Class 7A Week 11 Rankings and Playoff Selections
RK.- PV. TEAM (RECORD; WEEK 8 RESULT)
- ↔ 1. CONWAY (9-1, 7-0; beat Bryant 17-0)
- ↔ 2. SHILOH CHRISTIAN (9-1, 6-1; beat Springdale 43-3)
- ↔ 3. BENTONVILLE (9-1, 6-1; beat Bentonville West 24-21)
- ↔ 4. NORTH LITTLE ROCK (9-1, 6-1; beat Cabot 31-3)
- ↔ 5. BENTONVILLE WEST (7-3, 4-3; lost to Bentonville West 24-21)
- ↔ 6. HAR-BER (7-3, 5-2; beat Fayetteville 24-7)
- ↔ 7. LR CHRISTIAN (6-4, 5-2; beat Pulaski Academy 56-20)
- ↔ 8. BRYANT (4-6, 4-3; lost to Conway 17-0)
- ↔ 9. ROGERS (3-7; 2-5; beat Rogers Heritage 42-16)
- ↔ 10. SPRINGDALE (2-8; 2-5; lost to Shiloh Christian 43-3)
NOT RANKED
7A-CENTRAL Pulaski Academy (3-7; 2-5), FS Northside (2-8; 0-7), LR Central (3-7; 2-5), Cabot (3-7, 2-5)
7A-WEST Fayetteville (4-6, 2-5), Rogers Heritage (0-10; 0-7)
Eliminated teams noted in italics
WEEK 11 PREDICTIONS (favored teams in ALL CAPS and highlighted in Orange)
TOP OF THE BRACKET:
FIRST-ROUND BYES C1-CONWAY (9-1; 7-0), W2- BENTONVILLE (9-1; 6-1)
C5-Little Rock Central (3-7; 2-5) at W4-BENTONVILLE WEST (7-3; 4-3):
Coach Anthony Robinson’s Little Rock Central Tigers travel to Bentonville West for a first-round matchup. The Tigers won 2 conference games to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2020 (a 37-35 loss to Fayetteville). The Tigers allowed 29 points in their past 2 games — wins over Cabot and Fort Smith Northside. Bentonville West narrowly missed a bye after close losses to Bentonville and Har-Ber. The Wolverines opened 2026 with a 6-game win streak, scoring nearly 40 points a game and giving up fewer than 14. Bentonville West has lost 3 of its past 4, but each of the 3 was by 3 points. The Wolverines win and head to Conway in the quarterfinals.
W6-Springdale (2-8; 2-5) at C3-LR CHRISTIAN (6-4; 5-2): Springdale qualified for the playoffs for the third consecutive season. The Bulldogs played their best football down the stretch last year, and they defeated Cabot in the first round. Special teams have been key for Springdale in 2026, with Junior Rodriguez breaking a state record for blocked kicks (7). Springdale’s Week 8 win over Fayetteville was enough to get it in. Little Rock Christian hosts the Bulldogs after knocking off Pulaski Academy 56-20 last week. The Warriors lost to 7A West foes Shiloh Christian and Springdale Har-Ber in nonconference matchups but started 3-0 in 7A Central play before losing to North Little Rock. The Warriors win and head to Bentonville next week.
BOTTOM OF THE BRACKET:
FIRST-ROUND BYES W1-SHILOH CHRISTIAN (9-1; 6-1), C2-NORTH LITTLE ROCK (7-2; 5-1)
W5-ROGERS (3-7; 2-5) at C4-Bryant (4-6; 4-3): Defending 7A champ Bryant dropped its final 3 conference games to finish with a losing overall record. Bryant’s 17-0 loss to Conway last week was its first loss to the Wampus Cats in 14 years, as the Hornets yielded 2 first-half TDs on special teams. Bryant knocked on the end-zone door a couple of times, behind leading rusher Jaden Hill, getting inside the 5 late in the first half, but they fumbled and lost the football on the very next snap. Coach Chad Harbison’s Mounties have won 3 of their last 4 after a 0-6 start, ending with a 42-16 win over Heritage. The Mounties, who lost at Bryant in overtime last year in the semifinals, pull off the upset and head to Shiloh Christian, which beat Rogers by 30 in September.
C6-Cabot (3-7, 2-5) at W3-SPRINGDALE HAR-BER (7-3; 5-2): Cabot is coming off a 29-point loss to North Little Rock, but the Panthers keep their playoff streak alive, qualifying for the postseason every year since 2019. Coach Lance Clark’s Panthers have lost their last 3 contests, but each was to higher-seeded playoff qualifiers. Har-Ber won 5 of its final 6 games, most recently defeating Fayetteville by 17. Har-Ber is making its 8th consecutive playoff appearance, but this is its first under second-year coach Aaron Danenhauer. Har-Ber opened the season with nonconference wins over 7A Central rivals Fort Smith Northside and Little Rock Christian. Har-Ber lost twice in 7A West play, 24-26 to Bentonville in Week 4 and 37-28 to Rogers in Week 9. Har-Ber wins at home and heads to North Little Rock next week.