It’s the end of July and the beginning of football season. Most teams start July 29 with schedules already full of summer workouts and football camps. Most scrimmages will be Aug. 7 and 14, with several multi-team jamborees.
This year is going to be a blast as the local talent is here and ready to show North Carolina what the southeastern part of the state has to offer. First, I will tell you my thoughts on the state. Then I will predict the local conferences and how I see them stacking up.
1A
- Wilson Prep (9-5) Last Year’s Record
- Robbinsville (10-4)
- South Davidson (11-2)
- Northside Pineville (12-1)
- Thomas Jefferson (5-7)
Sleepers: KIPP Pride (11-1), North East Carolina Prep (NR)
Wilson Prep defeated Robbinsville 9-8 in the 1A title game last year. Ethan Nelson nailed a 27-yard field goal with 20 seconds left to give Wilson Prep the victory. They lost the 1-A title contest to Tarboro in 2024. Their backfield is listed as one of the best in the state.
People are rumbling about North East Carolina Prep being a squad to look out for. They didn’t field a team last year. I am listing them as a sleeper but it’s going to be tough to take a team from scratch to be competitive.
2A
- Tarboro (15-0)
- Murphy (12-3)
- Starmount (11-3)
- Corvian Community (10-2)
- Edenton Holmes (8-5)
Sleepers: North Duplin (10-2), East Bladen (8-5)
Nine straight state championships — Tarboro is the king and it’s going to be hard to dethrone the master. Their JV last year was undefeated and unscored on while the Junior High team went undefeated. North Duplin and East Bladen will fight for the Carolina Conference title with Lakewood and Hobbton. That is going to be a very interesting conference.
3A
- Shelby (13-3)
- James Kenan (12-2)
- Kinston (11-5)
- Lincolnton (11-3)
- Mountain Heritage (10-2)
Sleepers: Northeastern (9-4), Pender (10-2), Hendersonville (9-3), Walkertown (9-2), Wallace-Rose Hill (6-6)
The 3A bracket is going to be a wild west shootout this year. People are saying James Kenan but Shelby is strong and still champions. Kinston made a strong run to the title game last year and Lenoir County is keen on them.
Mountain Heritage was the number one seed last year and got shocked in the second-round. Lincolnton beat Shelby in the regular season. All of the sleepers could be in the 3A title game this year. I didn’t mention some sleepers like Whiteville (7-4) and Clinton (6-6).
REST OF 2026 NCHSAA PROJECTIONS
4A Reidsville
5A Shelby Crest
6A Middle Creek
7A Grimsley
8A William Amos Hough
Now that I’ve predicted the NCHSAA football playoffs in the brackets, let’s take a better look at the area conferences for the 2026 football season.
1A/2A Carolina Conference
- North Duplin (2A)
- East Bladen (2A)
- Hobbton (2A)
- Lakewood (2A)
- West Columbus (2A)
- East Columbus (1A)
- Union (2A)
Everyone in the conference made the playoffs last year which caused people to complain about too many participants in the playoffs. The only problem I have with that is four of the teams won first round games and the ones that lost were by upset.
East Columbus won its first playoff game in years. East Bladen lost to eventual champion Tarboro. This is a tough conference. You can scramble the first four listed any way you want and that might be the order they finish. The backfield play in this conference is worth watching. I’m giving North Duplin the nod because I have to pick somebody.
3A/4A/5A Southeastern Conference
- Whiteville (3A)
- South Brunswick (5A)
- South Columbus (3A)
- Red Springs (4A)
- Fairmont (4A)
- West Bladen (3A)
The Pack, Cougars, and Stallions were co-champions last year. There could be a repeat.
Whiteville is loaded but young. South Brunswick had a renaissance season last year. South Columbus has a familiar face leading the helm, hoping to bring them a taste of their past glory.
Red Springs has a very athletic team while the Fairmont Tornadoes are excited with their new coach. West Bladen is improved and athletic but just like last year, everybody else has improved also. I wouldn’t be surprised if all of the teams make the playoffs with some southeastern teams pulling off some shockers in the post season.
Some scenes from last year’s football season:
