The CIAC’s 2026 realignment has transformed Connecticut high school football. By shifting programs, perennial playoff contenders, and rising programs across different playoff classes, the landscape for the upcoming season has changed.

Here is how these specific class movements will impact the upcoming season.

Class MM becomes an absolute meatgrinder

If Class MM was already tough, the additions for 2026 turn it into arguably the most brutal bracket in the state.

St. Joseph and Newtown moving to MM brings two heavyweight, championship-caliber programs into the mix. St. Joes has a legendary playoff pedigree, and Newtown is consistently a disciplined, deep program that expects to play deep into December.

Hillhouse and Platt joining them adds incredible athletic depth and physical SCC/CCC battle-tested programs to the division.

With these four teams moving to MM, traditional playoff mainstays will find the path to the finals significantly harder this fall. There will be no easy quarterfinal draws here.

Class L gets a Catholic powerhouse transfusion

Notre Dame-West Haven (NDWH) moving to Class L is a massive development for the division. NDWH is a battle tested program coming from the Southern Connecticut Conference (SCC). Their move up or down always shifts the state tiering, and in Class L, they instantly become a favorite to challenge traditional powers like New Canaan, Darien and Maloney. Their physical style of play alters the baseline of what it takes to win a Class L title this year.

South Windsor moves to Class LL

South Windsor jumping up to Class LL puts them in the ring with the largest schools and heaviest hitters in Connecticut, including Greenwich and Staples. It is a massive step up in terms of sheer roster depth and weekly physical toll. For South Windsor, the regular season becomes a grueling war of attrition just to secure a spot in the LL bracket, where the margin for error is razor-thin.

Class M becomes crowded and deeply competitive

Class M is seeing the most chaotic influx of talent, turning it into a wild card division where virtually anyone can emerge.

Bunnell and Holy Cross bring high-flying offenses and explosive playmakers like Dae’Sean Graves down into M. Bunnell has been highly competitive in the SWC, and Holy Cross is always a tough, NVL contender.

Northwest Catholic, Hartford Coop, and Notre Dame Prep (formerly ND-Fairfield) add layers of unpredictability. Hartford Coop brings athleticism and size to the M, while Northwest Catholic and ND-Prep are programs with upside.

With so many proud programs packed into Class M, the race for the top eight playoff seeds will be decided by fraction-of-a-point differences in the CIAC playoff point system.