November Madness: Who’s In, Who’s Out As Brackets Revealed

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The NMAA revealed the brackets in every classification for the 2025 playoffs late Saturday night. Here is how each classification looks. First Round games will be played next weekend (Nov. 7-8).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 6A</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Four Seeds</strong>: Las Cruces (1), Cleveland (2), Hobbs (3), Centennial (4) &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Middle Tier</strong>: La Cueva (5), Rio Rancho (6), Volcano Vista (7), Los Lunas (8)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lower Tier</strong>: Piedra Vista (9), Cibola (10), Carlsbad (11), Eldorado (12)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Who's Out</strong>: Clovis, Alamogordo, Sandia</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>First Round Matchups</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Piedra Vista (9) at Los Lunas (8)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Eldorado (12) at La Cueva (5)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Carlsbad (11) at Rio Rancho (6)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cibola (10) at Volcano Vista (7)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis</strong>: We had a good idea about the first 11 teams making the playoffs., The heated battle was for the #12 seed. Eldorado gets the nod over Clovis and Alamogordo even though the Eagles are behind both those teams in the updated MaxPreps 6A rankings. Three of the top four seeds come from District 6A-3, a testament to its strength this season. However, that impressive strength wasn't enough to boost Alamogordo or Clovis into the playoffs. Carlsbad-Rio Rancho will be a battle in the first round.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Class 6A Bracket <a href="https://t.co/vQyrAS38iJ">pic.twitter.com/vQyrAS38iJ</a></p>&mdash; Prep Redzone New Mexico (@PrepRedzoneNM) <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneNM/status/1984836243352596836?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 5A</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Four Seeds</strong>: Artesia (1), Roswell (2), Los Alamos (3), Lovington (4)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Middle Tier</strong>: Goddard (5), Gadsden (6), Belen (7), Highland (8)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lower Tier</strong>: Mayfield (9), Valley (10), Capital (11), Deming (12)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Who's Out</strong>: Miyamura &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>First Round Matchups</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mayfield (9) at Highland (8)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Deming (12) at Goddard (5)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Capital (11) at Gadsden (6)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Valley (10) at Belen (7)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis</strong>: As expected, seven of the eight teams in District 5A-2 are in the playoffs. The district also claimed five of the top six seeds. The big debate over the past few weeks was whether unbeaten Los Alamos would get a top four seed. The Hilltoppers did at No. 3 despite being #5 in the new MaxPreps rankings. Deming is 1-9 but they got in over Miyamura based on strength of schedule. Highland-Mayfield is an attractive first round matchup. Are we headed for a third straight Artesia-Roswell battle in the state championship game?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Class 5A Bracket <a href="https://t.co/xwstQdXbQy">pic.twitter.com/xwstQdXbQy</a></p>&mdash; Prep Redzone New Mexico (@PrepRedzoneNM) <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneNM/status/1984835618741109079?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 4A</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Four Seeds</strong>: Bloomfield (1), St. Pius X (2), Chaparral (3), Taos (4)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Middle Tier</strong>: Albuquerque Academy (5), Moriarty (6), Grants (7), Bernalillo (8)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lower Tier</strong>: Manzano (9), Silver (10), Portales (11), Valencia (12).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Who's Out</strong>: Espanola Valley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>First Round Matchups</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Manzano (9) at Bernalillo (8)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Valencia (12) at Albuquerque Academy (5)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Portales (11) at Moriarty (6)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Silver (10) at Grants (7)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis</strong>: We thought all seven teams in District 4A-2 would get into the playoffs and that's what happened. The bottom four seeds are all from 4A-2. Chaparral stumbled against Silver and St. Pius X in Weeks 9 and 10, but the Lobos' close win over Portales may have come just in time for a top four seed. Taos in underrated and gotten very little attention this season. The Tigers are a dangerous team. Espanola Valley finished 5-5 and had more wins than Valencia or Portales but they fell short of making the 12-team field due to the depth of District 4A-2.