High school football playoffs: Top 5 matchups of the week

Here are the top-five games on the schedule.

This week, several other Super 25 teams will be lining up across from each other, setting the stage for more playoff drama. Here are the top-five games on the schedule.

(Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)

California: No. 1 St. John Bosco vs. No. 19 Serra

St. John Bosco (12-1)

To get here the Braves beat out the Monarchs in dramatic fashion last Friday night, winning 24-22 after holding off a late rally by Mater Dei. In the end, it was quality line play that won the day for Bosco. On defense, they stood tall in the red zone with several successful goal line stands. Their offensive line also played a key role in crunch time.

Serra (13-0)

Still undefeated on the season, Serra hasn’t really been challenged since back in Week 2, when they defeated De La Salle (Calif.) by a field goal. The Padres have beaten every team they’ve faced since by at least 12 points, including a 41-14 route of Archbishop Mitty (Calif.) last week.

Watch live or on-demand on the NFHS Network

(PAUL RYAN / CORRESPONDENT)

Florida: No. 4 Central vs. No. 13 American Heritage (12/16)

Central (13-0)

The Rockets began their 2022 campaign with a 20-14 win over IMG Academy (Fla.), getting their journey off on the right foot. That was about as tough as it’s gotten for Central this year. All together, they have beaten seven of their opponents by 30 points or more. Last week they took out Lakewood (Fla.) 39-21 to advance.

American Heritage (13-1)

(USA TODAY Network)

Texas: No. 8 Westlake vs. No. 10 North Shore

Westlake (14-0)

They have some strong competition for the title, but Westlake might be the most-dominant high school football team in the nation this year. Their season began with a 30-point blowout over Ridge Point (Texas) and they haven’t looked back. Along the way, they’ve posted several lopsided wins by scores of 73-7, 66-17, 70-0, 45-0, 70-10 and 58-10. They did it again last week against Brennan (Texas), winning 47-7 on the road.

North Shore (14-0)

While not quite as dominant as Westlake, the Mustangs are also undefeated on the season. They have done it by running up the score on their opponents. They have put up at least 38 points in 12 different games this season. Last week they put up 38 again vs. Atascocita (Texas) in a 31-point landslide.

Watch live or on-demand on the NFHS Network

(Fiel)

Georgia: No. 20 Carrollton vs. No. 24 Mill Creek

Carrollton (14-0)

If you get to this point in the schedule and you still haven’t lose a game, you’re doing something right. The Trojans won their first game this year against Gadsden City (Ala.) 69-7, setting the tone for a dominant campaign. Carrollton boasts one of the top defenses in the country, holding eight opponents to 14 points or less. They beat Colquitt County (Ga.) on Friday, 35-27.

Mill Creek (13-1)

With the exception of a close call Week 1 against Walton (Ga.) and a 12-point loss to Buford (Ga.) in mid-October, Mill Creek has been rolling over their competition all year. They won their next two games by a combined score of 99-0 and have blown out every other opponent by at least 24 points. Last week they beat Milton (Ga.) 48-14.

Watch live or on-demand on the NFHS Network

(USA TODAY Network)

Arizona: No. 18 Basha vs. Saguaro

Basha (11-1)

The only team that’s beaten Basha this season is Liberty (Ariz.), a 35-7 blowout back in early October. Since that point their defense has tightened up considerably, not allowing more than 25 points in a single game. It’s getting better with time, too. To get here Basha pitched a shut out against Chandler (Ariz.) in a 13-0 playoff win last weekend.

Saguaro (9-3)

The Sabercats had a shaky start to their 2022 season, losing their first game and three of their first five matchups overall. However, since then they have gone on a tear, winning seven straight games, including a one-point road victory over Liberty on Saturday, 43-42. That avenged a 26-17 loss to Liberty on September 30, which was the last time Saguaro lost a game.

Watch live or on-demand on the NFHS Network

High School Football Playoffs Calendar: How to live stream upcoming games

Live stream 2022 high school playoffs in your state on the NFHS Network.

The 2022 high school football season’s playoff rush continues this week and beyond, with many of the states prepping for state championships on November 18 and 19.

As usual, the final rounds are not uniform for all 50 states, and on top of that, traveling to remote sites can make watching your favorite team difficult.

So, USA TODAY High School Sports is back, with the help of the NFHS Network, to release an updated state-by-state guide to get high school football fans set for the final postseason run in 2022.

Alabama High School Football Playoffs

State championships: Nov. 17; Nov. 30-Dec. 2

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Alaska High School Football Playoffs

Season completed on Oct. 21

 

Arizona High School Football Playoffs

State championships: Nov. 12 (1A); Nov. 26 (3A, 2A); Dec. 9 (5A, 4A); Dec. 10 (Open, 6A).

