COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF: FPRI projects the 2026 FHSAA Independent League Division A playoff field

The FHSAA Independent League begins in 2026 with a postseason structure separate from the traditional classification system.

Division A includes participating schools with student populations of 900 or more. The division is separated into North and South regions, with eight teams from each region advancing to a 16-team playoff field.

There are no districts and no automatic qualifying berths. The final MaxPreps rankings will determine the eight qualifiers and seeds in each region at the conclusion of the regular season. Higher-seeded teams will host each playoff round, although the FHSAA retains discretion to adjust pairings when significant travel concerns exist.

The North and South regional champions will meet for the Division A championship on Friday, Dec. 4, 2026, at The Villages Charter High School. The game time remains to be determined.

The Florida Power Rankings Index provides an independent preseason estimate of how those regional races could develop. Each team receives a standardized 10-game record projection, playoff probability and Division A championship probability.

The projected records are not game-by-game schedule predictions. They represent the level at which each program is expected to perform across a standard 10-game regular season based on its preseason FPRI rating and recent results.

Playoff probability measures each team’s chance of finishing among the eight qualifiers in its region. Division A championship probability measures each team’s chance of advancing through its regional bracket and defeating the opposite regional champion in the championship game.

These projections are not official MaxPreps rankings, playoff selections or seeds. MaxPreps will determine the official postseason field, and the order can change substantially once regular-season results replace preseason expectations.

The probabilities are intended to show separation, not certainty. A high playoff probability represents a strong preseason position, while teams closer to the projected cutoff have less room for error.

North Region outlook

Windermere enters the new structure with the strongest profile in Division A after completing consecutive 10-0 seasons in 2024 and 2025. The program has made a dramatic climb from three consecutive losing seasons, including a 3-7 finish in 2023, to 20 straight victories over the past two years.

Umatilla presents the clearest challenge after improving from 6-5 in 2024 to 11-1 in 2025. Its only loss came during a run to the SSAA Atlantic regional final, giving the Bulldogs both recent postseason experience and the second-highest Division A championship probability.

Innovation also arrives with upward momentum. The Bulls improved from 5-6 in 2024 to 8-2 last season and project as the third member of the North’s leading group.

Oak Ridge occupies the next position after following a 7-4 season in 2024 with a 4-6 finish in 2025. Its rating still places it comfortably inside the projected field, but the gap between Oak Ridge and the top three is substantial.

Lake Buena Vista, Freedom, Pine Ridge and Colonial hold the final four projected positions. Lake Buena Vista improved from 3-7 to 4-6, while Freedom moved from 1-9 to 3-7. Pine Ridge and Colonial finished a combined 4-16 last season, leaving the bottom of the projected field far less secure.

University, Englewood, Atlantic and Cypress Creek begin outside the bracket. Atlantic finished 0-10 in 2025 but reached the semifinals of its SSAA Atlantic consolation bracket, while Englewood and Cypress Creek also enter 2026 trying to recover from winless seasons.

South Region outlook

The South projects as the deeper and less settled regional race.

Somerset Academy begins with the highest championship probability in the region despite falling from 7-4 in 2024 to 4-7 last season. The Panthers still reached the Class 3A regional quarterfinals, giving them recent postseason experience that several other South contenders do not possess.

Oasis follows after consecutive contrasting seasons. The Sharks went 7-2 in 2024 before slipping to 4-7 in 2025, but their preseason rating remains the second-highest in the South.

South Broward, Hallandale, Cooper City and Hollywood Hills complete a group of six teams carrying 99.0% modeled playoff probabilities. Hallandale owns the strongest recent upward trend among them, improving from 3-6 in 2024 to 6-5 and reaching a FIT regional final last season. Cooper City also improved significantly, moving from 2-8 to 5-5.

Hollywood Hills followed a 5-5 season with a 4-6 finish, while South Broward enters after consecutive losing seasons of 4-7 and 3-7.

Belen Jesuit and Fort Lauderdale hold the final two projected positions. Belen Jesuit improved slightly from 2-8 to 3-7, while Fort Lauderdale followed a 4-5 season with a 3-7 finish.

Pembroke Pines Charter and Stoneman Douglas are the closest projected challengers. Pembroke Pines Charter declined from 6-4 in 2024 to 2-8 last season, while Stoneman Douglas improved from 1-9 to 4-6. Forest Hill and Gateway form the next tier behind them.

Division A championship picture

Windermere owns the strongest preseason championship position by a substantial margin. Its 40.0% probability reflects both the highest rating in Division A and the program’s consecutive unbeaten seasons.

Umatilla and Innovation give the North two additional contenders with strong recent momentum. Umatilla won 11 games and reached a regional final last season, while Innovation made a three-win improvement.

The South has greater depth but less separation. Somerset Academy leads the region, followed by Oasis and South Broward. Hallandale’s improvement and postseason run make it another team capable of outperforming its fourth-place championship projection.

That creates two different regional races: a North bracket centered on one overwhelming favorite and a South bracket in which several teams carry plausible paths to The Villages.

The complete team-by-team projections, playoff probabilities, projected seeds and regional brackets are available below for Season Ticket members.

Complete Division A projections