FARMINGTON – The landscape of New Mexico high school football is getting a major shakeup, and San Juan County programs will find themselves on vastly different battlegrounds when the new football season opens later this summer.
The New Mexico Activities Association released its official classification and district alignments for the 2026–2028 blocks, introducing sweeping changes across all seven classes.
For local squads, the re-alignment brings everything from renewed local rivalries to daunting travel schedules across the state.
According to the the NMAA, a comprehensive review of member school enrollment numbers is undertaken to determine classification and alignment for all sports.
An average of 80-day enrollment count numbers (grades 9-12) for the second and third years prior to the start of a new block and the 40-day enrollment count numbers just prior to the start of a new block, are utilized to determine the enrollment figure for each school.
Perhaps the most glaring change for local football fans this season is the complete separation of Farmington’s two largest programs.
Farmington High’s football team will remain in Class 6A, the state’s highest classification, which has been trimmed to just 16 schools.
The Scorpions will compete in a powerhouse District 1-6A that includes defending Class 6A state champion Cleveland, as well as Atrisco Heritage, La Cueva, Rio Rancho, Sandia and West Mesa.
Cleveland and La Cueva football teams have combined to win the state title each of the past seven seasons.
Farmington, which finished last season with a record of 1-9 (0-5 District), have won just five games against 15 losses in each of its last two seasons since being reclassified to Class 6A.
Meanwhile, crosstown rival Piedra Vista High School is dropping to Class 5A. The Panthers join a strong District 1-5A lineup packed with Albuquerque-area and western New Mexico foes, including Cibola, Highland, Los Alamos, Los Lunas, Miyamura and Santa Fe.
The Panthers were eliminated by Los Lunas in the opening round of the Class 6A football postseason last year. Piedra Vista nearly captured the Class 5A championship in 2022, losing the title game against Artesia.
Back-to-back defending state champion Bloomfield remains in Class 4A but faces a radically altered district alignment. The Bobcats will join a district that features Del Norte, Española Valley, Manzano, Rio Grande, Taos and Valencia.
The Bobcats, winners of the Class 4A title after topping St. Pius in each of the past two seasons, will be in search of their fourth state title in the past five years when they open their season on the road facing Clovis on Saturday, Aug. 22 at Cleveland High School.
In Class 3A, Kirtland Central and Aztec are set to anchor a competitive District 1. They will be flanked by Gallup, Pojoaque Valley, Thoreau and West Las Vegas, as well as St. Michael’s, three-time defending state champs at the classification. Robertson also joins the grueling district.
The Broncos and Tigers will likely welcome dropping out of Class 4A into Class 3A. The two teams were a combined 3-17 overall (1-13 against district competition) last season.
The lower classifications see a high concentration of local programs packed into a single league. District 1-2A will feature several local and area teams including Navajo Prep, Shiprock and Newcomb. They will share the district with Crownpoint, Hozho Academy, Tohatchi and Zuni.
In the 8-Man ranks, Shiprock Northwest High School is slated to play as an independent for the 2026–2028 block, opting out of traditional district alignment.