The high school football playoffs will look a lot different across North Carolina this coming season.
The North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) gave final approval on Monday of a plan to revamp how it divides its more than 440 member schools into classifications and conferences.
The result will shift the state from four overall classifications to eight for the 2025-29 cycle.
The NCHSAA has never had more than a 1A-4A divisional alignment until now. This fall, football state champions will be crowned from 1A to 8A.
The state high school sports governing body voted 16-1 to approve the realignment plan, which largely followed the third draft of conferences and classifications released in mid-February.
The most monumental change this week involved schools from Surry, Yadkin, Wilkes, Stokes, Alleghany and Ashe counties in the northwestern part of the state. The change from the third draft shifts all of the Wilkes schools into the same conference, and all of the Surry schools except for Elkin (located on the Surry-Wilkes border) into a separate league.
Elkin, East Wilkes, Starmount, North Wilkes, Alleghany, Ashe County, West Wilkes and Wilkes Central have now been placed in a split 2A/3A/4A league, which resembles past conference alignments in the region.
Meanwhile, Mount Airy (the 2023 state football champions in the old 1A classification), East Surry, North Surry, Surry Central, West Stokes and Forbush were placed into a 3A/4A conference.
Another change moves Cardinal Gibbons from the 6A classification into 7A. The Catholic parochial school, which is one of the larger 6A schools based on enrollment, will stay in a split 6A/7A conference with Felton Grove, Middle Creek, Cary, Holly Springs and Sanderson.
Also approved was a request by Swansboro to shift into a split 5A/6A conference (where it is the only 6A school) from a proposed 6A/7A league to save significantly on travel.
The board met for most of the day on Monday, denying most of the nearly 30 appeals made from around the state. Still to come is how the postseason will be organized starting in 2025-26.
Tarboro (1A), Monroe (2A), West Charlotte (3A) and Grimsley (4A) are the reigning state champions in football.
The NCHSAA has been using the four-classification system since 1972. From 2002-2020, each classification was subdivided into two separate playoff brackets for football only, which resulted in eight state champions (1A, 1AA, 2A, 2AA, 3A, 3AA, 4A, 4AA).
This new plan actually creates eight separate classifications, which will be used for all sports, not just football.
NCHSAA Realignment | Finalized Conferences 2025-29
1A Conference 1
- Bear Grass Charter (1A)
- Cape Hatteras (1A)
- Columbia (1A)
- Hobgood Charter (1A)
- Mattamuskeet (1A)
- Ocracoke (1A)
1A Conference 2
- North East Carolina Prep (1A)
- North Edgecombe (1A)
- Rocky Mount Prep (1A)
- Sallie B. Howard (1A)
- Washington County (1A)
- Wilson Prep (1A)
1A Conference 3
- Ascend Leadership (1A)
- Central Carolina Academy (1A)
- Chatham Charter (1A)
- Clover Garden (1A)
- River Mill Academy (1A)
- Southern Wake Academy (1A)
- Woods Charter (1A)
1A/2A Conference A
- Jones (1A)
- Northside (Pinetown) (1A)
- East Carteret (2A)
