Each district sends its top finishers to the bi-district round, typically the week after Thanksgiving. Teams advance through regional quarterfinals, semis, and finals before the state championship games at AT&T Stadium in Arlington in December. Six classifications (6A through 1A) each crown a champion.
Friday Night Picks runs an Elo-style model on every game, updated weekly off real results. The AI Top 5 playoff contenders per class are listed below, based on preseason ratings and 2026 schedule strength.