The 2026 NCHSAA 3A football playoffs will feature some of North Carolina’s tradition-rich high school football programs competing for a state championship. The classification includes schools from football-loving communities across the state, including Shelby, Mount Airy, Lincolnton, Kinston, Whiteville and James Kenan.
NC Football News will track the 2026 NCHSAA 3A playoff bracket, including first-round matchups, schedules, scores and results throughout the postseason. The official bracket is scheduled to be released Oct. 31, with first-round games set for Friday, Nov. 6.
Check back for the official East and West brackets, top seeds and opening-round matchups once the playoff field is finalized.
🔄 Last Updated: October 26, 2026 1:13 am
🏈 Explore 2026 NCHSAA Brackets
1A | 2A | 3A | 4A | 5A | 6A | 7A | 8A
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🏆 2026 NCHSAA 3A Football Playoff Bracket
MaxPreps interactive bracket will appear here once the 2026 NCHSAA football brackets are finalized on Oct. 31, 2026.
🥇 Defending 3A State Champion: Shelby
Shelby capped a remarkable turnaround in 2025, defeating Kinston 84-41 in the highest-scoring championship game in North Carolina high school football history. The Lions claimed their 13th state football title at Durham County Memorial Stadium after overcoming an 0-2 start to the season and entering the playoffs as a No. 10 seed.
Championship game MVP Lan Farmer delivered a record-setting performance, completing 20 of 27 passes for 459 yards and eight touchdowns while rushing for two more scores. Kinston receiver Tyreek Copper also made history, finishing with 229 receiving yards and three touchdowns while setting state single-season records for receiving yards and touchdown catches.
Looking back: View the complete 2025 NCHSAA 3A playoff bracket, scores and results.
📅 2026 NCHSAA Football Playoff Schedule
- Oct. 30 – Final Friday night of the regular season around the state
- Oct. 31 – NCHSAA playoff brackets finalized and released
- Nov. 6 – First round (higher seeds host)
- Nov. 13 – Second round (higher seeds host)
- Nov. 20 – Third round (higher seeds host)
- Nov. 27 – Fourth round (higher seeds host)
- Dec. 4 – Regional finals (higher seeds host)
- Dec. 10-12 – State championships (neutral sites, TBA)
🏈 Related High School Football Playoff Coverage
NCHSAA Playoff Brackets Center | North Carolina High School Scoreboard | NCISAA Playoffs
