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. 

#TBT: Gross Leads Beal City to Class D Title

November 27, 2019

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

On Friday, coach Brad Gross will bring Beal City to the Division 8 Football Final at Ford Field to take on Reading as the Aggies play for their first MHSAA title in this sport since 2009. 

But while this will be the Aggies' first championship game appearance since 2013 – it won't be the first time Gross has led a Beal City team seeking football glory. 

In 1994, Gross quarterbacked the Aggies to a 35-14 Class D championship game win over Litchfield at the Pontiac Silverdome. He threw for 183 yards and two touchdown passes, both to Wes Wilson. 

Click to see the box score, and see below for highlights from the MHSAA's broadcast.