- Lejeune (2A)
- Pamlico County (2A)
- Southside (2A)
1A/2A Conference B
- East Columbus (1A)
- East Bladen (2A)
- Hobbton (2A)
- Lakewood (2A)
- North Duplin (2A)
- Union (2A)
- West Columbus (2A)
1A/2A Conference C
- KIPP Pride (1A)
- Southeast Halifax (1A)
- Weldon (1A)
- Northampton County (2A)
- Northwest Halifax (2A)
- Warren County (2A)
1A/2A Conference D
- Neuse Charter (1A)
- East Wake Academy (2A)
- Franklin Academy (2A)
- Raleigh Charter (2A)
- Research Triangle (2A)
- Roxboro Community (2A)
- Triangle Math and Science (2A)
- Voyager Academy (2A)
1A/2A Conference E
- Discovery Charter (1A)
- Excelsior Classical (1A)
- Falls Lake Academy (1A)
- Oxford Prep (1A)
- Vance Charter (1A)
- Eno River Academy (2A)
- Henderson Collegiate (2A)
1A/2A Conference F
- Chatham Central (1A)
- College Prep & Leadership (1A)
- North Stokes (1A)
- South Davidson (1A)
- Winston-Salem Prep (1A)
- Bishop McGuinness (2A)
- South Stokes (2A)
1A/2A Conference G
- Bethany Community (1A)
- Millenium Charter (1A)
- NC Leadership Academy (1A)
- Phoenix Academy (1A)
- Triad Math and Science (1A)
- Cornerstone Charter (2A)
- Piedmont Classical (2A)
1A/2A Conference H
- Andrews (1A)
- Blue Ridge Early College (1A)
- Highlands (1A)
- Hiwassee Dam (1A)
- Nantahala (1A)
- Robbinsville (1A)
- Rosman (1A)
- Summit Charter (1A)
- Tri-County Early College (1A)
- Cherokee (2A)
- Hayesville (2A)
- Murphy (2A)
- Swain County (2A)
1A/2A/3A Conference A
- Bonnie Cone (1A) – Football only
- Thomas Jefferson (1A) – Football only
- Albemarle (2A)
- Gray Stone Day (2A)
- Mountain Island Charter (2A) – Football only
- North Rowan (2A)
- South Stanly (2A)
- North Stanly (3A)
- Union Academy (3A)
1A/2A/3A Conference B
- Bonnie Cone (1A)
- Carolina International (1A)
- Jackson Day (1A)
- NCSSM (Morganton) (1A)
- Thomas Jefferson (1A)
- Mountain Island Charter (2A)
- Queens Grant (2A)
- Sugar Creek (2A)
- Piedmont Community (3A)
1A Independent
- Eastern NC School for the Deaf
- North Carolina School for the Deaf
2A Conference 1
- Bertie (2A)
- Camden County (2A)
- Gates County (2A)
- John A. Holmes (2A)
- Manteo (2A)
- Perquimans County (2A)
2A/3A Conference A
- Tarboro (2A)
- Ayden-Grifton (3A)
- Beddingfield (3A)
- Farmville Central (3A)
- Greene Central (3A)
- Kinston (3A)
2A/3A Conference B
- Rosewood (2A)
- Goldsboro (3A)
- James Kenan (3A)
- Midway (3A)
- Princeton (3A)
- Spring Creek (3A)
- Wallace-Rose Hill (3A)
2A/3A Conference D
- Avery (2A)
- Mitchell (2A)
- Hendersonville (3A)
- Madison (3A)
- Mountain Heritage (3A)
- Owen (3A)
- Polk County (3A)
2A/3A/4A Conference – **NEW**
- Alleghany (2A)
- East Wilkes (2A)
- Elkin (2A)
- Starmount (2A)
- North Wilkes (3A)
- West Wilkes (3A)
- Ashe County (4A)
- Wilkes Central (4A)
2A/3A/4A Conference A
- American Leadership – Johnston (2A)
- Louisburg (3A)
- NCSSM Durham (3A)
- Wake Prep (3A)
- Bunn (4A)
- Nash Central (4A)
- Roanoke Rapids (4A)
2A/3A/4A Conference B
- Bradford Prep (2A)
- Christ The King (2A)
- Community School of Davidson (2A)
- Corvian Community (2A)
- Langtree Charter (2A)
- Pine Lake Prep (3A)
- Lake Norman Charter (4A)
- Lincoln Charter (4A)
2A/3A/4A Conference C
- Cherryville (2A)
- Highland Tech (2A)
- Bessemer City (3A)
- Lincolnton (3A)
