Michigan high school football playoffs open amid court fight over Catholic Central
The gist
A Michigan court ordered Grand Rapids Catholic Central reinstated to the Division 5 football playoffs after the MHSAA had removed it.
The eligibility ruling, upheld on appeal, could reshape the bracket beyond the first round.
How it unfolded
- Oct 25, 2026The MHSAA announces the 2026 football playoff pairings; the top 32 teams per division in 11-player and top 16 per division in 8-player are selected by playoff-point average.
- Oct 30, 2026A Kent County Circuit Court grants a temporary restraining order to a Grand Rapids Catholic Central student, ordering the MHSAA to reinstate the school to the first round of the playoffs.
- Oct 30, 2026Belleville, one of the state's most recognizable football powers, is eliminated in the opening round, falling 28-14 to Dearborn Fordson in Division 1.
Key terms
- MHSAA
- A service organization that governs and supports high school sports in the U.S. state of Michigan.
- forfeits
- A method in which a match automatically ends and the forfeiting team loses.
- temporary restraining order
- A court order requiring a party to do or stop doing a specific act.
Source: Wikipedia