High school football playoffs: Top 10 toughest postseason brackets

The coronavirus pandemic has been a challenge on many levels, but states playing high school football in the fall have found a way to make it work. The postseason has rolled around for many, with some preparing to crown champions and others just getting underway.

And while this isn't a typical high school football season, each year MaxPreps tackles the toughest postseason brackets across the country. This year it only includes states that started football in the fall and that will be playing for a state championship.

With Texas 5A and 6A brackets beginning this week, we've updated the Top 10 toughest playoff brackets. The Lone Star State now claims three of the top-five spots.

The 6A Division 1 bracket features seven teams ranked in the MaxPreps Top 25.

Three brackets are complete while another wraps up Dec. 12.

The Lone Star State is the only one with three brackets included while Florida and Ohio were the only other two with multiple selections.

Alabama, Arizona and Georgia each have one. 

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYOFF UPDATE: State champions for all 50 states

Top 10 Toughest Playoff Brackets

Top 50 teams: No. 2 North Shore (Houston), No. 7 Duncanville, No. 11 Allen, No. 16 Westlake (Austin), No. 22 Tompkins (Katy), No. 24 DeSoto, No. 25 Lake Travis (Austin), No. 36 Southlake Carroll (Southlake)

Other notable teams: Atascocita (Humble), Cy-Fair (Cypress), Dawson (Pearland), Fort Bend Travis (Richmond), Lewisville, Martin (Arlington), Rockwall, Spring, Steele (Cibolo), The Woodlands, Trinity (Euless), Westfield (Houston)

Start date: Dec. 10

End date: Jan. 16

Field: 64 teams

Top 50 teams: No. 4 Grayson (Loganville), No. 9 Colquitt County (Moultrie), No. 32 Lowndes (Valdosta), No. 35 Norcross

Other notable teams: Archer (Lawrenceville), Brookwood (Snellville), Collins Hill (Suwanee), Mill Creek (Hoschton), Milton, North Cobb (Kennesaw), North Gwinnett (Suwanee), Parkview (Lilburn), Roswell

Start date: Nov. 27

End date: Dec. 30

Field: 32 teams

Top 50 teams: No. 21 Cedar Hill, No. 27 Katy

Other notable teams: Bridgeland (Cypress), Coppell, Guyer (Denton), Judson (Converse), Katy Taylor (Katy), Klein Collins (Spring), Marcus (Flower Mound), Prosper, Rockwall-Heath (Rockwall), Shadow Creek (Pearland), Temple, Tomball Memorial (Tomball), Vandegrift (Austin)

Start date: Dec. 10

End date: Jan. 16

Field: 64 teams

Top 50 teams: No. 20 St. Xavier (Cincinnati), No. 39 Pickerington Central (Pickerington)

Other notable teams: Colerain (Cincinnati), Dublin Coffman (Dublin), Elder (Cincinnati), Lakota West (West Chester), Medina, Mentor, Northmont (Clayton), Olentangy Liberty (Powell), Springfield, St. Edward (Lakewood), St. Ignatius (Cleveland), Westerville Central (Westerville)

Start date: Oct. 9

End date: Nov. 13

Field: 64 teams

Champion: St. Xavier

Top 50 teams: No. 10 Ryan (Denton), No. 33 Highland Park (Dallas)

Other notable teams: Cedar Park, College Station, Colleyville Heritage (Colleyville), Cooper (Abilene), Coronado (Lubbock), Lone Star (Frisco), Longview, Manvel, Red Oak

Start date: Dec. 10

End date: Jan. 15

Field: 64 teams

Top 50 teams: No. 6 Thompson (Alabaster), No. 47 Auburn

Other notable teams: Austin (Decatur), Central (Phenix City), Daphne, Hewitt-Trussville (Trussville), Hoover, James Clemens (Madison), Oak Mountain (Birmingham), Theodore

Start date: Nov. 6

End date: Dec. 2

Field: 16 teams

Champion: Thompson

Top 50 teams: No. 23 American Heritage (Plantation), No. 38 Northwestern (Miami)

Other notable teams: Baker County (Glen St. Mary), Bishop Moore (Orlando), Clay (Green Cove Springs), Dunnellon, Jesuit (Tampa), Jones (Orlando), Lake Wales, Rickards (Tallahassee), Rockledge, Sebring, Vanguard (Ocala)

Start date: Nov. 6

End date: Dec. 17

Field: 69 teams

Top 50 teams: No. 13 Archbishop Hoban (Akron)

Other notable teams: Avon, Avon Lake, Benedictine (Cleveland), Central Catholic (Toledo), Hudson, La Salle (Cincinnati), Olentangy (Lewis Center), Perry (Massillon), Washington (Massillon), Westerville South (Westerville), Winton Woods (Cincinnati)

Start date: Oct. 9

End date: Nov. 20

Field: 100 teams

Champion: Archbishop Hoban

Top 50 teams: No. 17 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale), No. 40 Bloomingdale (Valrico)

Other notable teams: Armwood (Seffner), Edgewater (Orlando), Lakeland, Manatee (Bradenton), Niceville, Plant City, Venice, Wekiva (Apopka)

Start date: Nov. 6

End date: Dec. 19

Field: 56 teams

Top 50 teams: No. 5 Chandler, No. 28 Hamilton (Chandler), No. 41 Saguaro (Scottsdale)

Other notable teams: Centennial (Peoria), Corona del Sol (Tempe), Desert Edge (Goodyear), Liberty (Peoria), Salpointe Catholic (Tucson)

Start date: Nov. 27

End date: Dec. 12

Field: Eight teams