Spring football: State-by-state look at postseason play

High school spring football throughout the country has largely resembled spring training in baseball. It's good to be back. There's loads of camaraderie. But little drama. Without playoffs or postseason implications, the games can feel more like exhibitions than traditional all-out battles.

Considering many of these states were paused up to 16 months, there's nothing wrong with that.

Of the 15 states that chose or were ordered not to play during the fall season, four dropped out completely. And of the 11 to play in the winter and spring, only three have decided to run some form of a playoff.

They are:

North Carolina: The North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) football season ends Friday, playoff brackets are selected Saturday. First-round game begin April 16, second round (April 23), regionals (April 30) and state finals (May 8).

Rhode Island: Four-team brackets in five divisions of the Rhode Island Interscholastic League take place April 30. Championship games are all scheduled for May 7.

Virginia: After most of the state got to play six games in seven weeks starting on Feb. 22, the playoffs began Wednesday, with semifinals taking place April 24 and all state finals on May 1. See all the brackets.

The states (linked to their association or federation) that opted out of spring football playoffs are California, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Mexico, New York and Oregon.