IHSAA sets football state tournament sectional pairings

The Indiana High School Athletic Association released the sectional pairings for 311 programs Sunday night for the 2026 State Football Tournament.

Sectional tournaments begin Oct. 23 with quarterfinal round contests. Semifinal games are Oct. 30, and sectional championship games are Nov. 6.

Regional championship games follow on Nov. 13.

Semistate champions will be crowned on Nov. 20.

The six state championships games will take place on Nov. 27 and Nov. 28 at Lucas Oil Stadium in downtown Indianapolis.

Shelbyville

Shelbyville’s 35-14 win over Connersville in the 2025 sectional opener broke a 10-game postseason losing streak for the Golden Bears.

Entering the 2026 sectional, Shelbyville (5-3) has the second highest Sagarin rating and third highest rating for strength of schedule.

Already with five wins to match the 2025-win total, the Golden Bears are ready for more – and the IHSAA bracket in Class 4A, Sectional 23 gives them that opportunity.

Shelbyville will open at Silver Creek (5-3) on Oct. 23. If the Golden Bears win, they would host either Charlestown (6-1) or Columbus East (4-4) on Oct. 30.

In the top half of the bracket, Jennings County (2-6) drew the bye and will play at Madison (4-4) or No. 1 East Central (7-1) in the semifinals.

If East Central and Shelbyville advance to the championship, that game would be played at McKeand Stadium in Shelbyville.

Triton Central

Triton Central’s streak of playing in 13 consecutive sectional championship games will be tested in 2026.

Class 2A, Sectional 37 features a pair of unbeaten teams in No. 3 Indianapolis Lutheran (8-0) and No. 4 Eastern Hancock (8-0).

Triton Central avoided both in the quarterfinal found. The Tigers (3-5) will host Indianapolis Scecina (1-7) at Mendenhall Field on Oct. 23.

Triton Central defeated Scecina this season on Aug. 28, 30-3.

The winner will face the winner of Lutheran at Park Tudor (5-3) in the sectional semifinal game on Oct. 30.

If Triton Central wins, it will be on the road for the semifinal game no matter the opponent.

In the bottom half of the bracket, Eastern Hancock will play at Christel House (2-5) in the quarterfinal round.

Indianapolis Ritter (4-4) travels to Covenant Christian (6-2). In the final quarterfinal game.

If Eastern Hancock wins, it would host Covenant Christian or travel to Ritter.

Triton Central has not won a sectional title since 2023.

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