2026 NSAA State Football Playoffs First Round Predictions by Scott Hansen
Class A
Columbus (5-4) at Omaha Westside (9-0)
Lincoln Northeast (8-1) at Papillion-La Vista (7-2)
Elkhorn North (6-3) at Elkhorn South (6-3)
Lincoln Southwest (6-3) at Bennington (8-1)
Creighton Prep (5-4) at Millard North (8-1)
Kearney (6-3) at Omaha North (8-1)
Millard West (5-4) at Papillion-La Vista South (6-3)
Lincoln Standing Bear (5-4) at Millard South (8-1)
Predictions
First Round: Omaha Westside over Columbus, Papillion-La Vista over Lincoln Northeast, Elkhorn South over Elkhorn North, Bennington over Lincoln Southwest, Millard North over Creighton Prep, Omaha North over Kearney, Millard West over Papillion-La Vista South, Millard South over Lincoln Standing Bear
Quarterfinals: Omaha Westside over Papillion-La Vista, Bennington over Elkhorn South, Millard North over Omaha North, Millard South over Millard West
Semifinals: Omaha Westside over Bennington, Millard South over Millard North
Final: Omaha Westside over Millard South
Darkhorse: Papillion-La Vista South
Comments: Omaha Westside took down two-time defending champion Millard South in Week 9. Expect Navy All-American bowl honoree and Nebraska commit Trae Taylor III get another shot at Braylen Warren and Omaha Westside in another dream matchup at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln. Omaha Westside is looking for its third state title since 2020 and sixth in school history. Millard North has been extremely successful since its one-point season opening loss to Millard South, winning eight straight game. A potential rematch with Millard South will test the defending champions.
Class B
Lincoln Pius X (2-7) at Gretna (9-0)
Norris (4-5) at Grand Island Northwest (7-2)
Ralston (4-5) at Omaha Skutt Catholic (7-2)
York (4-5) at Aurora (8-1)
Omaha Gross Cathoic (2-7) at Scottsbluff (8-1)
McCook (4-5) at Blair (8-1)
Elkhorn (4-5) at Waverly (7-2)
Hastings (2-7) at Gretna East (8-1)
Predictions
First Round: Gretna at Lincoln Pius X, Norris over Grand Island Northwest, Omaha Skutt Catholic over Ralston, Aurora over York, Scottsbluff over Omaha Gross Catholic, Blair over McCook, Waverly over Elkhorn, Gretna East over Hastings
Quarterfinals: Gretna over Norris, Omaha Skutt Catholic over Aurora, Scottsbluff over Blair, Waverly over Gretna East
Semifinals: Omaha Skutt Catholic over Gretna, Waverly over Scottsbluff
Final: Omaha Skutt Catholic over Waverly
Darkhorse: Norris
Comments: This just seems like the kind of year where Omaha Skutt Catholic finds a way to win the whole thing. If the Skyhawks can pull it off, it would be the seventh Class B state championship in school history and first since 2024. A second round matchup between defending champion Waverly and Gretna East is harsh as both have a shot to win Class B and have been ranked in the top three all season long..
Class C-1
Central City (4-5) at Sidney (9-0)
Adams Central (8-1) at Wahoo (7-2)
O’Neill (6-3) at Syracuse (7-2)
Cozad (4-5) at Pierce (9-0)
Auburn (5-4) at Chadron (8-1)
Omaha Roncalli Catholic (7-2) at Ashland-Greenwood (7-2)
Minden (8-1) at Lincoln Christian (7-2)
Alliance (5-4) at Boys Town (9-0)
Predictions
First Round: Sidney over Central City, Wahoo over Adams Central, Syracuse over O’Neill, Pierce over Cozad, Chadron over Auburn, Ashland-Greenwood over Omaha Roncalli Catholic, Lincoln Christian over Minden, Boys Town over Alliance
Quarterfinals: Sidney over Wahoo, Pierce over Syracuse, Ashland-Greenwood over Chadron, Boys Town over Lincoln Christian
Semifinals: Sidney over Pierce, Boys Town over Ashland-Greenwood
Final: Sidney over Boys Town
Darkhorse: Wahoo
Comments: For the first six weeks of the season, it appeared Ashland-Greenwood would run away with Class C-1 to win its first football state title in school history. An injury changed the fortunes of the Bluejays, which made Class C-1 wide open to include Ashland-Greenwood. Sidney allows just 5.1 points per game, which could make for a championship-winning formula. If Sidney can pull it off, it would be the first football title in program history. Boys Town also has not won a state title in football.
