As the playoffs get ready to start this week, here is Publisher Joshua Wilson’s projected bracket for Class 5A.
This could be the easiest bracket to project of all the classifications. Looking at Class 5A North, arguably Rickards and Baker County could have the best paths to get to Orlando. However, to be honest it is wide open as to who will really emerge from the North. Looking at the South, it looks like it could be no contest here as American Heritage stands out from the rest of the teams. Pretty easy to say it no matter who comes from the North, they are going to find it tough to get past American Heritage. For this, I take Baker County to get to Orlando, but ultimately seeing American Heritage winning it all.
Home team in bold italic / Bracket scrollable in mobile view
| REGIONAL QUARTERFINAL |
REGIONAL SEMIFINAL |
REGIONAL FINAL |
STATE SEMIFINAL |
STATE CHAMPIONSHIP |
|
| R2 | Wakulla | ||||
| West Florida | |||||
| W1 | West Florida | ||||
| Rickards | |||||
| R1 | Bay | ||||
| Rickards | |||||
| W2 | Rickards | ||||
| REGION I | Rickards | ||||
| R4 | Bishop Kenny | ||||
| Ribault | |||||
| W3 | Ribault | ||||
| Ribault | |||||
| R3 | Yulee | ||||
| Ponte Vedra | |||||
| W4 | Ponte Vedra | ||||
| Baker County | |||||
| R6 | Belleview | ||||
| Baker County | |||||
| W5 | Baker County | ||||
| Baker County | |||||
| R5 | Clay | ||||
| Clay | |||||
| W6 | North Marion | ||||
| REGION II | Baker County | ||||
| R8 | Zephyrhills | ||||
| Nature Coast | |||||
| W7 | Nature Coast | ||||
| Nature Coast | |||||
| R7 | Crystal River | ||||
| River Ridge | |||||
| W8 | River Ridge | ||||
| American Heritage | |||||
| R10 | Jefferson | ||||
| Jefferson | |||||
| W9 | Lakewood | ||||
| Jesuit | |||||
| R9 | Gibbs | ||||
| Jesuit | |||||
| W10 | Jesuit | ||||
| REGION III | Jesuit | ||||
| R12 | Immokalee | ||||
| Hardee | |||||
| W11 | Hardee | ||||
| Dunbar | |||||
| R11 | Southeast | ||||
| Dunbar | |||||
| W12 | Dunbar | ||||
| American Heritage | |||||
| R14 | Merritt Island | ||||
| Bishop Moore | |||||
| W13 | Bishop Moore | ||||
| Palm Bay | |||||
| R13 | Eustis | ||||
| Palm Bay | |||||
| W14 | Palm Bay | ||||
| REGION IV | American Heritage | ||||
| R16 | Cardinal Gibbons | ||||
| Cardinal Gibbons | |||||
| W15 | Suncoast | ||||
| American Heritage | |||||
| R15 | Fort Pierce Westwood | ||||
| American Heritage | |||||
| W16 | American Heritage (Plantation) | ||||
![Addy Curry has helped lead second-year Tocoi Creek (St. Augustine) to the playoffs and will travel to Timber Creek for their first-round match. Class 4A Regional Quartefinals take place on Wednesday, April 29. [Joshua Wilson/FloridaHSFootball.com]](https://floridahsfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2026-Class-4A-Regional-Quarterfinals-Playoff-Preview-120x86.jpg)
![Ponte Vedra QB Izzy Murray will be one to keep an eye when the Class 3A Regional Quarterfinals take place on Wednesday, April 29. [Joshua Wilson/FloridaHSFootball.com]](https://floridahsfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2026-3A-Regional-Quarterfinals-Playoff-Preview-120x86.jpg)
![Robinson (Tampa) is chasing a 10th consecutive state championship -- and 11th overall as the Class 2A Regional Quarterfinals get underway on Tuesday, April 28. [Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers]](https://floridahsfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2026-2A-Regional-Quarterfinals-Playoff-Preview-120x86.jpg)
![John Carroll (Fort Pierce) is among the teams in Class 1A that will be hosting a regional quartefinal playoff game on Tuesday, April 28. [Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers]](https://floridahsfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2026-1A-Regional-Quarterfinals-Playoff-Preview-120x86.jpg)
