Colorado high school football shifts to mixed-classification leagues for 2026-27
The CHSAA legislative council has approved expanded conference structures, allowing teams from different classifications to compete in the same football leagues.
The Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) has finalised new football conference alignments for the 2026 and 2027 seasons, marking a significant structural shift for the state’s 11-man football program. The legislative council authorised the changes during a February session, introducing a framework that permits leagues to include teams from different classifications.
This adjustment aligns football with governance rules already applied to other sports in recent years, which have allowed mixed-classification leagues. The move suggests a broader institutional trend towards flexibility in competitive scheduling, moving away from the rigid classification boundaries that previously defined football conferences.
Conference sizes have also expanded under the new guidelines. Leagues comprising seven or eight teams are now common, replacing the previous maximum of six schools that characterised the 2024-26 cycle. The CHSAA operates on a two-year cycle for these alignments, meaning the new structures will take effect for both the 2026 and 2027 seasons.
The published rosters reflect this new reality, with several high-profile schools crossing classification lines. For instance, the 5A Southwest Metro League includes Columbine, a 4A team, alongside 5A programs such as Arvada West and Mountain Vista. Similarly, the 4A Front Range League features Boulder, Mountain Range, and Westminster, all designated as 5A schools, competing within a 4A structure.
Other notable mixed-classification leagues include the 4A South Metro League, which contains Chaparral, Horizon, Overland, Smoky Hill, and Vista Peak Prep, all listed as 5A teams, alongside 4A programs like Douglas County and Highlands Ranch. The 4A League G similarly includes Brighton, Denver East, Denver South, Prairie View, and Rangeview, all designated as 5A, within a 4A conference.
The 3A divisions also see cross-classification competition, with the 3A Western Slope League including Grand Junction Central, a 4A team, and the 3A League D featuring Niwot, also a 4A program. These changes indicate a deliberate effort to balance competitive fairness with logistical efficiency across the state’s diverse geographic regions.
The full list of assignments for the 2026 and 2027 seasons has been released by the CHSAA, detailing the new configurations for 5A, 4A, 3A, and 2A classifications. While the source material provides a comprehensive overview of the top divisions, the complete roster for lower classifications remains subject to the official CHSAA records.