- Shelby (3A)
- West Lincoln (3A)
- Burns (4A)
- East Gaston (4A)
- Stuart Cramer (4A)
3A Conference 1
- East Davidson (3A)
- Providence Grove (3A)
- Thomasville (3A)
- Trinity (3A)
- West Davidson (3A)
- Wheatmore (3A)
3A/4A Conference A
- Heide Trask (3A)
- Pender (3A)
- South Lenoir (3A)
- Clinton (4A)
- East Duplin (4A)
- Southwest Onslow (4A)
3A/4A Conference B
- Eastern Randolph (3A)
- North Moore (3A)
- Northwood (3A)
- Jordan-Matthews (4A)
- Southwestern Randolph (4A)
- Uwharrie Charter (4A)
3A/4A Conference – **NEW**
- East Surry (3A)
- Mount Airy (3A)
- Surry Central (3A)
- Forbush (4A)
- North Surry (4A)
- West Stokes (4A)
3A/4A Conference D
- CHASE (3A)
- Draughn (3A)
- East Rutherford (3A)
- Patton (3A)
- West Caldwell (3A)
- East Burke (4A)
- Hibriten (4A)
- R-S Central (4A)
3A/4A/5A Conference A
- Hertford County (3A)
- Martin County (3A)
- Northeastern (3A)
- Pasquotank County (3A)
- First Flight (4A)
- Currituck County (5A)
3A/4A/5A Conference B
- South Columbus (3A)
- West Bladen (3A)
- Whiteville (3A)
- Fairmont (4A)
- Red Springs (4A)
- South Brunswick (5A)
3A/4A/5A Conference C
- Bartlett Yancey (3A)
- McMichael (3A)
- Walkertown (3A)
- Carver (4A)
- Morehead (4A)
- Reidsville (4A)
- Rockingham County (5A)
4A Conference 1
- Eastern Wayne (4A)
- North Johnston (4A)
- North Lenoir (4A)
- North Pitt (4A)
- SouthWest Edgecombe (4A)
- Washington (4A)
- West Craven (4A)
4A/5A Conference A
- Carrboro (4A)
- Cedar Ridge (5A)
- Durham School of the Arts (5A)
- Orange (5A)
- Seaforth (5A)
- South Granville (5A)
- Webb (5A)
4A/5A Conference B
- Central Davidson (4A)
- Ledford (4A)
- Lexington (4A)
- Randleman (4A)
- T.W. Andrews (4A)
- High Point Central (5A)
- Montgomery Central (5A)
4A/5A Conference C
- Anson (4A)
- Central Academy (4A)
- Mount Pleasant (4A)
- West Stanly (4A)
- Forest Hills (5A)
- Monroe (5A)
- Parkwood (5A)
4A/5A Conference D
- Salisbury (4A)
- South Rowan (4A)
- Concord (5A)
- East Rowan (5A)
- Jay M. Robinson (5A)
- Jesse Carson (5A)
- Northwest Cabarrus (5A)
- West Rowan (5A)
4A/5A Conference E
- Bandys (4A)
- Bunker Hill (4A)
- Fred T. Foard (4A)
- Maiden (4A)
- Newton-Conover (4A)
- West Iredell (4A)
- East Lincoln (5A)
- Hickory (5A)
- North Lincoln (5A)
4A/5A Conference F
- Brevard (4A)
- East Henderson (4A)
- Pisgah (4A)
- Tuscola (4A)
- Franklin (5A)
- North Henderson (5A)
- Smoky Mountain (5A)
West Henderson (5A)
4A/5A/6A Conference A
- Cummings (4A)
- Graham (4A)
- Eastern Alamance (5A)
- Person (5A)
- Southeast Alamance (5A)
- Western Alamance (5A)
- Southern Alamance (6A)
- Williams (6A)
5A/6A Conference – **NEW**
- Croatan (5A)
- Dixon (5A)
- Havelock (5A)
- Northside (Jacksonville) (5A)
- Richlands (5A)
- West Carteret (5A)
- Swansboro (6A)
5A/6A Conference A
- C.B. Aycock (5A)
- Fike (5A)
- Hunt (5A)
- Rocky Mount (5A)
- Southern Nash (5A)
- Southern Wayne (5A)
- Northern Nash (6A)
5A/6A Conference B
- Douglas Byrd (5A)
- St. Pauls (5A)
- E.E. Smith (6A)
- Seventy-First (6A)
- South View (6A)
- Westover (6A)
5A/6A Conference C
- Northeast Guilford (5A)
- Southern Guilford (5A)
- Asheboro (6A)
- Eastern Guilford (6A)
- Northern Guilford (6A)
- Southeast Guilford (6A)
5A/6A Conference D
- Atkins (5A)
- North Davidson (5A)
- North Forsyth (5A)
- Oak Grove (5A)
- Glenn (6A)
- Mount Tabor (6A)
5A/6A Conference E
- Crest (5A)
- Forestview (5A)
- Hunter Huss (5A)
- North Gaston (5A)
- South Point (5A)
- Ashbrook (6A)
- Kings Mountain (6A)
5A/6A Conference F
- Enka (5A)
- Erwin (5A)
- North Buncombe (5A)
- A.C. Reynolds (6A)
- Asheville (6A)
- T.C. Roberson (6A)
6A Conference 1
- Harnett Central (6A)
- Lee County (6A)
- South Johnston (6A)
- Southern Lee (6A)
- Triton (6A)
- Union Pines (6A)
- West Johnston (6A)
- Western Harnett (6A)
6A/7A Conference A
- J.H. Rose (6A)
- Jacksonville (6A)
- White Oak (6A)
- D.H. Conley (7A)
- New Bern (7A)
- South Central (7A)
6A/7A Conference B
- Gray’s Creek (6A)
- Scotland County (6A)
- Terry Sanford (6A)
- Cape Fear (7A)
- Lumberton (7A)
- Purnell Swett (7A)
6A/7A Conference C
- Franklinton (6A)
- Vance County (6A)
- East Wake (7A)
- Heritage (7A)
- Knightdale (7A)
- Wake Forest (7A)
6A/7A Conference D
- Felton Grove (6A)
- Middle Creek (6A)
- Cardinal Gibbons (7A)
- Cary (7A)
- Holly Springs (7A)
- Sanderson (7A)
6A/7A Conference E
- East Chapel Hill (6A)
- Northern Durham (6A)
- Chapel Hill (7A)
- Hillside (7A)
- Riverside (7A)
- Southern Durham (7A)
6A/7A Conference F
- Ben L. Smith (6A)
- Dudley (6A)
- Ragsdale (6A)
- Western Guilford (6A)
- Grimsley (7A)
- Page (7A)
- Southwest Guilford (7A)
6A/7A Conference G
- Charlotte Catholic (6A)
- Piedmont (6A)
- Sun Valley (6A)
- Cuthbertson (7A)
- Marvin Ridge (7A)
- Porter Ridge (7A)
- Weddington (7A)
6A/7A Conference H
- Berry Academy (6A)
- Central Cabarrus (6A)
- Harding University (6A)
- Olympic (6A)
- A.L. Brown (7A)
- Cox Mill (7A)
- Hickory Ridge (7A)
- West Cabarrus (7A)
6A/7A Conference I
- North Iredell (6A)
- Statesville (6A)
- Davie County (7A)
- Lake Norman (7A)
- Mooresville (7A)
- South Iredell (7A)
6A/7A Conference J
- Alexander Central (6A)
- Freedom (6A)
- South Caldwell (6A)
- St. Stephens (6A)
- Watauga (6A)
- McDowell (7A)
6A/7A/8A Conference A
- West Brunswick (6A)
- Ashley (7A)
- New Hanover (7A)
- North Brunswick (7A)
- Topsail (7A)
- Hoggard (8A)
Laney (8A)
7A Conference 1
- Clayton (7A)
- Cleveland (7A)
- Fuquay-Varina (7A)
- Garner (7A)
- Smithfield-Selma (7A)
- South Garner (7A)
- Southeast Raleigh (7A)
7A/8A Conference A
- Jack Britt (7A)
- Overhills (7A)
- Pine Forest (7A)
- Richmond (7A)
- Hoke County (8A)
- Pinecrest (8A)
7A/8A Conference B
- East Forsyth (7A)
- Parkland (7A)
- R.J. Reynolds (7A)
- Reagan (7A)
- Northwest Guilford (8A)
- West Forsyth (8A)
7A/8A Conference C
- Butler (7A)
- Independence (7A)
- North Mecklenburg (7A)
- Chambers (8A)
- Mallard Creek (8A)
- West Charlotte (8A)
7A/8A Conference D
- Hopewell (7A)
- West Mecklenburg (7A)
- Garinger (8A)
- Hough (8A)
- Myers Park (8A)
- South Mecklenburg (8A)
7A/8A Conference E
- Ballantyne Ridge (7A)
- Rocky River (7A)
- Ardrey Kell (8A)
- East Mecklenburg (8A)
- Palisades (8A)
- Providence (8A)
8A Conference 1
- Athens Drive (8A)
- Broughton (8A)
- Corinth Holders (8A)
- Enloe (8A)
- Leesville Road (8A)
- Millbrook (8A)
- Rolesville (8A)
- Wakefield (8A)
8A Conference 2
- Apex (8A)
- Apex Friendship (8A)
- Green Hope (8A)
- Green Level (8A)
- Jordan (8A)
- Panther Creek (8A)
- Willow Spring (8A)