Class C-2
Hershey (5-4) at Grand Island Central Catholic (9-0)
Bishop Neumann (7-2) at Malcolm (7-2)
Wilber-Clatonia (6-3) at Yutan (8-1)
Fillmore Central (6-3) at Ord (7-2)
Lincoln Lutheran (5-4) at Cedar Catholic (9-0)
Mitchell (6-3) at Boone Central (9-0)
Scotus Central Catholic (6-3) at Gothenburg (6-3)
West Point-Beemer (5-4) at Bergan Catholic (9-0)
Predictions
First Round: Grand Island Central Catholic over Hershey, Malcolm over Bishop Neumann, Yutan over Wilber-Clatonia, Ord over Fillmore Central, Cedar Catholic over Lincoln Lutheran, Boone Central over Mitchell, Gothenburg over Scotus Central Catholic, Bergan Catholic over West Point-Beemer
Quarterfinals: Grand Island Central Catholic over Malcolm, Yutan over Ord, Cedar Catholic over Boone Central, Bergan Catholic over Gothenburg
Semifinals: Grand Island Central Catholic over Yutan, Bergan Catholic over Cedar Catholic
Final: Grand Island Central Catholic over Bergan Catholic
Darkhorse: Bishop Neumann
Comments: With four unbeaten teams coming into the postseason, this could be the most exciting bracket of them all. Grand Island Central has been at No. 1 the entire season in the NEBHSFB.com Top 10 outscoring its opponents by an average of 43 points per game. If the Crusaders can pull it off, it would be the first football state championship in school history after losing in the final four times. Bergan Catholic, Cedar Catholic, and Boone Central all have the firepower on offense and defenses to make a serious run at the whole thing, Gothenburg gives Bergan Catholic a potentailly dangerous second round matchup. Putting defending champions Bishop Neumann as the darkhorse seems obvious.
Class D-1
Amherst (5-4) at Johnson-Brock (9-0)
Elmwood-Murdock (6-3) at Exeter-Milligan/Friend (8-1)
Elkhorn Valley (6-3) at Crofton (8-1)
Cross County (6-3) at Ravenna (8-1)
Alma (6-3) at Stanton (9-0)
Centura (7-2) at Hartington-Newcastle (8-1)
Wisner-Pilger (7-2) at Sutton (7-2)
Ponca (5-4) at Sandy Creek (8-1)
Predictions
First Round: Johnson-Brock over Amherst, Exeter-Milligan/Friend over Elmwood-Murdock, Crofton over Elkhorn Valley, Ravenna over Cross County, Stanton over Alma, Hartington-Newcastle over Centura, Sutton over Wisner-Pilger, Sandy Creek over Ponca
Quarterfinals: Johnson-Brock over Exeter-Milligan/Friend, Crofton over Ravenna, Stanton over Hartington-Newcastle, Sandy Creek over Sutton
Semifinals: Johnson-Brock over Crofton, Sandy Creek over Stanton
Final: Sandy Creek over Johnson-Brock
Darkhorse: Ravenna
Comments: Sandy Creek is looking for its third straight Class D-1 state championship. Don’t judge the Cougars for its 34-26 Week 2 loss to unbeaten and No. 1 seed Johnson-Brock. Sandy Creek junior quarterback Kamerin Sealey has accounted for 57 touchdowns already this season. Johnson-Brock has already proved this season that Sealey are not invisible. Stanton also emerged from the regular season with an unbeaten record and has a possible second round encounter with explosive Hartington-Newcastle. The potential second round matchup between Crofton and Ravenna would be a thrilling encounter.
