TSSAA Football Playoffs Kickoff Friday!

October 31, 2023 Gregory TN High School Sports 0

2023 BlueCross Bowl scheduled for Nov. 30-Dec. 2 in Chattanooga 

October 31, 2023 

The brackets for the 55th TSSAA high school football playoffs have been set and teams across the state are anxious to begin their march toward the BlueCross Bowl State Championships which will be held in four short weeks at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga.

All but one playoff game is scheduled to kick off at 7 PM local time this Friday night. Hillcrest at Memphis Business Academy will be played on Thursday due to facility availability. Brackets and rosters for the 2023 postseason series can be found at TSSAAsports.com or through the Playoff Headquarters link below.

Fans can purchase advance tickets for all playoff games for $8 through GoFan. Tickets will be $10 at the gate.

Playoff Headquarters Purchase Tickets

As we enter the postseason, we would like to kindly solicit everyone’s support in ensuring that these events unfold in an atmosphere of mutual respect and cordiality. The spirit of good sportsmanship is the backbone of any great sporting event, and with your thoughtful participation, you can greatly enhance the overall experience, bringing out the best in the athletes and reflecting the values that your communities hold dear.

Let us each remember that the competition on the field is not meant to extend to the stands. Reacting to plays with positivity, applauding good effort on both sides, and discouraging any form of intentional disruptions or misbehavior, goes a long way in promoting an welcoming and enjoyable environment for everyone.

Playoff Notes

Research the postseason history of your favorite schools anytime at TSSAAsports.com.

  • Of the 110 games in the first week of the playoffs, 53 of them feature first-time postseason matchups.
  • Providence Christian Academy, Memphis Business Academy, Liberty Creek High School, Eagleton College & Career Academy and Chattanooga Preparatory School are each making their first TSSAA football playoffs appearance.
  • Memphis Overton is making its first playoff appearance since 2002.
  • Others returning the playoffs for the first time in several years: MLK Prep (2015), Dickson Co. (2012) and West Creek (2010).
  • Sullivan East, Siegel, Oakhaven, Middleton and Antioch are making their first playoff appearances in 2016.
  • More than half of the 2023 playoff field (116 of 226) have participated in at least one state championship game. Eighty-eight have won at least one state title.
  • This is Dickson County’s 28th playoff appearance and first since 2012.
  • Franklin Co., Macon Co., Lake Co., Loudon, Oneida and South Pittsburg were participants in the 1969 playoff series, the first of the modern era. The schools have 195 combined playoff appearances.
  • Shelbyville, Elizabethton and Dobyns Bennett appeared in the first playoff series in 1938. They have a combined 102 playoff appearances. Elizabethton is the only school of the trio to have advanced to a state title game. Dobyns Bennett has the most playoff appearances without a state championship (39).
  • Six schools now have more than 40 playoff appearances to their credit. Brentwood Academy (47), Milan (46), Maryville (44), Gallatin (43), Oak Ridge (42), South Pittsburg (41).
  • Gallatin and Oakland meet for the first time in the playoffs since the state championship game of 1989. Gallatin claimed the state title with a 19-9 victory.
  • Cloudland and Greenback have met seven times in the playoffs. Cloudland leads the series 4-3.
  • Westmoreland and Marion Co. have met eight times in the playoffs. Westmoreland won the first meeting in 1997 (30-14) and again in 2006 (36-7).
  • The only previous playoff meeting between Gatlinburg-Pittman and Union Co. was in 1994 when Gatlinburg-Pittman defeated what was then called Horace Maynard High School, 44-8.
  • The only previous playoff meeting between Jefferson Co. and Cleveland was in the quarterfinals of the 1985 playoffs. Jefferson Co. edged out Cleveland, 9-7.
  • Smyrna and Independence first met in the playoffs on Dec. 8, 2007. Smyrna claimed a state championship victory over Independence, 46-20. Independence has claimed wins in the three subsequent playoff meetings in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
  • Knoxville Webb and Evangelical Christian School (ECS) have met in eight previous playoff series, including three state title bouts (2005, 2006, 2012). ECS won the first two meetings in 2004 and 2005, Knoxville Webb has won the last six.