You know how it goes. Friday nights in Louisiana aren't just about football; they’re a religion with better snacks. But the 2025 postseason? That was something else entirely. If you spent any time staring at the Louisiana high school football playoff bracket this past November, you probably realized your brackets were trashed by the second round. Honestly, it was beautiful chaos.
From the first kickoff on November 13 to the final whistle at the Caesars Superdome on December 13, the road to the championship was paved with broken hearts and legendary upsets. We saw powerhouse programs like Edna Karr continue their reign, sure, but we also saw "the little guys" prove that seeding is just a number.
The Split That Still Has Everyone Talking
Louisiana does things a bit differently. Since 2013, the LHSAA has split the playoffs into "Select" and "Non-Select" divisions. It’s a polarizing setup, but it’s the reality of the game here. Basically, if you’re a private, charter, or magnet school, you’re in the Select bracket. Traditional public schools? They battle it out in Non-Select.
For 2025, the brackets were divided into four divisions for each side.
- Division I: The heavyweights (Class 5A and 4A size).
- Division II: Mid-sized schools (Class 3A).
- Division III: Small but mighty (Class 2A).
- Division IV: The smallest enrollments (Class 1A).
In Division I Non-Select, Ruston walked in as the No. 1 seed with a massive target on their back. They handled business early, but the bracket was wide open for a team like Ouachita Parish, who fought their way through as the No. 14 seed all the way to the Superdome. That’s the magic of the Louisiana high school football playoff bracket—momentum matters more than your record in October.
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Ruston, Edna Karr, and the Big School Fireworks
Let’s talk about Saturday, December 13. The atmosphere in the Dome was electric. Edna Karr completed another perfect season (14-0) by dismantling their district rival St. Augustine 49-14 in the Division I Select final. Coach Brice Brown has basically built a factory for Division I talent. Washington State signee Tre Garrison was just unfair, rushing for 183 yards.
But the Non-Select side of Division I gave us the real nail-biter. Ruston vs. Ouachita Parish. Ruston was the favorite, but Ouachita Parish didn't get the memo. In a 21-20 thriller, Ruston's Macario Dade snatched the Outstanding Player award, carrying the ball 21 times for 147 yards and two scores. It was the kind of game that reminds you why we sit in the humid air every Friday.
The Mid-Division Madness
Division II was arguably the most unpredictable part of the whole Louisiana high school football playoff bracket. In the Non-Select bracket, the "Yellow Jackets" of Iowa didn't care about North DeSoto's No. 1 seeding. They put up nearly 600 yards of offense in a 50-43 shootout.
Meanwhile, over in Division II Select, St. Charles Catholic proved that "Comet Magic" is a real thing. They were down 21-20 to Archbishop Shaw with less than a minute left. A penalty stopped the clock, a short punt gave them hope, and Tyler Milioto—who had earlier missed a PAT—nailed a 44-yard field goal with five seconds left. That’s why you play until the zeros.
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Small Town Legends and the 18th Title
If you want to see pure passion, look at Division IV Non-Select. Haynesville—known as the "Gordon Tornado" (singular, because it’s one team)—won their 18th state title. 18. Think about that. They outlasted Mangham 39-37 in a game that felt like a heavyweight boxing match.
The Division III Select bracket saw a historic performance from five-star quarterback Elijah Haven. Playing for Dunham, Haven threw for a state single-season record 62 touchdowns. He’s the real deal. Watching him lead the Tigers to a 34-17 win over Calvary Baptist felt like watching a future NFL star in his origin story.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Brackets
A common misconception is that the higher seed always hosts. That's true for the early rounds, but the LHSAA has specific bylaws (like 6.13.9) that factor in who has traveled more in previous rounds to keep things fair.
Another thing? The power ratings. The Louisiana high school football playoff bracket isn't just picked by a committee; it’s a math problem. The GeauxPreps power ratings determine the seeding, which is why you’ll sometimes see a 9-1 team seeded lower than a 7-3 team that played a brutal schedule. Strength of schedule is king in Louisiana.
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2025 State Champions Quick Glance
- Division I Non-Select: Ruston
- Division I Select: Edna Karr
- Division II Non-Select: Iowa
- Division II Select: St. Charles Catholic
- Division III Non-Select: Sterlington
- Division III Select: Dunham
- Division IV Non-Select: Haynesville
- Division IV Select: Riverside Academy
How to Prepare for the 2026 Cycle
Now that the 2025 season is in the books, the focus shifts to the juniors and sophomores who made a splash. If you're a fan trying to track the next Louisiana high school football playoff bracket, keep an eye on the district realignments that happen every two years. Schools often jump up or down a division based on enrollment numbers reported in October.
The best way to stay ahead is to bookmark the LHSAA member site and follow the GeauxPreps rankings starting in Week 4 of the regular season. That’s when the "Power Ratings" actually start to reflect who is a contender and who is a pretender.
Don't just look at the record. Look at who they played. A team from District 9-5A (the "Catholic League") with three losses is often more dangerous than an undefeated team from a weaker district.
If you're planning a trip to the 2026 Prep Classic, buy your tickets early through the LHSAA app. The Saturday night games almost always sell out, and you don't want to be the one stuck watching the stream in the parking lot.
The bracket is a map, but the players are the ones who write the story. 2025 gave us field goals at the buzzer and 18th titles. 2026? It’s already looking like it’ll be even wilder.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Check the LHSAA 2026 schedule release in July to see which out-of-state powerhouses are visiting.
- Follow recruiting sites for updates on Elijah Haven and Richard Anderson, as their senior year performances will directly impact their teams' playoff seeding.
- Audit your local team's district—reclassification could mean your favorite school is facing entirely new bracket rivals this coming fall.