5A Oregon Hypothetical 16 Team Bracket (2026-27')

Here we have a little fun and take a look at a hypothetical 16 team championship bracket at the 5A level for next year. The 5A classification level hasn't been this stong in many years if ever, so regardless it should be an intertesting season come playoff time.         1.Mountain View   2.Silverton   3.Summit   4.Wilsonville   5.Sandy   6.Thurston   7.Dallas   8.Canby   9.West Albany   10.Churchill   11.Central   12.Ridgeview   13.Lebanon   14.Hood River   15.Bend    16.Crater         1ST ROUND          #16 Crater @ #1 Mountain View  Mt View 60 Crater 0   As good as a few of the Mountain View teams have been over the years look for this year's group to potentially be the best in school history, behind the likes of D1 TE/DE [player_tooltip player_id='1684534' first='Jettson' last='Gillam'], 6-6 dual threat lineman [player_tooltip player_id='2090565' first='Brady' last='Nichols'], standout athlete [player_tooltip player_id='2090563' first='Robbie' last='Capers'], and what will be a 2000+ yard back in [player_tooltip player_id='1591745' first='Ryder' last='Carpenter'].     #9 West Albany @ #8 Canby   Canby 26  W Albany 24   I would expect this to be the year that Jimmy Joyce and the Cougars get over the hump and win in the playoffs. 2nd team all conference QB [player_tooltip player_id='1939267' first='Brody' last='Joyce'] is back with 5A state leading receiver [player_tooltip player_id='2088959' first='Cooper' last='Cousin']. More importantly Canby has a decent line and a nice group of young athletes returning.    #12 Ridgeview @ #5 Sandy  Sandy 45 Ridgeview 13   Ridgeview has done a great job as a program going 7-3 last year and ranking in the top 10 overall. That said as they could run into a Sandy program that drops from 6A to 5A, and possibly produce the best group they've ever put on the field, with all state athletes everywhere and reigning Mt Hood lineman of the year [player_tooltip player_id='2054807' first='Colton' last='Lucas']. The biggest issue for the Pioneers will be playing in such an uncompetitive new conference.    #13 Lebanon @ #4 Wilsonville  Wville 51 Lebanon 10   Lebanon graduates a ton of talent including Mid Willamette Conference POY Brison Edwads at QB. The Cats return NWOC POY [player_tooltip player_id='1359052' first='Trevor' last='Glos'] at quarterback, one of the region's fastest rising recruits in [player_tooltip player_id='1474331' first='Ben' last='Wiepert'], and 6-7 monster [player_tooltip player_id='2088972' first='Luke' last='Brainard']. This one is over quickly.    #11 Central @ #6 Thurston   Thurston 33 Central 17   Both of these teams have a lot going for them with D1 baseball standouts [player_tooltip player_id='1358900' first='JT' last='Girod'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1593708' first='Joe' last='Mendazona'] leading a solid Central group, and 5A POY candidate Emmit Distefano returning at QB. The Colts have won a lot more as a program over the years which I think will carry weight here. Look for the Colts to win by a couple scores.   #14 Hood River @ #3 Summit  Summit 56 Hood River 12   It's gonna be a battle like never before in the IMC between Summit and Mountain View. The Storm were ranked #1 for much of last year and will once again have a real shot at a 5A title behind reigning conference POY [player_tooltip player_id='1358896' first='Andrew' last='Guthrie'] at quarterback. This one is over before it starts.    #10 Churchill @ #7 Dallas  Dallas 27 Churchill 22   Both of these programs graduate a ton of talent with the biggest X factor being returning POY [player_tooltip player_id='1878396' first='Aidan' last='Galusha'] of Dallas. He's a D1 guy with elite speed and could very well be the player of the year on both sides of the ball this season.    #15 Bend @ #2 Silverton    Silverton 56 Bend 6    It's hard not to pick the Foxes to win the state title again with an elite line led by 2028's [player_tooltip player_id='2105987' first='Mark' last='Bailey'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2106007' first='Cal' last='Kofstad'] along with D1 Idaho commit [player_tooltip player_id='937036' first='Lincoln' last='Teeney']. They will likely have a battle within the conference & state with the 5A classification level being as good as it's ever been.          QUARTERFINALS         #8 Canby @ #1 Mountain View   MView 44 Canby 14   I think Mountain View will destroy almost everyone not named Silverton or Summit so this could be over early. The kids out of Central Oregon dropped the hammer on Canby last year as well.    #5 Sandy @ #4 Wilsonville  Sandy 33 Wilsonville 29   Maybe the game of the year at the 5A level thus far. Sandy gets the W in OT at Wilsonville with [player_tooltip player_id='1566153' first='Mason' last='Frederickson'] coming up clutch late.    #6 Thurston @ #3 Summit  Summit 30 Thurston 21   The Colts come to play but come up short against a loaded Summit team who controls the line with multiple D1 guys. Top 2028 recruit [player_tooltip player_id='1609771' first='Peter' last='Stanley'] and all state lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1593163' first='Ben' last='Goalen'] will be an interesting matchup against top 10 prospect Leofatu Filipe and [player_tooltip player_id='937334' first='Parker' last='Edwards'].   #7 Dallas @ #2 Silverton   Silverton 40 Dallas 12   Nothing but respect for the Dallas program but it's going to be tough for them to keep it close versus Silverton during league play and in the playoffs.          SEMIFINALS         #5 Sandy @ #1 Mountain View   Mt View 28 Sandy 19   Sandy tries to turn the contest into a track meet with all their speed but Mountain View is too physical and control the tempo, pulling away in the 4th quarter.     #3 Summit @ #2 Silverton   Silverton 23 Summit 21   A rematch of last years state title game where Silverton got the W 24-14. Expect this to be another hard fought contest won at the line of scrimmage where I see QB [player_tooltip player_id='1358896' first='Andrew' last='Guthrie'] keeping them in the game.          STATE CHAMPIONSHIP         #2 Silverton @ #1 Mountain View  Mt View 31 Silverton 27   Look for coach Brian Crum and his guys to win another state title against the reigning state champs. Once again the 5A classification level hasn't been this loaded in years, so I would expect one of the best title games in some time.