The Indiana High School Athletic Association has released the complete postseason pairings for the 2026-27 boys football state tournament, locking in bracket schedules across all six competitive classes following the October 6 entry list deadline.
The Bottom Line
- Postseason action begins with Class 4A quarterfinals on October 23, followed by Class 5A semifinals launching on October 30 at 7 p.m. local time.
- Per tournament administration rules documented by IHSAA, all tickets will be digital through mobile phones via Eventlink priced at $8 per person, with children age five and younger admitted free.
- Participating schools are strictly required to use official Wilson football models 1003 GST, 1001, or 1005 bearing the NFHS authenticating mark.
Class 5A and Class 4A Opening Matchups
Central. The 5A slate pits New Albany against Evansville North, alongside Floyd Central traveling to face Castle.
Meanwhile, Class 4A quarterfinal matchups initiate earlier on October 23. The 4A bracket features Bedford North Lawrence visiting Evansville Central, Boonville playing at Evansville Harrison, Evansville Reitz matching up at Evansville Bosse, and Heritage Hills squaring off against Jasper. Winners from these initial rounds advance directly to the sectional semifinals.
| Tournament Class | Round Type | Start Date | Key Matchup Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class 5A | Semifinal Round | October 30, 2026 | New Albany at Evansville North |
| Class 4A | Quarterfinal Round | October 23, 2026 | Bedford North Lawrence at Evansville Central |
Class 3A, Class 2A, and Class 1A Regional Pairings
In Class 3A, quarterfinal games feature Southridge traveling to Gibson Southern, Evansville Memorial visiting North Harrison, Princeton Community matching up against Evansville Mater Dei at the Reitz Bowl, and Mount Vernon playing at Corydon Central.
Class 2A opening fixtures pair Tell City against South Spencer, Linton-Stockton at Pike Central, Perry Central visiting North Posey, and Paoli at Eastern Greene. Concurrently, Class 1A quarterfinal games commence at 7 p.m. Eastern, featuring Tecumseh at North Daviess, Springs Valley facing West Washington, and Forest Park traveling to Crawford County for games hosted in Marengo.
Ticketing Logistics and Broadcast Regulations
Administrative guidelines outlined by IHSAA mandate that physical paper tickets will not be utilized at gates. Spectators must present purchase verification on mobile phones for admission, with additional fees potentially applying through the Eventlink platform. Fans looking to follow matchups remotely can check streaming availability by searching school names on IHSAAtv.org.
The organization enforces an absolute prohibition on the use of unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, at or about any tournament series site during an event or within thirty minutes of its conclusion.
