Florida's top programs begin their pursuit of a state championship as the Sunshine State's postseason begins

Kendall Webb

•

Florida's top programs begin their pursuit of a state championship as the Sunshine State's postseason begins image

Florida's postseason kicks off Thursday night as the Sunshine State's top programs begin their march toward the state championships.

The big story in Florida this week as the Sunshine State heads toward the high school football season was the saga involving the No. 1/No. 1 IMG Academy [Bradenton, FL] Ascenders.

The Ascenders were scheduled to play the No. 4/SN No. 4 St. Frances Academy [Baltimore, MD] Panthers last Friday night before reports emerged that the game was being delayed in order to possibly move the game to December. The game would have major implications in the national championship picture as both teams were ranked No. 1 in various lists used to compile AllSportsPeople Composite Rankings.

The new date was then confirmed as December 10 in a report on SI.com last Wednesday, November 5. By Friday morning, however, reports began to emerge that IMG Academy was backing out of the game altogether. IMG Academy's official statement, however, led to more questions than answers:

IMG Academy Statement on St. Frances Football Game pic.twitter.com/gL4NS3B4rp
— IMG Academy Football (@IMGAFootball) November 7, 2025

Essentially, IMG claimed it was backing out of the game due to its concern for "player health and safety" due to the long layoff they would incur by moving the game to December along with the fact it would interfere with the transition to college for the program's seniors.

The statement went on to say that IMG Academy's purpose 'extends beyond championships,' a signal that the school's administrators are at least comfortable with a decision that will likely cost them a shot at the national championship. While they remain No. 1 in AllSportsPeople High School Football Top 25 for now, the Ascenders have effectively erased what could have been the biggest bullet point on their resume when AllSportsPeople issues its final rankings in December.

IMG Academy operates as an independent program playing a national schedule, and the Ascenders con't participate in Florida's postseason. With high-ranked teams in the Sunshine State kicking off postseason play this week along with Top 10 programs in California, Georgia, and Texas, IMG went from controlling its own destiny to needing a lot of teams in those states to now lose down the stretch to hold onto The SN No. 1 position. IMG also remains No. 1in ESPN's rankings along with USA Today's Super 25.

It's unclear how this might affect the Ascenders in the long run in ESPN's rankings, but USA Today also noted in its latest edition that "with the postseason starting next week for most other teams, (the Ascenders) may be hard-pressed to hold on to (their No. 1) position long-term."

In the meantime, the rest of Florida's top-ranked programs including the No. 11/SN No. 8 St. Thomas Aquinas [Fort Lauderdale, FL] Raiders head full steam into the playoffs this week. The Raiders are likely eliminated from national title consideration, but remain in position to possibly finish in the national Top 5 by season's end. We'll update Florida's top four classifications below throughout the playoffs.

WATCH THE FLORIDA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS

Looking to watch? Stream live on NFHS Network or check your local listings. For games available to watch on local broadcast, you can also stream for free on Fubo which is currently offering a free trial for new subscribers.

Florida's FHSAA Class 7A/6A/5A/4A playoff brackets

MORE FLORIDA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL BRACKETS

^{NR — Not ranked; the first ranking is AllSportsPeople Composite ranking; if a team is ranked in AllSportsPeople High School Football Top 25, that ranking is listed following the composite ranking; additional rankings include teams in The NEXT 25.}

__________

Class 7A

__________

Opening Round

Friday, November 14, 2025 (unless noted otherwise)

