AURORA | The 2026 Class 5A football playoff bracket as released by the Colorado High School Activities Association on Nov. 1, 2026. Aurora teams bold and uppercased:
Courtney Oakes is Aurora Sentinel Sports Editor. Reach him at sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter/X: @aurorasports. IG: Sentinel Prep Sports
2026 CLASS 5A STATE FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS
QUADRANT 1
First round (Nov. 5-6)
Game 1: No. 1 Cherry Creek (9-1), bye
Game 2: NO. 17 CHEROKEE TRAIL (5-5) vs. No. 16 Heritage (5-5), 6:30 p.m., Nov. 6, Littleton Public Schools Stadium
Game 3: No. 24 Castle View (4-6) vs. No. 9 Ralston Valley (7-3), 7 p.m., Nov. 6, North Area Athletic Complex
Game 4: No. 8 Grand Junction (8-2), bye
Second round (Nov. 13)
Game 17: Game 2 winner at No. 1 Cherry Creek (9-1)
Game 18: Game 3 winner vs. No. 8 Grand Junction (8-2)
Quarterfinals (Nov. 20)
Game 25: Game 17 winner vs. Game 18 winner
QUADRANT 2
First round (Nov. 5-6)
Game 5: No. 4 Fort Collins (10-0), bye
Game 6: No. 20 Riverdale Ridge (5-5) vs. No. 13 Northfield (6-4), 6 p.m., Nov. 6, All-City Stadium
Game 7: No. 21 Fossil Ridge (5-5) at NO. 12 REGIS JESUIT (6-4), 6:30 p.m., Nov. 6
Game 8: NO. 5 GRANDVIEW (7-3), bye
Second round (Nov. 13)
Game 19: Game 6 winner at No. 4 Fort Collins (10-0)
Game 20: Game 7 winner at NO. 5 GRANDVIEW (7-3)
Quarterfinals (Nov. 20)
Game 26: Game 19 winner vs. Game 20 winner
QUADRANT 3
First round (Nov. 5-6)
Game 9: No. 2 Valor Christian (8-2), bye
Game 10: No. 18 Legacy (5-5) at No. 15 Horizon (7-3), 7 p.m., Nov. 6
Game 11: No. 23 Chaparral (5-5) vs. No. 10 ThunderRidge (7-3), Nov. 5
Game 12: NO. 7 EAGLECREST (8-2), bye
Second round (Nov. 13)
Game 21: Game 10 winner at No. 2 Valor Christian (8-2)
Game 22: Game 11 winner at NO. 7 EAGLECREST (8-2)
Quarterfinals (Nov. 20)
Game 27: Game 21 winner vs. Game 22 winner
QUADRANT 4
First round (Nov. 5-6)
Game 13: No. 3 Mountain Vista (9-1), bye
Game 14: No. 19 Arapahoe (3-7) at No. 14 Fairview (6-4), Nov. 5
Game 15: No. 22 Denver East (7-3) vs. No. 11 Chatfield (6-4), 7:30 p.m., Nov. 6
Game 16: No. 6 Legend (7-3), bye
Second round (Nov. 13)
Game 23: Game 14 winner vs. No. 3 Mountain Vista (9-1)
Game 24: Game 15 winner at No. 6 Legend (7-3)
Quarterfinals (Nov. 20)
Game 28: Game 23 winner vs. Game 24 winner
SEMIFINALS (Nov. 28 at higher seeds)
Game 29: Game 25 winner vs. Game 26 winner
Game 30: Game 27 winner vs. Game 28 winner
CHAMPIONSHIP (Dec. 5 at Canvas Stadium, Fort Collins)
Game 31: Game 29 winner vs. Game 30 winner, 6 p.m.
