The North Carolina high school football postseason has officially arrived.

The NCHSAA released playoff brackets for all eight classifications on Sunday, Nov. 2, with first-round games scheduled for Friday, Nov. 8.

This fall marks the first postseason under the NCHSAA's expanded eight-class system, creating a new structure for how teams qualify and advance.

In the 1A and 8A classifications, 24 teams make the playoffs, divided evenly between East and West regions. In all other classes, 48 teams qualify for postseason play.

The playoffs will include six total rounds. Round 5 will serve as the regional finals (state semifinals), and Round 6 will determine state champions. Because 1A and 8A have smaller brackets, those classifications will have a bye in Round 5, meaning teams in those cla

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