2026 Fall Sports Playoff Guide: Bracket Dates and Championship Schedules for Area Schools
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 and NCCSA, 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
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
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.
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.
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 and Faith Christian
Bethel Christian in Kinston and Faith Christian in Goldsboro follow 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
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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