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Arkansas High School Football Playoffs

State championships: Dec. 1-3

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

California High School Football Playoffs

Regional Bowl Championships (North/South): Dec. 2-3

State Championship Bowl Games: Dec. 9-10

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Colorado High School Football Playoffs

State championships: Nov. 26 (2A, 1A, A8, A6); Dec. 3 (5A, 4A, 3A)

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Connecticut High School Football Playoffs

State championships: Dec. 10

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Delaware High School Football Playoffs

State championships: Dec. 11

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Florida High School Football Playoffs

State championships: Dec. 8-10; Dec. 15-17

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Georgia High School Football Playoffs

State championships: Dec. 8-10

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Hawaii High School Football Playoffs

State championships: Nov. 18-19

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Idaho High School Football Playoffs

State championships: Nov. 18-19

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Illinois High School Football Playoffs

State championships: Nov. 25-26

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Indiana High School Football Playoffs

State championships: Nov. 25-26

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Iowa High School Football Playoffs

State championships: Nov. 17-18

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Kansas High School Football Playoffs

State championships: Nov. 26

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Kentucky High School Football Playoffs

State championships: Dec. 2-3

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Louisiana High School Football Playoffs

State championships: Dec. 9-10

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Maine High School Football Playoffs

State championships: Nov. 12 (8-Man); Nov. 19 (A, B, C, D)

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Maryland High School Football Playoffs

State championships: Dec. 1-3

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Massachusetts High School Football Playoffs

State championships: Dec. 2-3

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Michigan High School Football Playoffs

State championships: Nov. 18-19 (8-man); Nov. 25-26 (11-man)

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Minnesota High School Football Playoffs

State championships: Dec. 2-3

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Mississippi High School Football Playoffs

State championships: Dec. 2-3

Midsouth/Independent: State championships: Nov. 17-19

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Missouri High School Football Playoffs

State championships: Nov. 26 (Class 6); Dec. 1-3 (Class 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 8-man)

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Montana High School Football Playoffs

State championships: Nov. 18-19

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Nebraska High School Football Playoffs

State championships: Nov. 21-22

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Nevada High School Football Playoffs

State championships: Nov. 18-19

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

New Hampshire High School Football Playoffs

Remaining state championships: Nov. 18 or 19 (Division I, Division II)

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

New Jersey High School Football Playoffs

State championships: Dec. 3-4

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

New Mexico High School Football Playoffs

Remaining state championships: Nov. 19 (2A); Nov. 26 (6A, 5A, 4A, 3A)

On-Demand or Live viewing: N/A

 

New York High School Football Playoffs

State championships: Nov. 18-19 to Dec. 2-4, depending on location

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

North Carolina High School Football Playoffs

State championships: Dec. 9-10

Independants: State championships: Nov. 18

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

North Dakota High School Football Playoffs

Season completed

 

Ohio High School Football Playoffs

State championships: Dec. 1-3

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Oklahoma High School Football Playoffs

State championships: Dec. 1-3 (6A, 5A, 4A, 3A, C); Dec. 10 (2A, A, B)

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Oregon High School Football Playoffs

State championships: Nov. 18 or 19 (1A 6-man); Nov. 25-26 (6A, 5A, 4A, 3A, 2A, 1A 8-man)

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Pennsylvania High School Football Playoffs

State championships: Dec. 8-10

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Rhode Island High School Football Playoffs

State championships: Nov. 18-19

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

South Carolina High School Football Playoffs

State championships: Dec. 1-3

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

South Dakota High School Football Playoffs

Season completed

 

Tennessee High School Football Playoffs

Championships: December 1-3

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Texas High School Football Playoffs

State championships: Dec. 1-3; Dec. 14-17

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Utah High School Football Playoffs

State championships: Nov. 11-12 (4A, 3A, 2A, 1A); Nov. 18 (6A, 5A)

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Vermont High School Football Playoffs

Season completed

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Virginia High School Football Playoffs

State championships: Dec. 10

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Washington High School Football Playoffs

State championships: Dec. 3

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Washington, D.C. High School Football Playoffs

State championships: Nov. 26 (A); Dec. 3 (AA)

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

West Virginia High School Football Playoffs

State championships: Dec. 1-2

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Wisconsin High School Football Playoffs

State championships: Nov. 17-18

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Wyoming High School Football Playoffs

Season completed

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High School Football Playoffs: Start dates in each state (plus D.C.), and how to watch

Find out when 2022 playoffs kick off in your state, plus how to watch them live on the NFHS Network.

The 2022 high school football season’s playoff rush is one of the best times on the sports calendar, when teams across the country battle for divisional honors as well as state championships.

Of course, it’s not a uniform start date for all 50 states, and on top of that, traveling to remote sites can make watching your favorite team difficult.

So, with the help of the NFHS Network, we’ve created a state-by-state guide to get high school football fans set for the postseason.

