Nebraska football playoffs

2026 · All eight classes · Playoffs in progress

Share

Share playoff brackets

The official brackets are set. Choose a class to share or save its full bracket image.

XFacebookText message

Class brackets

Choose a class to view its bracket.

Playoffs in progress · Source Oct. 30

Class A bracket

Read bracket as a list
Team path & bracket guide

Higher seed listed first. Select a game for details; unassigned matchups link to team schedules.

Connected bracket · Swipe across rounds or use the round buttons. Choose Round cards for a larger game-by-game view.

G1 ↗Final · Fri., Oct. 30 · 4:30 PM CT · Host by seed rule: Omaha WestsideFinal1Omaha Westside#1 Omaha Westside ✓9-0 · 46.335916Columbus#16 Columbus5-4 · 39.110Game center →Open Game Center →
G2 ↗Final · Fri., Oct. 30 · 4:00 PM CT · Host by seed rule: Papillion-La VistaFinal8Papillion-La Vista#8 Papillion-La Vista ✓7-2 · 41.89219Lincoln Northeast#9 Lincoln Northeast8-1 · 41.780Game center →Open Game Center →
G3 ↗Final · Fri., Oct. 30 · 5:00 PM CT · Elkhorn StadiumFinal5Elkhorn South#5 Elkhorn South ✓6-3 · 42.674012Elkhorn North#12 Elkhorn North6-3 · 40.6714Game center →Open Game Center →
G4 ↗Final · Fri., Oct. 30 · 5:30 PM CT · Host by seed rule: BenningtonFinal4Bennington#4 Bennington ✓8-1 · 44.784213Lincoln Southwest#13 Lincoln Southwest6-3 · 40.6717Game center →Open Game Center →
G5 ↗Final · Fri., Oct. 30 · 7:30 PM CT · Host by seed rule: Millard NorthFinal3Millard North#3 Millard North ✓8-1 · 45.113214Creighton Preparatory School#14 Creighton Prep5-4 · 40.4413Game center →Open Game Center →
G6 ↗Final · Fri., Oct. 30 · 5:30 PM CT · Kinnick StadiumFinal6Omaha North#6 Omaha North ✓8-1 · 42.444011Kearney#11 Kearney6-3 · 40.6714Game center →Open Game Center →
G7 ↗Final · Fri., Oct. 30 · 8:00 PM CT · Host by seed rule: Papillion-La Vista SouthFinal7Papillion-La Vista South#7 Papillion-La Vista South ✓6-3 · 42.331810Millard West#10 Millard West5-4 · 41.1117Game center →Open Game Center →
G8 ↗Final · Fri., Oct. 30 · 4:00 PM CT · Host by seed rule: Millard SouthFinal2Millard South#2 Millard South ✓8-1 · 45.445615Lincoln Standing Bear#15 Lincoln Standing Bear5-4 · 39.447Game center →Open Game Center →
1Omaha Westside#1 Omaha Westside8Papillion-La Vista#8 Papillion-La VistaGame center →Open Game Center →
From these games:Game 1: #1 Omaha Westside / #16 ColumbusGame 2: #8 Papillion-La Vista / #9 Lincoln NortheastWinners advance; no result is assumed.
5Elkhorn South#5 Elkhorn South4Bennington#4 BenningtonGame center →Open Game Center →
From these games:Game 3: #5 Elkhorn South / #12 Elkhorn NorthGame 4: #4 Bennington / #13 Lincoln SouthwestWinners advance; no result is assumed.
3Millard North#3 Millard North6Omaha North#6 Omaha NorthGame center →Open Game Center →
From these games:Game 5: #3 Millard North / #14 Creighton Preparatory SchoolGame 6: #6 Omaha North / #11 KearneyWinners advance; no result is assumed.
7Papillion-La Vista South#7 Papillion-La Vista South2Millard South#2 Millard SouthGame center →Open Game Center →
From these games:Game 7: #7 Papillion-La Vista South / #10 Millard WestGame 8: #2 Millard South / #15 Lincoln Standing BearWinners advance; no result is assumed.
Winner of quarterfinal 1Winner of quarterfinal 1
Winner of quarterfinal 2Winner of quarterfinal 2
From these games:Quarterfinal 1: #1 Omaha Westside / #8 Papillion-La VistaQuarterfinal 2: #5 Elkhorn South / #4 BenningtonWinners advance; no result is assumed.
Winner of quarterfinal 3Winner of quarterfinal 3
Winner of quarterfinal 4Winner of quarterfinal 4
From these games:Quarterfinal 3: #3 Millard North / #6 Omaha NorthQuarterfinal 4: #7 Papillion-La Vista South / #2 Millard SouthWinners advance; no result is assumed.
G157:15 PM CT · Memorial Stadium
Winner of semifinal 1Winner of semifinal 1
Winner of semifinal 2Winner of semifinal 2
From these games:Semifinal 1Semifinal 2Winners advance; no result is assumed.
State championFinal winner
Read bracket round by round

