High School Football Playoffs: Start dates in each state (plus D.C.), and how to watch
The 2022 high school football season’s playoff rush is one of the best times on the sports calendar, when teams across the country battle for divisional honors as well as state championships.
Of course, it’s not a uniform start date for all 50 states, and on top of that, traveling to remote sites can make watching your favorite team difficult.
So, with the help of the NFHS Network, we’ve created a state-by-state guide to get high school football fans set for the postseason.
Alabama High School Football Playoffs
Start Date: Nov. 4
Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand
Alaska High School Football Playoffs
Start Date: Oct. 7. Final completed on Oct. 21
Arizona High School Football Playoffs
Start Date: October 21 (1A); November 4 (3A, 2A); November 18 (6A, 5A, 4A); November 25 (Open Division)
Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand
Arkansas High School Football Playoffs
Start Date: Nov. 11
Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand
California High School Football Playoffs
Start Date: Between Oct. 28 and Nov. 11, depending on Section
Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand
Colorado High School Football Playoffs
Start Date: Nov. 5
Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand
Connecticut High School Football Playoffs
Start Date: Nov. 29
Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand
Delaware High School Football Playoffs
Start Date: Nov. 18
Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand
Florida High School Football Playoffs
Start Date: Nov. 11
Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand
Georgia High School Football Playoffs
Start Date: Nov. 11
Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand
Hawaii High School Football Playoffs
Start Date: Nov. 4
Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand
Idaho High School Football Playoffs
Start Date: Oct. 28
Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand
Illinois High School Football Playoffs
Start Date: Oct. 28
Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand
Indiana High School Football Playoffs
Start Date: October 21 (5A, 4A, 3A, 2A, 1A); October 28 (6A)
Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand
Iowa High School Football Playoffs
Start Date: October 21 (2A, 1A, A, 8-Player); October 28 (5A, 4A, 3A)
Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand
Kansas High School Football Playoffs
Start Date: Oct. 27
Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand
Kentucky High School Football Playoffs
Start Date: Nov. 3-5
Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand
Louisiana High School Football Playoffs
Start Date: Nov. 10
Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand
Maine High School Football Playoffs
Start Date: Oct. 21 (8-Man Small); Oct. 28 (B, C, 8-Man Large); Nov. 4 (A, D)
Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand
Maryland High School Football Playoffs
Start Date: Nov. 4
Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand
Massachusetts High School Football Playoffs
Start Date: Nov. 4
Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand
Michigan High School Football Playoffs
Start Date: Oct. 28
Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand
Minnesota High School Football Playoffs
Start Date: Nov. 10
Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand
Mississippi High School Football Playoffs
Start Date: Nov. 4 (4A, 3A, 2A); Nov. 11 (6A, 5A, 1A) | Midsouth: Oct. 28 (5A, 4A, 3A, 2A); Nov. 4 (6A)
Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand
Missouri High School Football Playoffs
Start Date: Oct. 28
Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand
Montana High School Football Playoffs
Start Date: Oct. 28
Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand
Nebraska High School Football Playoffs
Start Date: Oct. 20 (D1, D2); Oct. 28 (A, B, C1, C2, D6)
Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand
Nevada High School Football Playoffs
Start Date: Oct. 27-29 (5A, 4A, 3A); Nov. 4-5 (2A, 1A)
Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand
New Hampshire High School Football Playoffs
Start Date: Nov. 4
Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand
New Jersey High School Football Playoffs
Start Date: Oct. 28
Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand
New Mexico High School Football Playoffs
Start Date: Oct. 22 (8-man, 6-man); Oct. 29 (6A, 5A, 4A, 3A, 2A)
On-Demand or Live viewing: N/A
New York High School Football Playoffs
Start Date: Oct. 28 to Nov. 11, depending on location
Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand
North Carolina High School Football Playoffs
Start Date: Nov. 4
Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand
North Dakota High School Football Playoffs
Start Date: Oct. 15 (9-Man); Oct. 22 (11B); Oct. 28 (11AA & 11A)
Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand
Ohio High School Football Playoffs
Start Date: Oct. 28
Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand
Oklahoma High School Football Playoffs
Start Date: Nov. 11
Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand
Oregon High School Football Playoffs
Start Date: Nov. 4
Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand
Pennsylvania High School Football Playoffs
Start Date: Nov. 18
Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand
Rhode Island High School Football Playoffs
Start Date: Nov. 4
Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand
South Carolina High School Football Playoffs
Start Date: Nov. 4
Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand
South Dakota High School Football Playoffs
Start Date: Oct. 20 (11B, 9-man); Oct. 27 (11AAA, 11AA, 11A)
Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand
Tennessee High School Football Playoffs
Start Date: Nov. 4
Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand
Texas High School Football Playoffs
Start Date: Nov. 11
Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand
Utah High School Football Playoffs
Start Date: Oct. 21
Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand
Vermont High School Football Playoffs
Start Date: Oct. 29-30
Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand
Virginia High School Football Playoffs
Start Date: Nov. 11-12
Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand
Washington High School Football Playoffs
Start Date: Nov. 4
Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand
Washington, D.C. High School Football Playoffs
Start Date: Nov. 11-12
Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand
West Virginia High School Football Playoffs
Start Date: Nov. 10-11
Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand
Wisconsin High School Football Playoffs
Start Date: Oct. 21
Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand
Wyoming High School Football Playoffs
Start Date: Oct. 28
Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand
Note: We occasionally recommend interesting products, services, and gaming opportunities. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY HSS operates independently, though, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.