The 2026 NCHSAA 8A football playoffs move into the second round Friday, Nov. 13, with 16 teams remaining in the chase for North Carolina’s largest-school state championship.
Defending champion Hough, the No. 1 seed in the West, and 2025 runner-up Millbrook, the East’s top seed, begin their postseason runs this week after receiving first-round byes. Both remain on a potential collision course for another championship showdown.
The opening round saw Green Hope, Jordan, Laney and Leesville Road advance in the East, while Myers Park, Palisades, Pinecrest and West Charlotte earned victories in the West. They’ll now join the eight teams that received opening-round byes.
The road to the 8A championship also features contenders such as Chambers, Mallard Creek, West Forsyth, Hoggard and Rolesville, all looking to make their own postseason runs.
🔄 Last Updated: November 13, 2026 11:29 pm
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📅 Second-Round 8A Matchups | Friday, Nov. 13, 2026
8A East
Rolesville 55, Green Hope 6
Hoggard 40, Jordan 14
Millbrook 42, Laney 6
Apex Friendship 28, Leesville Road 10
8A West
West Forsyth 49, Myers Park 22
Hough 50, Palisades 14
Mallard Creek 37, Pinecrest 0
Chambers 25, West Charlotte 20
⏪ 8A First-Round Results | Nov. 5-6
8A East
Green Hope 49, Willow Spring 17
Jordan 62, Wakefield 21
Laney 47, Panther Creek 27
Leesville Road 37, Broughton 0 (Thursday)
8A West
Myers Park 55, South Meck 22
Palisades 55, Ardrey Kell 17
Pinecrest 49, Providence 29
West Charlotte 20, Hoke County 7
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🏆 2026 NCHSAA 8A Football Playoff Bracket
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2026 NCHSAA Football 8A📄 Official NCHSAA Bracket (PDF)
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🔎 2026 NCHSAA 8A Playoff Bracket: What to Know
- Championship defense begins: Defending 8A champion Hough (No. 1 West) opens its postseason Friday against No. 8 Palisades. The Huskies received a first-round bye after an undefeated regular season.
- A Charlotte rematch: No. 2 Chambers hosts No. 7 West Charlotte in a rematch of an Oct. 23 conference game won by the Cougars, 35-7. West Charlotte advanced with a 20-7 victory over Hoke County, while Chambers had a first-round bye. Chambers’ only loss this season came on the final week of the regular season against Mallard Creek.
- West’s biggest showdown: No. 5 Myers Park visits No. 4 West Forsyth in a matchup between two of the region’s top five seeds. Myers Park rolled past South Mecklenburg 55-22 in the opening round.
- Millbrook begins its run: The East’s top seed and defending state runner-up welcomes No. 9 Laney, which defeated Panther Creek 47-27 in the first round.
- All eight top seeds remain: The four highest-seeded teams in each region received first-round byes. All eight make their postseason debuts Friday as the 8A field narrows from 16 teams to eight.
🥇 Defending 8A State Champion: Hough
Hough completed a perfect 14-0 season in 2025, defeating Millbrook 21-0 at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill to capture the inaugural NCHSAA 8A football championship and the first state title in school history. The Huskies’ dominant defense recorded its sixth shutout of the season, holding Millbrook to just 24 rushing yards.
Championship game MVP Ethan Royal threw for 141 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 85 yards and two more scores, including a 74-yard touchdown run. Hough led just 7-0 entering the fourth quarter before pulling away to complete its historic season.
Looking back: View the complete 2025 NCHSAA 8A 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
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