Class D-2
Fullerton (5-4) at Shelby-Rising City (9-0)
Aquinas Catholic (6-3) at Hemingford (7-2)
Hitchcock County (6-3) at Lourdes Central Catholic (7-2)
Neligh-Oakdale (7-2) at Loomis (9-0)
BDS (6-3) at Laurel-Concord-Coleridge (8-1)
Wilcox-Hildreth (6-3) at Creighton (7-2)
East Butler (6-3) at Howells-Dodge (7-2)
Bertrand (6-3) at North Platte St. Patrick’s (9-0) a
Predictions
First Round: Shelby-Rising City over Fullerton, Aquinas Catholic over Hemingford, Lourdes Central Catholic over Hitchcock County, Loomis over Neligh-Oakdale, Laurel-Concord-Coleridge over BDS, Creighton over Wilcox-Hildreth, Howells-Dodge over East Butler, North Platte St. Patrick’s over Bertrand
Quarterfinals: Shelby-Rising City over Aquinas Catholic, Loomis over Lourdes Central Catholic, Laurel-Concord-Coleridge over Creighton, Howells-Dodge over North Platte St. Patrick’s
Semifinals: Shelby-Rising City over Loomis. Howells-Dodge over Laurel-Concord-Coleridge
Final: Shelby-Rising City over Howells-Dodge
Darkhorse: East Butler
Comments: Shelby-Rising City is looking for its first trip to Lincoln in program history, but Shelby won Class D-1 in 1981, Carter Eickmeier and his 35 rushing touchdowns makes Shelby-Rising City the favorites. Aquinas Catholic nearly knocked off unbeaten Shelby-Rising City in Week 9. East Butler has lost three straight to teams ranked in the Top 10 and remains dangerous. Laurel-Concord-Coleridge are looking for its first title since winning C-2 in 2020 as Laurel-Concord. Class D-2 will have a new state champion because last year’s titlewinner (Wynot) is in Class D-3.
Class D-3
St. Mary’s (5-4) at Lawrence-Nelson (9-0)
Wynot (7-2) at Burwell (7-2)
Anselmo-Merna (7-2) at Wausa (8-1)
Guardian Angels Central Catholic (7-2) at Pleasanton (8-1)
Cambridge (7-2) at Archangels Catholic (8-1)
Brady (8-1) at Dundy County-Stratton (6-2)
Deshler (7-2) at Twin Loup (8-1)
Falls City Sacred Heart (6-3) at Central Valley (8-1)
Predictions
First Round: Lawrence-Nelson over St. Mary’s, Burwell over Wynot, Wausa over Anselmo-Merna, Guardian Angels Central Catholic over Pleasanton, Archangels Catholic over Cambridge, Brady over Dundy County-Stratton, Twin Loup over Deshler, Central Valley over Falls City Sacred Heart
Quarterfinals: Lawrence-Nelson over Burwell, Wausa over Guardian Angels Central Catholic, Archangels Catholic over Brady, Central Valley over Twin Loup,
Semifinals: Lawrence-Nelson over Wausa, Central Valley over Archangels Catholic
Final: Central Valley over Lawrence-Nelson
Darkhorse: St. Mary’s
Comments: With its only blemish of the campaign coming to Class D-1 back-to-back defending state champion Sandy Creek, Central Valley will hope that it can make another run to the title like it did in 2024. For Lawrence-Nelson, having Northwestern commit Wyatt Frey at quarterback helps, but the Raiders face a very dangerous St. Mary’s team in the first round. St. Mary’s has lost its four games to teams with a. combined 30-6 record. Archangels has not been to a state title game since the name change. Wausa has won two playoff games in program history and has not done so since 2012.
Class D-6
Crawford (5-3) at Stuart (8-0)
Leyton (7-1) at Riverside (7-1)
Hay Springs (5-3) at Red Cloud (7-1)
Sterling (5-3) at Diller-Odell (7-1)
Meridian (5-3) at Garden County (7-1)
Lewiston (6-2) at Medicine Valley (7-1)
Southwest (5-3) at Arthur County (6-2)
High Plains (5-3) at Wallace (7-1)
Predictions
First Round: Stuart over Crawford, Riverside over Leyton, Red Cloud over Hay Springs, Diller-Odell over Sterling, Garden County over Meridian, Medicine Valley over Lewiston, Arthur County over Southwest, Wallace over High Plains
Quarterfinals: Stuart over Riverside, Red Cloud over Diller-Odell, Garden County over Medicine Valley, Wallace over Arthur County
Semifinals: Stuart over Red Cloud, Garden County over Wallace
Final: Garden County over Stuart
Darkhorse: Southwest
Comments: Garden County is looking to repeat as Class D-6 state champion and looks to do so. Its only blemish of the season came in Week 2 to Southwest. Stuart, winners in 2024, will be looking to get back to Kearney for another shot at the trophy. Red Cloud is searching for its first title, Wallace has never been to a state final in football in program history. Southwest, runners-up a year ago, are the darkhorse basically because it already beat Garden County earlier this season.