Reported matchups and verified results. This list includes every round, even when a different round is selected above.

First round

  1. First round, game 1: No. 1 Omaha Westside versus No. 16 Columbus. Friday, Oct. 30. 4:30 PM CT. Host by seed rule: Omaha Westside. Final: Omaha Westside 59, Columbus 0. Winner: Omaha Westside.

    Game center →

  2. First round, game 2: No. 8 Papillion-La Vista versus No. 9 Lincoln Northeast. Friday, Oct. 30. 4:00 PM CT. Host by seed rule: Papillion-La Vista. Final: Papillion-La Vista 21, Lincoln Northeast 0. Winner: Papillion-La Vista.

    Game center →

  3. First round, game 3: No. 5 Elkhorn South versus No. 12 Elkhorn North. Friday, Oct. 30. 5:00 PM CT. Venue: Elkhorn Stadium. Final: Elkhorn South 40, Elkhorn North 14. Winner: Elkhorn South.

    Game center →

  4. First round, game 4: No. 4 Bennington versus No. 13 Lincoln Southwest. Friday, Oct. 30. 5:30 PM CT. Host by seed rule: Bennington. Final: Bennington 42, Lincoln Southwest 17. Winner: Bennington.

    Game center →

  5. First round, game 5: No. 3 Millard North versus No. 14 Creighton Preparatory School. Friday, Oct. 30. 7:30 PM CT. Host by seed rule: Millard North. Final: Millard North 32, Creighton Preparatory School 13. Winner: Millard North.

    Game center →

  6. First round, game 6: No. 6 Omaha North versus No. 11 Kearney. Friday, Oct. 30. 5:30 PM CT. Venue: Kinnick Stadium. Final: Omaha North 40, Kearney 14. Winner: Omaha North.

    Game center →

  7. First round, game 7: No. 7 Papillion-La Vista South versus No. 10 Millard West. Friday, Oct. 30. 8:00 PM CT. Host by seed rule: Papillion-La Vista South. Final: Papillion-La Vista South 18, Millard West 17. Winner: Papillion-La Vista South.

    Game center →

  8. First round, game 8: No. 2 Millard South versus No. 15 Lincoln Standing Bear. Friday, Oct. 30. 4:00 PM CT. Host by seed rule: Millard South. Final: Millard South 56, Lincoln Standing Bear 7. Winner: Millard South.

    Game center →

Quarterfinals

  1. Quarterfinals, game 1: No. 1 Omaha Westside versus No. 8 Papillion-La Vista. Fri. Nov. 6. Time TBA. Venue not confirmed.

    Game center →

  2. Quarterfinals, game 2: No. 5 Elkhorn South versus No. 4 Bennington. Fri. Nov. 6. Time TBA. Venue not confirmed.

    Game center →

  3. Quarterfinals, game 3: No. 3 Millard North versus No. 6 Omaha North. Fri. Nov. 6. Time TBA. Venue not confirmed.

    Game center →

  4. Quarterfinals, game 4: No. 7 Papillion-La Vista South versus No. 2 Millard South. Fri. Nov. 6. Time TBA. Venue not confirmed.

    Game center →

Semifinals

  1. Semifinals, game 1: winner of quarterfinal 1 versus winner of quarterfinal 2. Fri. Nov. 13. Time TBA. Venue not confirmed.

  2. Semifinals, game 2: winner of quarterfinal 3 versus winner of quarterfinal 4. Fri. Nov. 13. Time TBA. Venue not confirmed.

State final

  1. State final, game 1: winner of semifinal 1 versus winner of semifinal 2. Mon. Nov. 23. 7:15 PM CT. Venue: Memorial Stadium.

Find your team

Find your team

Seed, playoff matchup and bracket.

Search all eight football classes.