NR DeLand [FL] Bulldogs 70 (11-0), NR Creekside [St. Johns, FL] Knights 21 (4-7)
NR Boone [Orlando, FL] Braves 24 (10-1), NR Winter Park [FL] Wildcats 12 (6-5)
NR Lake Mary [FL] Rams 42 (8-3), NR Hagerty [Oviedo, FL] Huskies 14 (6-5)
NR Spruce Creek [Port Orange, FL] Hawks 23 (9-2), NR Seminole [Sanford, FL] Seminoles 20 (5-6)
NR Venice [FL] Indians 49 (7-3), NR Ridge Community [Davenport, FL] Bolts 12 (5-6)
NR West Orange [Winter Garden, FL] Warriors 45 (10-1), NR Plant City [FL] Raiders 30 (7-4)
NR Riverview Sarasota [Sarasota, FL] Rams 42 (9-1-1), NR Winter Haven [FL] Blue Devils 13 (6-5)
NR Sumner [Riverview, FL] Stingrays 44 (9-2), NR Ocoee [FL] Knights 13 (5-6)
NR Vero Beach [FL] Indians 57 (11-0), NR East Ridge [Clermont, FL] Knights 10 (6-5)
NR Lake Nona [Orlando, FL] Lions 29 (8-3), NR St. Cloud [FL] Bulldogs 0 (8-3)
NR Jupiter [FL] Warriors 21 (10-1)NR Dr. Phillips [Orlando, FL] Panthers 24 (8-3)
NR Central [Fort Pierce, FL] Cobras 28 (10-1) vs. NR Palm Beach Central [Wellington, FL] Broncos 27 (6-5)
NR Palmetto [Miami, FL] Panthers 42 (9-2), NR Coral Glades [Coral Springs, FL] Jaguars 0 (6-5)
NR Columbus [Miami FL] Explorers 28 (4-7), NR Santaluces [Lantana, FL] Chiefs 3 (6-4)
NR Spanish River [Boca Raton, FL] Sharks 23 (7-4), NR Western [Davie, FL] Wildcats 21 (4-7)
NR Goleman [Miami, FL] Gators 30 (7-4), NR South Dade [Homestead, FL] Buccaneers 28 (5-6)

* — Thursday, November 13

__________

Class 6A

__________

Opening Round

Friday, November 14, 2025

NR Buchholz [Gainesville, FL] Bobcats 49 (10-1), NR Oviedo [FL] Lions 41 (8-3)
NR Nease [Ponte Vedra, FL] Panthers 45 (9-2), NR Oakleaf [Orange Park, FL] Knights 7 (8-3)
NR Mandarin [Jacksonville, FL] Mustangs 42 (10-1), NR Crestview [FL] Bulldogs 14 (6-4)
NR Pace [FL] Patriots 20 (10-1), NR Evans [Orlando, FL] Trojans 6 (8-3)
NR Armwood [Seffner, FL] Hawks 43 (11-0), NR Melbourne [FL] Bulldogs 0 (6-5)
NR Viera [FL] Hawks 54 (7-4), NR Riverview [FL] Sharks 13 (6-5)
NR South Lake [Groveland, FL] Eagles 37 (10-1), NR Plant [Tampa, FL] Panthers 36 (5-6)
NR Osceola [Kissimmee, FL] Kowboys 22 (7-4), NR Durant [Plant City, FL] Cougars 15 (5-6)
NR Palmetto [FL] Tigers 42 (10-1), NR Wiregrass Ranch [Wesley Chapel, FL] Bulls 41 (5-6)
NR Mitchell [New Port Richey, FL] Mustangs 40 (9-2), NR Lennard [Ruskin, FL] Longhorns 9 (8-3)
NR West Boca Raton [Boca Raton, FL] Bulls 35 (9-2), NR Largo [FL] Packers 7 (6-5)
NR East Lake [Tarpon Springs, FL] Eagles 35 (8-2), NR Parrish [FL] Community Bulls 7 (9-2)
NR Southridge [Miami, FL] Spartans 49 (10-1), NR Nova [Davie, FL] Titans 0 (5-6)
NR Piper [Sunrise, FL] Bengals 24 (7-4), NR Flanagan [Pembroke Pines, FL] Falcons 12 (8-3)
NR West Broward [Pembroke Pines, FL] Bobcats 56 (9-2), NR South Plantation [Plantation, FL] Paladins 13 (6-5)
NR Monarch [Coconut Creek, FL] Knights 39 (7-4), NR Doral [FL] Academy Firebirds 0 (5-5)

