Nashville area high school football teams with TSSAA playoffs easiest, hardest paths

The Tennessee high school football playoff brackets for the 2026 season have been announced, and the games are set to begin on November 6 at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga. This report examines the playoff paths for three Nashville area high school teams that seem to have relatively easy journeys to the TSSAA championship games on December 3-5, as well as three programs that face more difficult playoff routes.

The Battle Ground Academy, as the No. 1 team in the Division II-AA Middle Region, is expected to have a straightforward path to the semifinals. They may face either Franklin Road Academy (7-3) or Knoxville Grace (9-1) in the semifinals. If quarterback Bo Bryan, a recent Georgia commit, is healthy by November 20, this should help Battle Ground Academy reach a second consecutive championship game.

Nashville Christian, two-time defending Division II-A state champions, is not without its challenges. With Jared Curtis out at quarterback, Tate Mathis has stepped up well in their final year of DII-A before moving up to DII-AA. Nashville Christian will not encounter USJ (9-1) or Friendship Christian (8-2) until the championship game.

East Nashville, the defending TSSAA Class 5A state champions, faces a more complicated playoff journey. They are currently looking at a potential quarterfinal matchup with Beech (9-1), but if they can defeat the Buccaneers, it is difficult to see a team on the bottom of the Class 5A bracket that could stop the Eagles. Additionally, East Nashville could face a challenging road trip to Huntingdon (10-0) in the Class 2A semifinals.

Montgomery Bell Academy's playoff prospects took a hit following their loss to Ensworth in Week 11. The Big Red, now a three seed, will likely face Briarcrest (9-1) in the quarterfinals. If they can overcome the Saints, a potential matchup with David Gabriel Georges and nationally-ranked Baylor awaits in the semifinals.

Oakland, the most dominant Class 6A football team in the last decade, has one of the most arduous paths to a sixth state championship since 2020. Their playoff run begins at Lebanon (7-3) in the first round, and if they beat the Blue Devils, they may need to travel to the perennial powerhouse Maryville for the second round. This typically marks a semifinal game.