Not all of Florida’s football playoff regions are created equal.
Some have such a heavy favorite that even thinking about them losing seems farfetched. Some are completely wide open — especially with the new Open Division taking some of the top teams in the state — but not necessarily in the best way.
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But there’s a third category, too.
The regions that have multiple outstanding football teams among its eight selections. It’s a region blessed (or cursed, depending on your perspective) with so much talent that several different teams could emerge as champion in three weeks.
And, on paper at least, those are the regions that are the most exciting.
Here’s a look at the five best regions in the FHSAA playoffs (not including the Open Division).
5. Region 1-5A
Mandarin Mustangs wide receiver Brysen Wright (1) celebrates his pick six in the first quarter with teammate Mandarin Mustangs ss fs Kamauri Townsend (11). The Mandarin Mustangs hosted the Bartram Trail Bears Friday, October 23, 2026 at Mandarin High School in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]
Quarterfinal matchups: (8) Oakleaf at (1) Mandarin, (5) Bartram Trail at (4) Evans, (7) Ponte Vedra at (2) Buchholz, (3) Nease at (6) Pace
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MaxPreps Class 5A rankings: No. 4 Mandarin, No. 5 Buchholz, No. 7 Nease, No. 11 Evans, No. 14 Bartram Trail, No. 15 Pace, No. 19 Ponte Vedra, No. 20 Oakleaf
Region 1-6A made the list of the top regions in the state in 2025. It’s a different class number but these are the same teams with similar depth. Mandarin won nine games, with its only loss coming at undefeated Raines. Buchholz won its first nine games this season before falling to Bolles on the road in a thrilling regular season finale. Buchholz beat Mandarin in the 2025 regional championship game. Nease dropped three of its first four — including a district loss to Mandarin — before reeling off six consecutive wins. Pace has won six in a row, including a thrilling win at Niceville on Nov. 4 to win the District 1 title. Evans has won six of seven, with its three losses coming by a total of 14 points.
4. Region 1-4A
![Columbia Tigers player Alfonso Curry Jr. (4) and Columbia Tigers player Kyren Caldwell (7) run out of the tunnel before a football game against Suwannee High School at Columbia High School in Lake City, FL on Friday, October 30, 2026. [Chris Watkins/Gainesville Sun]](https://s.yimg.com/lo/mysterio/api/9611ab32d5e00b75ea1324e3cedf850ec1f2ef367fef877bb188a55b9e84ec40/lightyear_networkapi/resizefill_w960%3Bquality_80%3Bformat_webp/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.zenfs.com%2Fen%2Fherald-tribune%2Faf759ef80d0b70237731c39a1980a4e3.jpg)
Columbia Tigers player Alfonso Curry Jr. (4) and Columbia Tigers player Kyren Caldwell (7) run out of the tunnel before a football game against Suwannee High School at Columbia High School in Lake City, FL on Friday, October 30, 2026. [Chris Watkins/Gainesville Sun]
Quarterfinal matchups: (8) Clay at (1) Columbia, (5) Mosley at (4) Choctawhatchee, (7) Lincoln at (2) St. Augustine, (6) Rickards at (3) Ed White
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MaxPreps Class 4A rankings: No. 2 Columbia, No. 7 St. Augustine, No. 9 Ed White, No. 12 Choctawhatchee, No. 15 Mosley, No. 17 Rickards, No. 22 Lincoln, No. 24 Clay
Undefeated Columbia has signature wins (Bolles, Trinity Christian) and is the No. 2 overall seed in the class but will face a tough road to win the region. St. Augustine is 9-1 with its lone loss coming in controversial fashion against nine-win Mandarin in Week 11. Ed White went 8-2, with its only losses coming against undefeated Raines and Columbia. Choctawhatchee, a state semifinalist in 2025, dropped its first two games before reeling off seven consecutive wins. One of those losses was a 15-13 loss at nine-win Mosley in the season opener.
3. Region 2-1A
Trinity Christian’s Zakhari Greene (14) hauls in an interception against Bolles’ Jaiden Barnett (1) during the third quarter of a high school football matchup at Trinity Christian Academy on Friday, Oct. 16, 2026 in Jacksonville, Fla. Trinity Christian edged Bolles 20-17 in overtime.
