Playoff Brackets Set for Arkansas Football Teams
The Arkansas Activities Association released the 2026 Arkansas Centennial Bank State Football Playoff brackets, with several local teams advancing.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Football
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The Arkansas Activities Association released the 2026 Arkansas Centennial Bank State Football Playoff brackets on November 7. Mountain Home, Mountain View, Salem and Izard County were among the local teams selected for the postseason.
Why it matters
The bracket sets the path to the state championship for teams across Arkansas, with several local programs drawing first-round byes or road games. Each result determines which teams advance toward the quarterfinals.
Mountain Home is placed in Class 6A with a first-round bye, while Salem and Mountain View are in Class 3A. Izard County holds a first-round bye in the 8-man bracket, and game results for the rounds ahead are not yet known.
The players
Arkansas Activities Association
The Arkansas Activities Association is the state body that governs interscholastic athletics and sets the postseason format for high school sports in Arkansas.
The details
Salem will play Atkins in a Class 3A first-round game, and Mountain View will travel to Glen Rose for its first-round Class 3A matchup. The Mountain Home Bombers will face the winner of the Searcy and Russellville game in round two, and Izard County will host the winner of the Strong and Cedar Ridge game at Cougars Stadium.
Timeline
November 7, 2026: Arkansas Activities Association releases the 2026 state football playoff brackets.
Season Trajectory
The bracket is built on the Arkansas Activities Association's existing classification system, which divides schools into Class 6A, Class 3A and 8-man divisions. Placement in those divisions determines opponents and travel for each playoff team this season.
Fans following Mountain Home, Mountain View, Salem and Izard County can track first-round and second-round matchups directly from the posted brackets. The Mountain Home Bombers open with a bye, so their next game depends on the Searcy and Russellville result.
The takeaway
Teams with byes gain a rest advantage, while road trips to Atkins and Glen Rose shape travel plans for the first round. Following the bracket week by week is the simplest way to track each local team's path.
Further reading
For more on the state's postseason landscape, see Football coverage for Arkansas.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KTLO.
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