NMAA Alters Class 2A Districts For 2026-27 After Appeals

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When the NMAA initially released the new football districts for the 2026 and 2027 seasons, they divided the 24 teams in Class 2A into three eight-team districts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>But when several schools filed appeals, the NMAA reconsidered.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The result? Class 2A will now be divided into a total of FIVE districts – four with five teams and one with four teams – for the next two years.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is the new district breakdown for Class 2A:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>District 1</strong> (5 Teams): Crownpoint, Hozho Academy, Laguna Acoma, Tohatchi, Zuni;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>District 2</strong> (4 Teams): McCurdy, Raton, Santa Rosa, Tucumcari;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>District 3</strong> (5 Teams): Capitan, Cobre, Estancia, Legacy Academy, Tularosa;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>District 4</strong> (5 Teams): Dexter, Eunice, Jal, Loving, Texico.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>District 5</strong> (5 Teams): Cuba, Navajo Prep, Newcomb, Santa Fe Indian, Shiprock.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We'll still have some tasty district matchups: Dexter-Texico and Dexter-Eunice, among them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Santa Fe Indian joins Class 2A after playing the last two years as an independent. Right now, the only two independents for 2026-27 are Northwest (8-man) and Elida (6-man). &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The only other significant change came in Class 4A. Grants was placed in District 4A-2 when the 2026-27 realignment was first announced in early December. However, Grants appealed on grounds the excessive travel would cause a significant burden. Over the next two years, the Pirates would have to make lengthy – and costly - road trips to Lovington, Portales and Santa Teresa.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The NMAA agreed. They moved Grants to District 4A-1, creating a nine-team district. Their new district foes include Bernalillo, Bloomfield, Del Norte, Espanola Valley, Manzano, Rio Grande, Taos and Valley.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>District 4A-2 is now a seven-team district. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->