Louisiana High School Football Playoffs: Top Seeds Receive Byes in 2026 Brackets
The LHSAA has released first-round pairings for select and nonselect divisions, with undefeated teams in multiple classes avoiding immediate competition.
By Ibrahim Howard ·
The Louisiana High School Athletic Association released its first-round playoff brackets on November 8, 2026, setting the stage for postseason football across four divisions. Top-seeded teams in both select and nonselect conferences earned byes, allowing them to rest before their second-round opponents emerge. The pairings place undefeated squads in advantageous positions, while lower-ranked teams face immediate elimination threats.
In Division I select, St. Augustine (10-0) and Jesuit (8-2) lead the bracket as the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds, respectively. Both programs will wait in the second round. The first-round slate features a matchup between No. 17 Holy Cross (3-7) and No. 16 John Ehret (6-4), as well as No. 24 Peabody (2-8) traveling to play No. 9 Bonnabel (7-3). Other notable contests include No. 5 Rummel (7-3) receiving a bye and No. 3 Edna Karr (8-2) advancing automatically.
Division II select sees Shaw (9-1) and Patrick Taylor (10-0) as the No. 1 and No. 6 seeds, both earning byes. The first round includes a game between No. 17 L.B. Landry (5-5) and No. 16 Hannan (7-3). No. 24 McKinley (4-6) will play at No. 9 Booker T. Washington-Shr. (7-3). Kennedy (8-1) and Madison Prep (8-2) also advance without playing in the initial round.
In Division III select, Notre Dame (10-0) holds the top seed and receives a bye. Calvary Baptist (9-1) and Newman (9-1) also earn byes as the No. 5 and No. 4 seeds, respectively. The first-round schedule pits No. 17 Metairie Park Country Day (6-4) against No. 16 Pope John Paul II (7-2). No. 24 Fisher (3-7) travels to No. 9 Dunham (7-3), while No. 21 Helix Mentorship (4-6) plays at No. 12 Baker (9-1).
Division IV select features Riverside (9-1) as the No. 1 seed with a bye. Southern Lab (9-0) and St. Mary’s (9-1) also advance automatically. The first-round matchups include No. 17 St. Martin’s (6-4) at No. 16 Glenbrook (5-5) and No. 24 Lincoln Prep (3-7) at No. 9 Cedar Creek (9-1). Central Catholic (4-6) will play at Ascension Episcopal (6-3), and Central Private (4-6) will face J.S. Clark Leadership (6-4).
The nonselect division brackets mirror the structure of the select conferences. In Division I nonselect, Mandeville (10-0) receives the top seed and a bye. Ruston (8-2) and Northshore (9-1) also advance without playing. First-round games include No. 17 Southside (5-5) at No. 16 Slidell (6-4) and No. 24 Terrebonne (5-5) at No. 9 Dutchtown (7-3). Chalmette (3-7) will play at East Ascension (8-2), while Walker (6-4) visits Denham Springs (7-3).
Division II nonselect lists Neville (8-1) as the No. 1 seed with a bye. North DeSoto (10-0) and Eunice (10-0) also earn byes. The first round features Belle Chasse (7-3) at Plaquemine (6-4) and South Terrebonne (6-4) at Franklin Parish (7-3). Iota (5-5) will play at Leesville (8-2), and Franklinton (3-7) will travel to Salmen (7-3).
In Division III nonselect, Jena (7-3) holds the No. 1 seed and receives a bye. Kaplan (8-2) and Jennings (8-2) also advance. First-round pairings include South Beauregard (6-4) at Winnfield (6-4) and North Webster (4-6) at Loreauville (7-3). Kinder (2-8) will play at Church Point (6-3), and Rayville (5-5) will travel to Marksville (8-2).
Division IV nonselect concludes the bracket release with East Feliciana (9-1) as the No. 1 seed and a bye. Mangham (9-1) and Logansport (9-1) also receive byes. The first round includes Franklin (4-5) at West St. Mary (5-5) and LaSalle (5-4) at Grand Lake (6-3). Delcambre (5-5) will play at South Plaquemines (5-4), and North Central (4-6) will travel to Lake Arthur (9-1).
Teams that advance from the first round will face the top seeds and other byes in the second round. The LHSAA schedule dictates that these games will determine which programs move toward the state championship.
