Football Playoff Pairings, Opening Matchups to be Announced Sunday on NFHS Network
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
October 22, 2026
The announcement of qualifiers and first-round pairings for this season’s Michigan High School Athletic Association Football Playoffs – the annual “Selection Sunday Show” – will be streamed at 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25, on the NFHS Network.
The playoffs for both 11 and 8-player teams begin during the weekend of Oct. 30-31. The top 32 teams by playoff-point average in each 11-player division and top 16 teams by playoff-point average in each 8-player division will qualify. Divisions were determined prior to the start of the season.
Click for the direct link to watch the Selection Sunday Show. That link also is posted to the Football page of the MHSAA website. A subscription is not required to watch the Selection Sunday Show, although viewers must register on the site to view the broadcast.
The playoff qualifiers and pairings will be posted to the website following the show, and times and dates will be added Monday, Oct. 26.
To review a list of all football playoff schools and individual school playoff point details, visit the Football Playoff Point Summary page.
The MHSAA Football Playoffs conclude with the 8-Player Finals on Nov. 21 at Northern Michigan University’s Superior Dome and 11-Player Finals to be played Nov. 27 and 28 at Ford Field. Both games will be broadcast live on the NFHS Network.
Be the Referee: Roughing the Passer
By
Paige Winne
MHSAA Director of Brand Management
October 8, 2024
Be The Referee is a series of short messages designed to help educate people on the rules of different sports, to help them better understand the art of officiating, and to recruit officials.
Below is this week's segment – Roughing the Passer - Listen
It’s 2nd-and-10 for Team A at their own 40 yard line. They complete a pass to Team B’s 30-yard line, but fumble the ball forward, where Team A recovers at the 22-yard line.
During the play, Team B is flagged for roughing the passer.
- Assuming Team A accepts the penalty, where is the penalty enforced?
- Enforced from the spot of the foul?
- Enforced from the previous spot?
- Enforced from the spot of the fumble?
- Or, enforced from the spot of the fumble recovery?
If you said, “Enforced from the spot of the recovery,” you are correct!
Since it was recovered at the 22-yard line and roughing is a 15-yard penalty, it would be enforced half the distance to the goal line. First down and 10 for Team A, from the 11-yard line.
Previous 2024-25 Editions
Oct. 1: Abnormal Course Condition - Listen
Sept. 25: Tennis Nets - Listen
Sept. 18: Libero - Listen
Sept. 10: Cross Country Uniforms - Listen
Sept. 3: Soccer Handling - Listen
Aug. 24: Football Holding - Listen