__________

Class 5A

__________

Opening Round

Friday, November 14, 2025

NR Ponte Vedra [FL] Sharks 31 (9-2), NR Niceville [FL] Eagles 30 (6-5)
NR Beachside [St. Johns, FL] Barracudas 23 (8-3), NR Milton [FL] Panthers 7 (7-4)
NR Mainland [Daytona Beach, FL] Buccaneers 34 (8-2), NR Middleburg [FL] Broncos 13 (8-3)
NR Mosley [Lynn Haven, FL] Dolphins 33 (10-1), NR Lincoln [Tallahassee, FL] Trojans 30 (6-5)
NR Edgewater [Orlando, FL] Eagles 33 (11-0), NR Lake Gibson [Lakeland, FL] Braves 0 (5-6)
NR Tampa [FL] Bay Tech Titans 47 (9-2), NR Sebring [FL] Blue Streaks 6 (5-6)
NR Lakeland [FL] Dreadnaughts 35 (9-2), NR Wesley Chapel [FL] Wildcats 0 (6-5)
NR Gaither [Tampa, FL] Cowboys 56 (10-1), NR Winter Springs [FL] Bears 0 (7-4)
NR Riverdale [Fort Myers, FL] Raiders 47 (10-1), NR North Fort Myers [FL] Red Knights 22 (4-7)
NR Immokalee [FL] Indians 10 (8-2), NR Pinellas Park [Largo, FL] Patriots 8 (5-6)
NR Cape Coral [FL] Seahawks 35 (10-1), NR Gulf Coast [Naples, FL] Sharks 21 (5-6)
NR Manatee [Bradenton, FL] Hurricanes 28 (5-6), NR Charlotte [Punta Gorda, FL] Fightin' Tarpons 21 (6-5)
NR St. Thomas Aquinas [Fort Lauderdale, FL] Raiders 58 (10-1), NR Heritage [Palm Bay, FL] Panthers 7 (4-7)
NR Coconut Creek [FL] Cougars 49 (9-2), NR Mater Academy Charter [Hialeah Gardens, FL] Lions 20 (8-3)
NR Atlantic [Delray Beach, FL] Eagles 55 (10-1), NR North Miami [FL] Pioneers 0 (7-4)
NR Martin County [Stuart, FL] Tigers 13 (8-3)NR McArthur [Hollywood, FL] Mustangs 41 (9-2)

__________

Class 4A

__________

Opening Round

Friday, November 14, 2025

NR St. Augustine [FL] Yellow Jackets 70 (10-1), NR Arnold [Panama City Beach, FL] Marlins 21 (3-8)
NR ED White [Jacksonville, FL] Commanders 42 (9-2), NR Pine Forest [Pensacola, FL] Eagles 20 (3-7)
NR Choctawhatchee [Fort Walton Beach, FL] Indians 49 (10-1), NR Booker T. Washington [Pensacola, FL] Wildcats 6 (5-5)
NR Columbia [Lake City, FL] Tigers 35 (9-2), NR Rickards [Tallahassee, FL] Raiders 0 (3-8)
NR Jones [Orlando, FL] Fightin' Tigers 35 (9-2), NR Deltona [FL] Wolves 13 (5-6)
NR Auburndale [FL] Bloodhounds 14 (8-3)NR Vanguard [Ocala, FL] Knights 21 (9-2)
NR Zephyrhills [FL] Bulldogs 35 (11-0), NR Rockledge [FL] Raiders 0 (3-8)
NR Lake Wales [FL] Highlanders 38 (9-2) vs. NR New Smyrna Beach [FL] Barracudas 3 (8-3)
NR Jesuit [Tampa, FL] Tigers 62 (10-1), NR Osceola [Seminole, FL] Warriors 0 (7-4)
NR Naples [FL] Golden Eagles 21 (7-3-1), NR South Fort Myers [Fort Myers, FL] Wolfpack 13 (7-4)
NR Port Charlotte [FL] Pirates 48 (9-2), NR Dunbar [Fort Myers, FL] Tigers 21 (7-4)
NR Clearwater [FL] Tornadoes 44 (8-3), NR Blake [Tampa, FL] Yellow Jackets 6 (7-4)
NR Archbishop McCarthy [Fort Lauderdale, FL] Mavericks 49 (9-2), NR Hialeah [FL] Thoroughbreds 6 (7-4)
NR Norland [Miami, FL] Vikings 49 (6-5) vs. NR Jensen Beach [FL] Falcons 14 (8-3)
NR American Heritage [Plantation, FL] Patriots 50 (5-5), NR John Carroll Catholic [Fort Pierce, FL] Rams 20 (8-3)
NR Plantation [FL] Colonels 21 (7-4), NR Dillard [Fort Lauderdale, FL] Panthers 14 (10-1)

MORE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL HEADLINES