Browner Proposes Separate Public, Private Playoffs
Bishop Gorman coach Brent Browner wants NIAA public schools and private and charter schools to run their own postseason systems.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Gambling
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Bishop Gorman head coach Brent Browner has proposed separate playoff systems for NIAA public schools and for private and charter schools, with private and charter state championships held at Allegiant Stadium. The proposal comes as 30 Clark County Public Schools left the NIAA to go independent for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons.
Why it matters
The 30 departing schools cited a desire to avoid playing neighboring private schools Bishop Gorman and Faith Lutheran, a split that could reshape high school football competition across Nevada. Browner's proposal would change how state titles are decided for both public and private programs in the state.
Bishop Gorman outscored Nevada-based opponents 355-13 across eight 2025 regular season games and beat Arbor View 44-7 in the 2025 NIAA Open Division final. Whether the NIAA will adopt a separate public and private playoff structure has not been decided.
The players
Brent Browner
Brent Browner is the head football coach at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Nevada, and is the source of the proposal for separate public and private playoff systems.
Bishop Gorman High School
Bishop Gorman High School is a private Catholic school in Las Vegas with about 1,500 students and more than 100 state championships across its athletic programs.
Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association (NIAA)
The Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association is the state body that governs high school athletic competition and state championships for member schools in Nevada.
Faith Lutheran High School
Faith Lutheran High School is a private school in the Las Vegas area and a regional football rival of Bishop Gorman, named in the 30 schools' decision to leave the NIAA.
The details
Browner's proposal would divide the postseason into two tracks, one for NIAA public schools that crowns a public-school champion and one for private and charter schools with state championships held at Allegiant Stadium. The proposal follows the departure of 30 Clark County Public Schools from the NIAA, which will operate independently for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons. Bishop Gorman is ranked No. 10 nationally and is scheduled to play Faith Lutheran in a NIAA state semifinal tonight.
Timeline
2025 regular season: Bishop Gorman played eight games against Nevada-based opponents.
2025: Bishop Gorman won the NIAA Open Division state championship over Arbor View.
Off-season: 30 Clark County Public Schools left the NIAA for independent status.
2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons: The 30 departing schools will play as independent programs.
Tonight: Bishop Gorman faces Faith Lutheran in a NIAA state semifinal.
Lifestyle Context
Browner's proposal extends the decision by 30 Clark County Public Schools to leave the NIAA for independent play in 2026-27 and 2027-28, a split driven by a desire to avoid games against Bishop Gorman and Faith Lutheran. Whether a separate public and private postseason would reduce these competitive gaps remains untested.
Fantasy and bracket players tracking Nevada high school football will see the Bishop Gorman and Faith Lutheran semifinal decide the Open Division finalist. If the proposal is adopted, public and private school playoff brackets would be separate, changing which teams a fan can follow for a state title.
The takeaway
Separate playoff tracks would change how Nevada high school titles are won, so fans who follow both public and private programs should watch whether the NIAA takes up the proposal. The outcome will shape which rivalries stay on the field in future seasons.
What happens next
Bishop Gorman and Faith Lutheran play in the NIAA state semifinal tonight, and the winner will play for the NIAA Open Division state championship.
Further reading
For more on the betting and sports wagering side of the state's athletics scene, see Gambling coverage for Nevada.
Source note: This article includes information reported by On3.
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