NJSIAA Releases Unofficial Football Playoff Power Rankings

Forty-nine South Jersey high school football teams have secured spots in the upcoming state playoff groups.

Updated on Oct. 25, 2026 in Football

Expressive sports illustration of a high school football player in motion on a field under stadium lights. — The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association has released unofficial football power rankings for 49 qualifying South Jersey high school teams. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) has unveiled its unofficial football playoff power point rankings. Forty-nine teams from South Jersey have qualified to compete across 10 distinct playoff groups.

Why it matters

Qualifying teams are determined by their performance throughout the season as measured by the power point system. This ranking structure dictates which schools advance to the postseason brackets to compete for state titles.

The top 16 teams in each of the five NJSIAA groups qualify for postseason play. These teams are then organized into eight-team brackets for South Jersey and Central Jersey competitions.

The players

NJSIAA

The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association is the governing body for high school sports across the state of New Jersey.

The details

Schools qualify for the state tournament based on their accumulation of power points over the regular season schedule. Following the unofficial release, teams are awaiting the final confirmation of their respective regional brackets.

October 26, 2026: The official playoff brackets are released.
October 30-31, 2026: Quarterfinal playoff games begin.

Season Trajectory

The release of these power rankings signals the transition from the regular season to the high-stakes postseason tournament. These rankings serve as the final arbiter for school placement, shaping the path for every team contending for a state championship title.

With 49 teams qualifying for 10 groups, schools will now prepare for the specific matchups in their eight-team brackets. Fans and players can expect the official schedule and opponent assignments to be confirmed following the final bracket release on October 26.

The takeaway

Teams that have secured their spots must now shift their focus to the intense preparation required for the quarterfinal rounds. The power point system ensures that only the top-performing teams continue their season as the tournament field narrows.

What happens next

The official playoff brackets are expected to be released on October 26, 2026. Quarterfinal games are scheduled to take place on October 30 and October 31, 2026.