterfinals and the first round of Open Division pool play begin on Friday, November 13.
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