Quarterfinal matchups: (8) Father Lopez at (1) Trinity Christian, (5) Williston at (4) Melbourne Central Catholic, (7) Chiefland at (2) Hawthorne, (6) Wildwood at (3) University Christian
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MaxPreps Class 1A rankings: No. 2 Trinity Christian, No. 4 Hawthorne, No. 7 University Christian, No. 9 Melbourne Central Catholic, No. 23 Williston, No. 24 Wildwood, No. 27 Chiefland, No. 32 Father Lopez
This is the only region in Class 1A that has all of its top four seeds ranked in the top nine in the MaxPreps rankings. Trinity (6-4) has played one of the toughest schedules in the state and has wins over University and Bolles. Hawthorne, the 2025 Rural Class champion, lost star quarterback Richard Roundtree Jr. to injury in Week 4 but still finished the season 10-0 thanks in large part to a stifling defense. University fell to Trinity 14-8 in Week 2 but has won five of its past six. Melbourne Central Catholic won seven games its first season under state champion winning coach Ryan Schneider.
2. Region 3-5A
Palmetto wide receiver Maurice Carter (#5) stretches out to make the catch guarded by Manatee defensive back Cameron Dunlap (#13). The Manatee Hurricanes hosted the Palmetto Tigers on Friday evening, Oct. 9, 2026 for the Cross River Rivalry varsity football game.
Quarterfinal matchups: (8) Cape Coral at (1) Armwood, (5) Manatee at (4) Sumner, (7) Plant at (2) Tampa Bay Tech, (6) Royal Palm Beach at (3) Palmetto
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MaxPreps Class 5A rankings: No. 6 Armwood, No. 10 Tampa Bay Tech, No. 13 Palmetto, No. 17 Sumner, No. 18 Manatee, No. 23 Royal Palm Beach, No. 29 Plant, No. 33 Cape Coral
Forget about the MaxPreps rankings. This region has a pair of heavyweights in rivals Armwood and Tampa Bay Tech. Beyond those two, this is a deep and talented region from top to bottom. Armwood and Tampa Bay Tech both won nine games. Armwood is undefeated in Florida this season, including a 14-7 win at Tech. Palmetto also won nine games with its lone loss coming against Clearwater Central Catholic in Week 1. Sumner and Manatee won six games; Sumner will host the regional quarterfinal despite losing to Manatee in the regular season. Royal Palm Beach won its final nine games of the season and has allowed just 73 points this year.
1. Region 2-2A
Clearwater Central Cathol wide receiver Daveon Belhomme (#4) makes a fingertip catch in the end zone ahead of Cardinal Mooney defender Jared Sanders (#8). Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School hosted Clearwater Central Catholic High School in varsity football Friday evening, Oct. 2, 2026.
Quarterfinal matchups: (8) Calvary Christian at (1) The First Academy, (5) Cocoa at (4) Tampa Catholic, (7) Lakewood at (2) Clearwater Central Catholic, (3) Berkeley Prep at (6) Bradford
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MaxPreps Class 2A rankings: No. 4 The First Academy, No. 5 Clearwater Central Catholic, No. 7 Berkeley Prep, No. 8 Tampa Catholic, No. 9 Cocoa, No. 10 Bradford, No. 14 Lakewood, No. 15 Calvary Christian
Well, where do you want to start when talking about how deep and impressive this region is? Every team is ranked in the top 15 in the class. The First Academy and Clearwater Central Catholic both were in the conversation for the Open Division for most of the season. Cocoa has won 19 consecutive regional championships. Bradford was a regional finalist in 2025 and won nine games this season. Neither team is a top four team in the region. Clearwater Central Catholic, Berkeley Prep and Tampa Catholic all went 4-1 in District 6. Berkeley beat CCC and CCC beat Tampa Catholic. Top-seeded TFA went 7-3, with its three losses coming against national power IMG and Open Division teams West Boca and Lakeland.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: What are the 5 deepest regions in the FHSAA football playoffs?
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
