Seven Kentucky Teams Forfeit Football Playoff Games

Seven Kentucky high school football programs forfeited their first-round playoff games, citing player health, safety, and roster shortages.

Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Football

Seven Kentucky Teams Forfeit Football Playoff Games

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Should high school teams forfeit playoff games when too many players are injured?

Caverna, Frankfort, Fort Knox, Marion County, Morgan County, Berea, and Western announced forfeits of their first-round playoff games. Their opponents advance automatically to the second round.

Why it matters

School officials largely cited player health and safety concerns, and Western was down to just 14 healthy players. The forfeits leave opposing programs with byes in the playoff bracket while raising questions about roster depth across the state's high school football programs.

The forfeiting programs combined for an 8-63 regular-season record, and Western reported only 14 healthy players. Comment from the remaining schools has not yet been reported.

The players

Heather O'Bryan

Heather O'Bryan is the athletic director at Western, who said the Warriors were down to 14 healthy players.

John Hodge

John Hodge is a former Boyle County and Bourbon County football coach who said forfeiting is not beneficial for programs, schools, or kids.

The details

Caverna, Frankfort, Fort Knox, Marion County, Morgan County, Berea, and Western announced they would not play their first-round playoff games. One school said the decision was made months before the season began, while another cited a lack of available players.

Months before the 2026 season began: One school made its forfeit decision.
2026 regular season: Frankfort forfeited two games.
2026 playoff season: Seven teams forfeited first-round playoff games.

Playoff Structure

Forfeits under the Kentucky High School Athletic Association playoff structure send opponents directly into the second round without a game. This places the seven forfeits within a bracket format that already accounts for roster strain in high school football.

Advancing opponents receive a second-round berth without playing, which changes their bracket path and rest schedule. Fantasy and recruiting observers tracking these programs should note the reduced playoff schedule for the forfeiting teams.

The takeaway

Roster depth and player health are shaping decisions that affect both the forfeiting programs and their opponents. Readers following Kentucky high school football can track how schools handle these pressures as the postseason continues.