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2026 Fall Sports Playoff Guide: Bracket Dates and Championship Schedules for Area Schools

by Trey Scott

October 9, 2026

Neuse News Sports cover for the 2026 Fall Sports Playoff Guide.

Fall postseason competition begins in October for area schools, with state championships continuing through December.

For fans following teams across Greene, Lenoir, Jones and Wayne counties, the schedule depends on the sport and the association. Public schools in the NCHSAA, private schools in the NCISAA, NCCSA and MACAA, and Wayne Prep’s charter-school association follow separate postseason calendars.

Here are the key dates as of Oct. 9. Official brackets will determine qualifiers, opponents and playoff assignments. Byes and bracket sizes may affect when a team begins play, and fans should confirm game times and locations before traveling.

NCHSAA volleyball

Volleyball brackets are scheduled for release Oct. 15. The postseason moves quickly, with the first round Oct. 17 and state championships two weeks later.

First round: Oct. 17
Second round: Oct. 20
Third round: Oct. 22
Fourth round: Oct. 24
Regional championships: Oct. 27
State championships: Oct. 30–31 at Campbell University

Official volleyball schedule

NCHSAA boys soccer

Boys soccer brackets are scheduled for release Oct. 29, with first-round games Nov. 2.

First round: Nov. 2
Second round: Nov. 5
Third round: Nov. 9
Fourth round: Nov. 12
Regional championships: Nov. 17
State championships: Nov. 19–21 at Durham County Memorial Stadium

Official boys soccer schedule

NCHSAA football

The final scheduled regular-season Friday is Oct. 30. Playoff brackets are scheduled for Oct. 31, giving qualifying teams the following week to prepare for the opening round.

First round: Nov. 6
Second round: Nov. 13
Third round: Nov. 20
Fourth round: Nov. 27
Regional championships: Dec. 4
State championships: Dec. 10–12

The fourth round falls the day after Thanksgiving. State championship sites are UNC, Lenoir-Rhyne and Campbell, with classification assignments to those sites still to be announced.

Official football schedule

NCHSAA girls tennis

Girls tennis has separate dual-team and individual postseason competitions.

Dual-team seeding is scheduled for Oct. 9. Team rounds follow Oct. 12, 14, 19 and 21, with regional championships Oct. 27 and state championships Oct. 30–31.

Individual regional tournaments are Oct. 16–17, followed by individual state championships Oct. 23–24.

Official girls tennis schedule

NCHSAA girls golf

Girls golf regionals are scheduled for Oct. 19 or 20, depending on the assigned regional. State championships follow Oct. 26–27.

Official girls golf schedule

NCHSAA cross country

Boys and girls cross country regionals are Oct. 30–31. State championships follow Nov. 6–7. Official cross country schedule

A regional championship will take place close to home. South Lenoir is scheduled to host the 3A and 4A East regional at the Lenoir County Fairgrounds on Oct. 30, beginning at 11 a.m. Official regional sites

NCISAA: Wayne Christian and Wayne Country Day

NCISAA fall team-sport seeding is scheduled for Oct. 17.

In volleyball, Wayne Christian’s 3A classification and Wayne Country Day’s 1A classification have rounds Oct. 20, 22 and 24, followed by semifinals Oct. 30 and championships Oct. 31. Volleyball brackets

Boys soccer schedules differ by classification:

Wayne Country Day’s 1A bracket: first round Oct. 20, quarterfinals Oct. 23, semifinals Oct. 27 and championship Oct. 31.
Wayne Christian’s 3A bracket: first round Oct. 20, second round Oct. 22, quarterfinals Oct. 24, semifinals Oct. 27 and championship Oct. 31.

These are classification schedules, not confirmation of either team’s qualification or advancement. Soccer brackets

NCISAA girls golf championships are Oct. 26–27, and cross country championships are Oct. 30. Football seeding is Oct. 31, followed by first-round games Nov. 6, semifinals Nov. 13 and championships Nov. 20. NCISAA calendar

NCCSA: Bethel Christian

Bethel Christian in Kinston follows the NCCSA calendar.

The state soccer and volleyball tournaments are Oct. 22–24. Bethel Christian is among the announced Single A tournament hosts. Tournament information

The NCCSA cross country state meet is Oct. 27. Meet information

MACAA: Faith Christian and Ambleside

Faith Christian in Goldsboro is listed in MACAA 2A North, while Ambleside Prep is listed in MACAA 2A South. These schools follow MACAA postseason information rather than the NCCSA calendar. Official MACAA member-school directory

Wayne Prep’s separate postseason calendar

Wayne Prep is a public charter school in CAA4SC and should not be placed on the NCHSAA postseason schedule.

CAA4SC cross country championships are scheduled for Oct. 16. Its fall championship window centers on the week of Oct. 19, with the preceding week also available when needed.

Exact sport-specific rounds and Wayne Prep’s football postseason arrangements still require confirmation. CAA4SC information

Dates are subject to changes announced by the associations. A school’s appearance in this guide does not establish that it has qualified for postseason competition.

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