Alabama High School Football Playoffs

Start Date: Nov. 4

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Alaska High School Football Playoffs

Start Date: Oct. 7. Final completed on Oct. 21

 

Arizona High School Football Playoffs

Start Date: October 21 (1A); November 4 (3A, 2A); November 18 (6A, 5A, 4A); November 25 (Open Division)

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Arkansas High School Football Playoffs

Start Date: Nov. 11

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

California High School Football Playoffs

Start Date: Between Oct. 28 and Nov. 11, depending on Section

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Colorado High School Football Playoffs

Start Date: Nov. 5

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Connecticut High School Football Playoffs

Start Date: Nov. 29

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Delaware High School Football Playoffs

Start Date: Nov. 18

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Florida High School Football Playoffs

Start Date: Nov. 11

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Georgia High School Football Playoffs

Start Date: Nov. 11

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Hawaii High School Football Playoffs

Start Date: Nov. 4

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Idaho High School Football Playoffs

Start Date: Oct. 28

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Illinois High School Football Playoffs

Start Date: Oct. 28

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Indiana High School Football Playoffs

Start Date: October 21 (5A, 4A, 3A, 2A, 1A); October 28 (6A)

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Iowa High School Football Playoffs

Start Date: October 21 (2A, 1A, A, 8-Player); October 28 (5A, 4A, 3A)

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Kansas High School Football Playoffs

Start Date: Oct. 27

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Kentucky High School Football Playoffs

Start Date: Nov. 3-5

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Louisiana High School Football Playoffs

Start Date: Nov. 10

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Maine High School Football Playoffs

Start Date:  Oct. 21 (8-Man Small); Oct. 28 (B, C, 8-Man Large); Nov. 4 (A, D)

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Maryland High School Football Playoffs

Start Date: Nov. 4

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Massachusetts High School Football Playoffs

Start Date: Nov. 4

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Michigan High School Football Playoffs

Start Date: Oct. 28

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Minnesota High School Football Playoffs

Start Date: Nov. 10

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Mississippi High School Football Playoffs

Start Date: Nov. 4 (4A, 3A, 2A); Nov. 11 (6A, 5A, 1A) | Midsouth: Oct. 28 (5A, 4A, 3A, 2A); Nov. 4 (6A)

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Missouri High School Football Playoffs

Start Date: Oct. 28

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Montana High School Football Playoffs

Start Date: Oct. 28

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Nebraska High School Football Playoffs

Start Date: Oct. 20 (D1, D2); Oct. 28 (A, B, C1, C2, D6)

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Nevada High School Football Playoffs

Start Date: Oct. 27-29 (5A, 4A, 3A); Nov. 4-5 (2A, 1A)

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

New Hampshire High School Football Playoffs

Start Date: Nov. 4

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

New Jersey High School Football Playoffs

Start Date: Oct. 28

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

New Mexico High School Football Playoffs

Start Date: Oct. 22 (8-man, 6-man); Oct. 29 (6A, 5A, 4A, 3A, 2A)

On-Demand or Live viewing: N/A

 

New York High School Football Playoffs

Start Date: Oct. 28 to Nov. 11, depending on location

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

North Carolina High School Football Playoffs

Start Date: Nov. 4

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

North Dakota High School Football Playoffs

Start Date: Oct. 15 (9-Man); Oct. 22 (11B); Oct. 28 (11AA & 11A)

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Ohio High School Football Playoffs

Start Date: Oct. 28

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Oklahoma High School Football Playoffs

Start Date: Nov. 11

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Oregon High School Football Playoffs

Start Date: Nov. 4

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Pennsylvania High School Football Playoffs

Start Date: Nov. 18

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Rhode Island High School Football Playoffs

Start Date: Nov. 4

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

South Carolina High School Football Playoffs

Start Date: Nov. 4

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

South Dakota High School Football Playoffs

Start Date: Oct. 20 (11B, 9-man); Oct. 27 (11AAA, 11AA, 11A)

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Tennessee High School Football Playoffs

Start Date: Nov. 4

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Texas High School Football Playoffs

Start Date: Nov. 11

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Utah High School Football Playoffs

Start Date: Oct. 21

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Vermont High School Football Playoffs

Start Date: Oct. 29-30

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Virginia High School Football Playoffs

Start Date: Nov. 11-12

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Washington High School Football Playoffs

Start Date: Nov. 4

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Washington, D.C. High School Football Playoffs

Start Date: Nov. 11-12

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

West Virginia High School Football Playoffs

Start Date: Nov. 10-11

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Wisconsin High School Football Playoffs

Start Date: Oct. 21

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

 

Wyoming High School Football Playoffs

Start Date: Oct. 28

Watch on the NFHS Network: Live or On-Demand

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Note: We occasionally recommend interesting products, services, and gaming opportunities. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY HSS operates independently, though, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.