Football 2026-2027 Football Declarations (Updated 6/27)

[Alum-Ni]

Declarations are underway for the 2026-2027 two-year cycle.

Schools have until November 1, 2025 to submit application for a cooperative sponsorship for that cycle. The deadline to declare for 11-man, 8-man or 6-man (or to opt-up or opt-down in class) is November 30, 2025.

- Schools with a BOY three-grade enrollment (9th-11th grades) in excess of 55 as submitted in the fall of 2025 are not eligible for the 8-man football playoffs in 2026 and 2027, unless they are eligible for the one-classification waiver. A school that is ineligible for the playoffs in the 2026 & 2027 cycle can become eligible in the second season (2027) if their BOY enrollment figure is 55 or lower as submitted in the fall of 2026.

- Schools with a BOY three-grade enrollment (9th-11th grades) in excess of 27 as submitted in the fall of 2025 are not eligible for the 6-man football playoffs in 2026 and 2027, unless they are eligible for the one-classification waiver. A school that is ineligible for the playoffs in the 2026 & 2027 cycle can become eligible in the second season (2027) if their BOY enrollment figure is 27 or lower as submitted in the fall of 2026.

- A school that Opts down in classification and is thus ineligible for the playoffs in the 2026 & 2027 cycle can become eligible in the second season (2027) if their BOY enrollment figure as submitted in the fall of 2026 falls within the appropriate classification enrollment range.

- Classifications and District Assignments will be released in December 2025 for the 2026 and 2027 seasons. Schools will then be asked to submit a priority list of non-district schools they would like to have on their 2026 and 2027 schedules.

- In January or February 2026 NSAA Staff will establish the schedules for the 2026 and 2027 seasons in Classes A, B, C1, C2, D1, D2, D3 and D6. Schedules along with home and away designations for the 2026 and 2027 seasons will be released to member schools on February 11, 2026.

2026-2027 FOOTBALL DECLARATIONS

11-MAN (11)
Ashland-Greenwood
Central City
Elkhorn South
Gothenburg
Hartington Cedar Catholic
Lincoln Pius X
Malcolm
Norfolk
Omaha Concordia
Syracuse
Wahoo

8-MAN (3)
Axtell
Hartington-Newcastle
Laurel-Concord-Coleridge

6-MAN (1)
Potter-Dix

 

[nenebskers]

With the 8man cutoff raised, will be interesting to see if any schools opt up to C2. Guessing Cedar Catholic will be close, if not under, 55.

 

[Alum-Ni]

With the 8man cutoff raised, will be interesting to see if any schools opt up to C2. Guessing Cedar Catholic will be close, if not under, 55.

I've heard Oakland-Craig may declare 8-man next cycle.

 

[northeastNebraska]

With the 8man cutoff raised, will be interesting to see if any schools opt up to C2. Guessing Cedar Catholic will be close, if not under, 55.

I'd be pretty shocked if they went down to 8 man unless their numbers get really low or if Cattau steps aside years from now.

In my opinion Bergan, Cedar, Norfolk Catholic will stay 11 man. I don't think Aquinas will go 8 man with Mimick in charge.

Hastings St. Cecilia I could see it happening.

Cross County will be interesting. Not sure what their enrollment looks like 5-8 but they just went back to 11 man, would they drop back to 8 again? Seems like they are steadily growing and their location has them in a good spot being in the middle of Osceola, High Plains, and only 15 miles from York.

 

[nenebskers]

I'd be pretty shocked if they went down to 8 man unless their numbers get really low or if Cattau steps aside years from now.

In my opinion Bergan, Cedar, Norfolk Catholic will stay 11 man. I don't think Aquinas will go 8 man with Mimick in charge.

Hastings St. Cecilia I could see it happening.

Cross County will be interesting. Not sure what their enrollment looks like 5-8 but they just went back to 11 man, would they drop back to 8 again? Seems like they are steadily growing and their location has them in a good spot being in the middle of Osceola, High Plains, and only 15 miles from York.

Cedar already declared 11 man.

 

[just_average32]

I've heard Oakland-Craig may declare 8-man next cycle.

Edit: I posted enrollment numbers from this past winter. There will be new numbers pulled this fall for the next cycle. These numbers could change a little or a lot (maybe Bridgeport?)


Same here. I have heard rumors that OC is mulling over forfeiting this upcoming season and play a JV schedule due to potential roster rise in the mid teens. Then they’d drop to 8man next cycle.

Here is a look at the enrollment numbers that will be used for classification. I listed what class they have been playing this cycle. The new 8man number will drastically change the look of C2. But as you can see by the old cut line number 47, it looks like it was necessary. If I had to pick with my gut, I’d say all of those who can probably will drop. That means Hershey, Ponca, Valentine, Siperior, Gordon-Rushville, Amherst, Oakland-Craig, Cross County, Aquinas, and Hastings St. Cecicilia all drop. Not sure what some teams like Bridgeport (79), Freeman (64), Summerland (61) and Pender (57) will do. Looks like their exemption is gone and will still be over the new number.