    Playoffs in progress

    Source snapshots: Oct. 31, Oct. 30 · Exact times on each class page

    Open a class for its reported games, results and source snapshot.

    Current / next round: Quarterfinals · Fri., Nov. 6

    Key dates

    1. Fri., Oct. 30First round · All eight classes
    2. Quarterfinals
    3. Semifinals
    4. Fri., Nov. 20D3 & D6 finals · Kearney (UNK)
    5. Nov. 23–24A, B, C1, C2, D1 & D2 finals · Memorial Stadium, Lincoln

    See each class bracket for official Round 1 kickoff times and host venues.

    Picks locked, see the leaderboard

    8 classes · No account needed · Open a class for its bracket and available standings

    Class summaries and championship dates
    Class A bracket Playoffs in progress
    11-man · state final Mon. Nov. 23 · 7:15 PM CT · Memorial Stadium, Lincoln

    Quarterfinals

    Fri., Nov. 6

    • Scheduled · Time TBA

      #1 Omaha Westside
      #8 Papillion-La Vista

    • Scheduled · Time TBA

      #5 Elkhorn South
      #4 Bennington

    2 of 4 round games shown · Open the bracket for the full round.

    Bracket source: Oct. 31 · 10:20 a.m. CT

    Class B bracket Playoffs in progress
    11-man · state final Tue. Nov. 24 · 7:15 PM CT · Memorial Stadium, Lincoln

    Quarterfinals

    Fri., Nov. 6

    • Scheduled · Time TBA

      #1 Gretna
      #8 Northwest

    • Scheduled · Time TBA

      #5 Omaha Skutt Catholic
      #4 Aurora

    2 of 4 round games shown · Open the bracket for the full round.

    Bracket source: Oct. 31 · 10:20 a.m. CT

    Class C1 bracket Playoffs in progress
    11-man · state final Tue. Nov. 24 · 2:45 PM CT · Memorial Stadium, Lincoln

    Quarterfinals

    Fri., Nov. 6

    • Scheduled · Time TBA

      #1 Sidney
      #9 Adams Central

    • Scheduled · Time TBA

      #5 Syracuse
      #13 Cozad

    2 of 4 round games shown · Open the bracket for the full round.

    Bracket source: Oct. 31 · 10:20 a.m. CT

    Class C2 bracket Playoffs in progress
    11-man · state final Tue. Nov. 24 · 10:15 AM CT · Memorial Stadium, Lincoln

    Quarterfinals

    Fri., Nov. 6

    • Scheduled · Time TBA

      #1 Grand Island Central Catholic
      #8 Malcolm

    • Scheduled · Time TBA

      #5 Yutan
      #4 Ord

    2 of 4 round games shown · Open the bracket for the full round.

    Bracket source: Oct. 31 · 10:20 a.m. CT

    Class D1 bracket Playoffs in progress
    8-man · state final Mon. Nov. 23 · 2:45 PM CT · Memorial Stadium, Lincoln

    Quarterfinals

    Fri., Nov. 6

    • Scheduled · Time TBA

      #1 Johnson-Brock
      #8 Exeter-Milligan-Friend

    • Scheduled · Time TBA

      #5 Crofton
      #4 Ravenna

    2 of 4 round games shown · Open the bracket for the full round.

    Bracket source: Oct. 31 · 10:20 a.m. CT

    Class D2 bracket Playoffs in progress
    8-man · state final Mon. Nov. 23 · 10:15 AM CT · Memorial Stadium, Lincoln

    Quarterfinals

    Fri., Nov. 6

    • Scheduled · Time TBA

      #1 Shelby-Rising City
      #8 Hemingford

    • Scheduled · Time TBA

      #5 Lourdes Central Catholic
      #4 Loomis

    2 of 4 round games shown · Open the bracket for the full round.

    Bracket source: Oct. 31 · 10:20 a.m. CT

    Class D3 bracket Playoffs in progress
    8-man · state final Fri. Nov. 20 · 1:00 PM CT · Kearney

    Quarterfinals

    Fri., Nov. 6

    • Scheduled · Time TBA

      #1 Lawrence-Nelson
      #9 Wynot

    • Scheduled · Time TBA

      #12 Anselmo-Merna
      #13 Guardian Angels Central Catholic

    2 of 4 round games shown · Open the bracket for the full round.