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Class 4A Bracket <a href="https://t.co/fQYBqouBpb">pic.twitter.com/fQYBqouBpb</a></p>&mdash; Prep Redzone New Mexico (@PrepRedzoneNM) <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneNM/status/1984834890907709843?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 3A</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Four Seeds</strong>: St. Michael's (1), Dexter (2), Hope Christian (3), Pojoaque Valley (4)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Middle Tier</strong>: NMMI (5), Thoreau (6), West Las Vegas (7), Robertson (8)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lower Tier</strong>: Hatch Valley (9), Ruidoso (10), Hot Springs (11), Wingate (12)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Who's Out</strong>: Gallup, Tohatchi</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>First Round Matchups</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hatch Valley (9) at Robertson (8)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wingate (12) at NMMI (5)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hot Springs (11) at Thoreau (6)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ruidoso (10) at West Las Vegas (7)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis</strong>: All five teams in District 3A-2 made the playoffs, and all five will play at least one game at home in the playoffs as five of the top eight seeds are from 3A-2, including three of the top four. Wingate edged out Gallup (which finished 5-5 in Lawrence Garcia's first season as head coach) and Tohatchi for the No. 12 seed. Thoreau (9-1) earned a first round home game by winning District 3A-1. We could have a St. Michael's-Robertson rematch in the quarterfinals. Those two teams squared off Saturday in Week 11 with the Horsemen winning 40-6. However, Robertson must get past Hatch Valley in the first round. West Las Vegas and Ruidoso played a very close, hard-fought game early in the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Class 3A Bracket <a href="https://t.co/CJKVBAtkUR">pic.twitter.com/CJKVBAtkUR</a></p>&mdash; Prep Redzone New Mexico (@PrepRedzoneNM) <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneNM/status/1984834485129789884?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 2A</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Four Seeds</strong>: Texico (1), Legacy Academy (2), Eunice (3), Hozho Academy (4).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Middle Tier</strong>: Raton (5), Santa Rosa (6), Loving (7), Navajo Prep (8)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lower Tier</strong>: Jal (9), Estancia (10), Tucumcari (11), Tularosa (12)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Who's Out</strong>: McCurdy, Laguna Acoma</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>First Round Matchups</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jal (9) at Navajo Prep (8)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tularosa (12) at Raton (5)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tucumcari (11) at Santa Rosa (6)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>&nbsp;Estancia (10) at Loving (7)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis</strong>: Santa Rosa's two close losses in Weeks 10 and 11 were to Hozho Academy's  benefit as the Wolves jumped up into one of the top four seed spots. All five teams in District 2A-3 made the playoffs. Tularosa (2-8) edged out McCurdy and Laguna Acoma for the No. 12 seed. Jal wins the Road Warrior Award for the first round as they must travel all the way to Farmington to face Navajo Prep.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Class 2A Bracket <a href="https://t.co/1JWrdTsPMG">pic.twitter.com/1JWrdTsPMG</a></p>&mdash; Prep Redzone New Mexico (@PrepRedzoneNM) <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneNM/status/1984833978478530765?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>BEST OF SOCIAL MEDIA</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">For the 3rd year in a row - Gadsden will host a playoff game at Sal Gonzalez Stadium! The Panthers will host the Capital Jaguars. Date and time will be announced soon! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HailGadsden?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HailGadsden</a> <a href="https://t.co/mIFCpF1nNT">pic.twitter.com/mIFCpF1nNT</a></p>&mdash; Gadsden Football (@GadsdenPanthers) <a href="https://twitter.com/GadsdenPanthers/status/1984841319928500654?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Let's go Dawgs!! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CONQUERALL11?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CONQUERALL11</a> <a href="https://t.co/Q3INdMUm5H">pic.twitter.com/Q3INdMUm5H</a></p>&mdash; Bulldawg Football (@LCHSFOOTBALL) <a href="https://twitter.com/LCHSFOOTBALL/status/1984840860765470789?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2002191,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/11/Screenshot-2025-11-02-at-00-07-48-21-Prep-Redzone-New-Mexico-@PrepRedzoneNM-_-X.png?w=486" alt="" class="wp-image-2002191" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Twitter</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/_NMAA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@_NMAA</a> Hawks Ready for the Seeding Selection Show! <a href="https://t.co/pAXg4ZJ1dS">pic.twitter.com/pAXg4ZJ1dS</a></p>&mdash; Volcano Vista HS Football (@vvhsfootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/vvhsfootball/status/1984827556886192604?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html -->