Ogallala 70
Malcolm 68
Bishop Neumann 67
Doniphan-Trumbull 67
Omaha Brownell Talbot 66
Madison 65 (8man)
Ord 65
Freeman 64 (8man)
Gibbon 64
North Bend Central 64
Wood River 64
Fillmore Central 63
Summerland 61 (8man)
Tekamah-Herman 61
Cedar Catholic 60
Norfolk Catholic 60
Wakefield 59 (8man)
Centennial 57 (8man)
Pender 57 (8man)
Yutan 57
Archbishop Bergan 56
——-New 8man line——-
Hershey 55 (11man)
Ponca 55 (11man)
Tri County 55 (8man
Valentine 55 (11man)
West Holt 55 (8man)
Centura 54 (11man)
Crofton 54 (8man)
Thayer Central 54 (8man)
Elkhorn Valley 53 (8man)
Superior 52 (11man)
Laurel-Concord-Coleridge 51 (8man)
Gordon-Rushville 50 (11man)
Kimball 49 (8man)
Shelby-Rising City 49 (8man)
Stanton 49 (8man)
Hemingford 48 (8man)
Sandy Creek 48 (8man)
——-Old 8man line——-
Alma 47 (8man)
Amherst 47 (11man)
Hartington-Newcastle 47
Twin River 47
Cedar Bluffs 46
Oakland-Craig 46 (11man)
Heartland 45
Dundy County Stratton 44
Elmwood-Murdock 44
Homer 44
Johnson-Brock 44
Sutton 44
Ainsworth 43
Perkins County 43
Aquinas Catholic 42 (11man)
Cross County 42 (11man)
Howells-Dodge 42
Fullerton 41
North Platte St. Patrick's 41
Ravenna 41
Boyd County 40
East Butler 40
Franklin 40
Morrill 40
Nebraska Christian 40
Palmer 40
Wisner-Pilger 40
Hitchcock County 39
Plainview 39
Arapahoe 38
Elm Creek 38
Hastings St. Cecilia 38 (11man)

 

[ACICOD]

The enrollment numbers used for classification in 2026-2027 will not be taken until October 1 of the upcoming school year. So the numbers you have might be close, but they are far from official.

 

[just_average32]

The enrollment numbers used for classification in 2026-2027 will not be taken until October 1 of the upcoming school year. So the numbers you have might be close, but they are far from official.

Great point. Forgot about that. I’ll edit original post

 

[nenebskers]

Oakland Craig potentially forfeiting this fall? Wow! Ponca has already decided to drop. Their JHigh is playing a 8 man schedule this fall and JV is playing some 8 and some 11 man games.

 

[northeastNebraska]

If O-C goes 8 man, give me a Burt County co-op between O-C and Lyons-Decatur someday.

 

[nenebskers]

Maybe I'm totally off on this. I thought I heard a while back that Crofton was planning to go back to 11 man. Of course that could have been before the cutoff changed. Anyone have knowledge of their situation?

 

[ACICOD]

If they are under 55, I expect they will stay 8-man.

 

[northeastNebraska]

If they are under 55, I expect they will stay 8-man.

Agreed.

 

[northeastNebraska]

It’s going to be fascinating how many teams drop to 8 man over the next 2-4 years since many are against co-ops to stay 11 man. In a world I’d like to live in, I’d love to see these co-ops give it a go at C2 to help fill up the class again. Bump the C2 number up if we have to. (Most of these teams played 11 man in the last 20 years)

Bloomfield-Crofton
Plainview-Creighton
West Holt-Stuart
Shelby-Rising City-Osceola
Oakland-Craig-Lyons-Decatur
Pender-Bancroft-Rosalie
Elmwood-Murdock-Weeping Water
Hershey-Sutherland

Or we could have had a 9 man class for some of these schools and not a third 8 man class. Would have helped out a lot of schools in enrollment transition.

If schools aren’t willing to co-op, I’d like to see one Class of C, and take the top 10-12 in C1 and bump them to B. Wahoo, Ashland-Greenwood, Gross, Mt. Micheal, Aurora, Wayne, DC West, etc.

Have Class B go from 25 to 32 or 35.

Have C1 go from 35 to 45 and eliminate Class C2 football.

 

[HappyTrail3200]

Or we could have had a 9 man class for some of these schools and not a third 8 man class. Would have helped out a lot of schools in enrollment transition.

 

[Power_I_82]

I honestly don't think 9 man does a thing for the schools that probably need to just go 8 man anyway. Other than you can probably transition some of your old 11 man offense and WR type kids into the game faster. There is so much spread played throughout 8 man right now though. Lots of WR and shotgun snaps you never used to see. If your coach is worth his salt, he will find a way to adapt his scheme to his athletes and to the game. Having one 9 man class would be a scheduling headache. Now with D1-D3 if someone wants to schedule up and play the neighboring school they can. I've just never bought into the thought we need another division of football with only one extra player. Only way I would buy it is if all class C went to 9 man. Then I'd consider changing my mind...maybe

 

[northeastNebraska]

Alright, that’s pretty good, I’ll give it to ya 🤣

 

[Alum-Ni]

June 27 updates (added to original post above as well)

11-Man
Malcolm

8-Man
Hartington-Newcastle