    Bracket source: Oct. 30 · 11:20 p.m. CT

    Class D6 bracket Playoffs in progress
    6-man · state final Fri. Nov. 20 · 7:00 PM CT · Cope Stadium (UNK), Kearney

    Quarterfinals

    Fri., Nov. 6

    • Scheduled · Time TBA

      #1 Stuart
      #9 Leyton

    • Scheduled · Time TBA

      #5 Red Cloud
      #4 Diller-Odell

    2 of 4 round games shown · Open the bracket for the full round.

    Bracket source: Oct. 31 · 10:20 a.m. CT

    How seeding works

    How NSAA wildcard points and seeding work

    Every Nebraska football playoff bracket has 16 teams, and wildcard points decide who fills the at-large spots and where every qualifier is seeded.

    Each regular-season game earns points based on the opponent's record. In a nine-game season, a win over a first-division team (7-2 or better) is worth 50 points. Second division (6-3, 5-4) is worth 47, third (4-5, 3-6) 44, and fourth (2-7 or worse) 41. Losses still earn 36, 33, 30 or 27. Playing a school one, two or three classes higher adds 2, 3 or 4 bonus points; playing down costs nothing. The score doesn't matter: a 7-6 win counts the same as 50-0.

    Divide total points by games played to get the point average. Only the first meeting with an opponent counts, points stop at the end of the regular season, and out-of-state opponents are converted to a Nebraska class by enrollment.

    Qualifying depends on the class:

    • Class A and six-man D6 take the top 16 by points.
    • Class B takes the top three from each of its three geographic districts, the emerging-district champion and six wildcards.
    • C1, C2 and D2 take six district champions plus 10 wildcards.
    • D1 and D3 take seven district champions plus nine wildcards.

    All 16 are seeded by point average (1 vs. 16, 8 vs. 9, and so on). In every class except D6, the higher seed hosts through the semifinals. Ties in point average go to head-to-head if two tied teams met, then strength-of-schedule steps, then a coin flip.

    NSAA wildcard points cover regular-season games Fri. Aug. 21 through Fri. Oct. 23, 2026 (Week 9).

    Playoff FAQs

    Nebraska football playoffs: FAQ

    Eight classes, 128 teams, one state champion each. The official NSAA brackets are set. View each class's seeds, Friday, October 30 first-round matchups and confirmed kickoff details, or build your own fan prediction.

    How many teams make the Nebraska football playoffs?
    Sixteen in each of the eight classes, 128 teams in all. Seeds 1 vs. 16, 8 vs. 9 and so on meet in the first round.
    How do teams qualify?
    Class A and six-man D6 take the top 16 by point average. Class B takes the top three from each of its three geographic districts, the emerging-district champion and six wildcards. C1, C2 and D2 take six district champions plus 10 wildcards; D1 and D3 take seven district champions plus nine wildcards.
    How do NSAA wildcard points work?
    In a nine-game season, a win over a first-division opponent (7-2 or better) is worth 50 points, second division 47, third 44 and fourth 41; losses earn 36, 33, 30 or 27. Playing a school one, two or three classes higher adds 2, 3 or 4 bonus points. Total points divided by games played is the point average, and the score of the game doesn't matter. Only the first meeting with an opponent counts and points stop at the end of the regular season.
    When are the playoff games?
    First round Fri., Oct. 30, quarterfinals Fri., Nov. 6, semifinals Fri., Nov. 13. State finals: Fri., Nov. 20: D3 1 PM CT and D6 7 p.m.; Mon., Nov. 23 at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln: D2 10:15 AM CT, D1 2:45 p.m. and A 7:15 p.m.; Tue., Nov. 24 at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln: C2 10:15 a.m., C1 2:45 p.m. and B 7:15 p.m.
    Are the 2026 playoff brackets official?
    Yes. NSAA's official 16-team brackets are available for all eight classes. First-round games are Friday, October 30. Each class page links its matchups, reported times, team pages and fan predictions.
    Who hosts playoff games?
    In every class except D6, the higher seed hosts through the semifinals. In D6 the higher point average hosts the first round, and after that the team that was the visitor in its previous game hosts if the other team hosted; otherwise the higher point average hosts.
    OFFICIAL SOURCES

    The NSAA is the official source for brackets, seeds and wildcard points: NSAA football · wildcard point leaders · district leaders · brackets: A, B, C1, C2, D1, D2, D3, D6

    Your next stop