The 2026 NCHSAA 4A football playoffs move into the second round Friday, Nov. 13, with 32 teams remaining, an unbeaten powerhouse leading the West and defending champion Reidsville preparing to begin its title defense.
Hibriten (10-0), the West’s No. 1 seed, is the only undefeated team remaining in the classification after outscoring regular-season opponents 458-76. East Duplin (9-1) holds the top seed in the East, while T.W. Andrews, Tuscola and West Iredell also enter the second round with 9-1 records.
Reidsville, the defending 4A champion and winner of 24 state titles, begins its postseason Friday against Randleman. The fifth-seeded Rams carry a deceptive 7-3 record after facing a challenging regular-season schedule.
The opening round produced five upsets by seeding, including four in the East, where No. 22 Central Davidson, No. 23 Lexington, No. 19 Southwest Onslow and No. 18 Anson all advanced. Follow the complete 4A playoff bracket, second-round matchups, schedules, scores and results below as teams battle toward December’s state championship game.
🔄 Last Updated: November 13, 2026 11:52 pm
🏈 Quick Links
This Friday’s Matchups | Jump to Full 4A Bracket | What to Know
🏈 Explore Other 2026 NCHSAA Brackets
1A | 2A | 3A | 4A | 5A | 6A | 7A | 8A
📅 Second-Round 4A Matchups | Friday, Nov. 13, 2026
4A East
Clinton 17, Southwest Onslow 16
East Duplin 41, Washington 20
Morehead 28, Lexington Senior 7
Reidsville 55, Randleman 30
SouthWest Edgecombe 40, Central Davidson 21
Southwestern Randolph 43, Fairmont 14
T.W. Andrews 46, Anson 20
West Craven 65, Ledford 21
4A West
Burns 49, Bunker Hill 14
Hibriten 38, East Burke 0
Lake Norman Charter 56, R-S Central 21
Stuart W. Cramer 52, Fred T. Foard 13
Tuscola 28, Maiden 27
West Iredell 51, West Stanly 0
West Stokes 37, South Rowan 16
Wilkes Central 31, Mount Pleasant 13
⏪ First-Round 4A Matchups | Thursday & Friday, Nov. 5-6, 2026
4A East
Anson 15, Bunn 9
Central Davidson 28, Nash Central 21 (Thursday)
Fairmont 58, Carver 6
Ledford 42, Jordan-Matthews 6
Lexington 28, Roanoke Rapids 7 (Thursday)
Randleman 48, Cummings 24
Southwest Onslow 48, North Pitt 8
Washington 34, Eastern Wayne 28 (Thursday)
Byes: (1) East Duplin, (2) T.W. Andrews, (3) Clinton, (4) West Craven, (5) Reidsville, (6) Southwest Edgecombe, (7) Morehead, (8) Southwestern Randolph
4A West
Bunker Hill 44, East Gaston 6
East Burke 36, North Surry 14
Fred T. Foard 38, Pisgah 24
Maiden 29, Newton-Conover 27
R-S Central 62, Lincoln Charter 28
South Rowan 42, Forbush 31
West Stanly 28, Salisbury 7
Wilkes Central 22, Bandys 3
Byes: (1) Hibriten, 2) Tuscola, (3) West Iredell, (4) Burns, (5) Mount Pleasant, (6) West Stokes, (7) Stuart Cramer, (8) Lake Norman Charter
Raise More for Your Football Program or Sports Team
Need to raise money for your team? Hour-A-Thon helps high school athletic programs raise funds through a simple, one-hour event built around players connecting with family, friends and supporters. No products to sell and no weeks-long fundraiser to manage. Learn how Hour-A-Thon can help your program raise more.
🏆 2026 NCHSAA 4A Football Playoff Bracket
Powered by MaxPreps
2026 NCHSAA Football 4A📄 Official NCHSAA Bracket (PDF)
Prefer the original printable bracket? VIEW OFFICIAL NCHSAA BRACKETS released in PDF form.
🔎 2026 NCHSAA 4A Playoff Bracket: What to Know
- Reidsville begins its title defense: The defending 4A champion Rams, seeded fifth in the East, open postseason play against Randleman. Reidsville (7-3) is pursuing its 25th state championship after defeating Brevard 50-20 in last year’s final. Its three regular-season losses came against 7A Reagan, unbeaten George Washington High of Virginia and 3A contender Walkertown.
- Hibriten stands alone: The West’s No. 1 seed (10-0) is the only unbeaten team remaining in the 4A bracket. The Panthers outscored opponents 458-76 during the regular season, allowing just 7.6 points per game. Hibriten opens postseason play against East Burke, which defeated North Surry 36-14 in the first round.
- Upsets shake up the East: Four lower-seeded teams advanced in the opening round. No. 19 Southwest Onslow routed No. 14 North Pitt 48-8, No. 22 Central Davidson defeated No. 11 Nash Central 28-21, No. 23 Lexington beat No. 10 Roanoke Rapids 28-7 and No. 18 Anson edged No. 15 Bunn 15-9.
- Foard delivers the West’s biggest surprise: No. 23 Fred T. Foard knocked off No. 10 Pisgah 38-24, becoming the only lower-seeded team to advance in the West. The Tigers now travel to No. 7 Stuart W. Cramer in the second round aiming to continue its Cinderella run.
- Four teams enter with 9-1 records: East Duplin, T.W. Andrews, Tuscola and West Iredell each lost just once during the regular season. East Duplin, the East’s top seed, begins its postseason against Washington, while Tuscola and West Iredell are among Hibriten’s potential challengers in the West.
- Last year’s semifinalists remain in contention: Reidsville and West Craven both reached the 2025 semifinals in the East, while Maiden advanced to the West regional final before falling to eventual runner-up Brevard. West Craven hosts Ledford in the second round, and No. 15 Maiden visits second-seeded Tuscola.
🥇 Defending 4A State Champion: Reidsville
Reidsville added another chapter to its storied football history in 2025, defeating Brevard 50-20 at Lenoir-Rhyne’s Moretz Stadium to capture its 24th state championship. The Rams (13-2) scored touchdowns on their first six possessions and built a commanding 43-7 halftime lead en route to their 11th NCHSAA title since 2000.
Championship game MVP Dionte Neal scored on two long touchdown receptions and a 56-yard run, finishing with 158 receiving yards, 65 rushing yards, an interception and a fumble recovery. Oregon signee Kendre Harrison added two touchdown catches and earned defensive player of the game honors.
Looking back: View the complete 2025 NCHSAA 4A 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
Explore Other 2026 NCHSAA Brackets
1A | 2A | 3A | 4A | 5A | 6A | 7A | 8A
