With the GHSA releasing the 2025 playoff brackets, here’s a look at some of the potential matchups in the Georgia high school football playoffs.
Of course, a lot has to happen between the season-opening matchups and the final week of the regular season before we know for certain which teams will be playing each other and where. But there’s no fun in waiting around, so let’s try to predict what could be some of the most intriguing games in the 2025 Georgia high school football playoffs.
CLASS 6A – ROUND 1
Valdosta vs Mill Creek
If Valdosta finishes as the No. 2 seed and Mill Creek is the No. 3 seed, they could meet at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium in one of the top heavyweight battles of any opening-round playoff game around the state.
Buford vs Lowndes
The Lowndes Vikings will have been waiting a full year to get another chance at the Buford Wolves.
If Lowndes fights their way into the playoffs out of the wide open Region 1, they’ll take their fun-and-gun offense back to Gloryland in what would be a battle of two of the most talented quarterbacks in the state in Lowndes’ Jayce “Juice” Johnson and Buford’s Dayton Raiola, a Nebraska commit.
CLASS 6A – ROUND 2
Grayson vs Collins Hill
Last season head coach Drew Swick’s Collins Hill Eagles gave the eventual state champions their only loss of the season in a 20-19 nail-biter in Week 1. Grayson and Collins Hill met again in the quarterfinals of the playoffs, with Grayson winning and evening the score, so to speak.
The two teams are getting ready to face off in their season-opener once again in 2025. If things go like I think they could, look for the two teams to reach the playoffs and meet for the fourth time in two seasons, with Travis Burgess, Tyler Atkinson, Deuce Geralds, and Katrell Webb all on one field wrecking havoc.
CLASS 5A – ROUND 2
Rome vs Lee County
If Lee County and Rome finish as either the No. 1 or No. 2 seed in their respective regions and win their first-round matchups as they should, then these two state powerhouses could be facing each other in the second round of the Class 5A playoffs at Barron Stadium in Rome, Georgia.
Hughes vs Coffee
Hughes and Coffee met in the semifinals last year, with Hughes advancing to the 2024 state championship game against Milton. Their rematch could come a bit earlier in 2025.
Brunswick vs Gainesville
Brunswick versus Gainesville could feature the best overall team speed and athleticism of just about any game in an early round of the 2025 Georgia high school football playoffs.
This matchup also features two head coaches who are wanting to atone for their respective team’s way-too-early exit from last year’s playoffs. After winning their region title and going 8-0 in 2024, Brunswick lost badly in Round 2 of the playoffs. Gainesville, a preseason state champion favorite, was upset by an unknown Sequoyah team, giving up 38 points.
The shortcomings of last season have been motivating factors for both of these successful head coaches and their teams.
If this one does happen, mark it on your playoff calendar.
CLASS 4A – ROUND 1
North Oconee vs Ware County
With the Ware County Gators going on the road as the No. 4 seed from Region 1-4A, they would be facing off against the defending state champion North Oconee Titans.
Ware County would be a formidable early round opponent as North Oconee makes its first move toward what it hopes is a second straight Class 4A state title.
CLASS 4A – ROUND 2
Central (Carrollton) vs Cambridge
Central (Carrollton) versus Cambridge would be one of the best early round treats of any classification.
Cambridge was one of my Top 5 dark horse teams to watch in 2025 and have what may be the best receiving duo in Hudson Cocchiara and UGA commit Craig Dandridge.
Central features the wham-bam duo of quarterback JR Harris and four-star running back Jonaz Walton, a Notre Dame commit.
The only bad thing about this potential matchup is the fact that a really good team packs it up way too early.
CLASS 4A – SEMIFINALS
Benedictine vs North Oconee
Granted, a lot has to happen to ensure the North Oconee Titans and Benedictine Cadets meet each other in the Class 4A semifinals.
If they do, this matchup will pit a North Oconee team trying to defend its first state title from a year earlier against a Benedictine squad that is eager to get back to its first state championship since last winning it all in 2022.
Whichever team wins this one advances one step closer to that goal.
CLASS 1A-Division II – ROUND 3
Manchester vs Irwin County
What a debut it would be for new Irwin County head coach Larry Harold if he could lead his Indians to the quarterfinals in 2025.
Manchester and Irwin County made it to the semifinals last year, but were both cut short before making it to the finals.
CLASS 1A-Division II – SEMIFINALS
Brooks County vs Bowdon
The two 2024 state title game opponents both have an excellent chance of making another deep run in the Class 1A-Division II playoffs. However, if Brooks County and Bowdon take the paths I think they will in 2025, they won’t meet each other in the final game. It doesn’t matter, though, because this would be an absolute showdown of two of the best teams in the state regardless of class and size.
Bowdon would be taking a big step toward a fourth straight state championship. Brooks County wants to get back and finish the drill this year. This matchup would make for an instant classic.
