The play-offs are finally here, let the fun begin.

No more conference records, tiebreakers or shuffling, from now on it’s all about win or go home.

There are 56 play-off matches in seven divisions this week. Some of the best in Class 7A, 6A, 4A and 3A earned a bye in the first round to advance to next week. For the rest, it will take a win to get there on Friday night.

The postseason gives teams and their fans a chance to face opponents from all over the state they might not normally see. That’s what makes these matchups so interesting; these would only happen in the playoffs.

Here’s a more in-depth look at the best matchups in the state this week.

Predicted winner in ALL CAPS

Bentonville West (3-7) and Lr CHRISTIAN (6-4)

Little Rock Christian Coach Dustin Grimmett has made many innovations this season. The Warriors moved up a class after finishing as the Class 6A runner-up in 2023, got a new point guard in junior Kemp Keller and dealt with it all while adjusting to his new role as head coach. With all the uncertainty, he led the Warriors to a win-filled season and secured a home playoff berth. Bentonville West has been a strange team all season long that can score a lot of goals but can’t figure out how to stop anyone. The Warriors are coming off consecutive defeats but need a win here.

Cabot (4-6) at SPRINGDALE (7-3)

Coach Brett Hobbs, in his fourth season, appears to have turned the corner at Springdale with its first winning season since 2018. Next challenge: Get the team’s first playoff win since the 2005 state title under Gus Malzahn. They should have enough power to make that happen, with quarterback Jack Pounders and the Bulldogs’ three losses placing them in the top three in the 7A-West. Cabot has a winning record on the road this season.

Sheridan AT THE MOUNTAIN HOUSE (3-7) (8-2)

Steve Ary has made a habit of suffering first-round upsets at Mountain Home, but his most successful regular season ever means he’s finally the favorite to head into the playoffs. But that doesn’t mean things will get any easier, as Sheridan and Kevin welcome Kelley. The Yellow Jackets were the third-highest scoring team in Class 6A this season with 41.1 points per game. The Bombers’ main advantage will be on defense, where the Yellow Jackets allow the most points in the class at 43.7 points per game.

CAMDEN FAIRVIEW (7-3) at Harding Academy (7-3)

Harding Academy’s up-and-down start in Class 5A appears to be a thing of the past, but the playoffs are a different beast, especially against a team as talented as Camden Fairview. The Cardinals nearly upset Little Rock Parkview last week and that should give them a lot of confidence. Wide receiver Trent Haygood and quarterback Darrell Atkins Jr. Managed by Camden Fairview is a serious defensive assignment. Harding Academy quarterback Owen Miller is a productive player, but it will come down to whether his teammates on defense can keep them in this game.

Greenbrier (7-3) at MAUMELLE (7-3)

This matchup is as simple as it gets this week: How successful is Enoch Assan? The Greenbrier running back leads the state with 1,927 yards and 22 touchdowns on the ground. He averaged 8.3 yards per carry to lead the Panthers to this point, but this will likely be the best defensive line he will face. If Greenbrier gets going, he’ll be hard to stop, but if Maumelle can contain him, he could easily win. Another thing to keep an eye on is Maumelle’s offense, which looked like it lost last week against Joe T. Robinson.

Hamburg (7-3) at GRAVETTE (9-1)

If you like watching a team keep running backs, this is the game for you. Hamburg’s Ni’kel Lewis and Gravette’s Gabriel Holmes are two dynamic 1,000-yard rushers. Hamburg Coach Blake Johnson has his winningest program since 2019 and is aiming for his first real playoff run since 2016. Hamburg beat Gravette during their run to the quarter-finals in 2016, but the Lions are the strongest team they have had in more than a decade. Gravette’s defense (12.9 points per game) is holding opponents to fewer than half the points of Hamburg (27.6) this season, which could make the difference.

Gentry (8-2) at DeWITT (7-3)

4A-1 and 4A-8 were the two busiest conferences in Class 4A this season, with nine teams having winning records. So it’s no surprise that these two conferences have some interesting playoff matchups. Just like Hamburg and Gravette, these teams have talented runners who will be at the forefront. DeWitt’s Korri Graham and Gentry’s Bennett Roberts both have over 1,000 rushing yards and 37 total touchdowns. Dewitt has won a playoff game in two of the last three seasons, while Gentry hasn’t won any since 2020.

Walnut Ridge (7-3) at RISON (9-1)

Rison’s confusing 2023 appears to be in the rearview mirror, and he looks strong once again under first-year coach Chris Vereen. They have not allowed more than 28 points in a game this season and are scoring 37.9 points per game. Walnut Ridge had no chance of being in the same conference as Rivercrest and Newport, two of Class 4A’s highest-scoring teams, and its loss to Osceola left it in 4th place. The Bobcats have shown they can compete in the shootout, but they have yet to win.

MARKED TREE (6-4) at Murfreesboro (7-3)

These teams will play each other for the second time in a row. Marked Tree pulled off last season’s upset, ending Murfreesboro’s undefeated season. The Indians return most of that roster, including dynamic running back TJ Hodges, which sets them up for another upset win. Murfreesboro lost the shootout last week and will need to turn the page quickly if they want to win.

Hazen (5-5) at CONWAY CHRISTIAN (10-0)

Conway Christian just completed its first undefeated regular season in program history and is looking to break new ground as it heads to the state championship game. These teams’ records shouldn’t be close by some measure, but Hazen isn’t your average .500 hitter. The Hornets have been shut out of the state championship for two seasons and are playing Carlisle, the No. 1 team in Class 2A, by one score. Conway Christian’s impressive offense makes him the clear favorite in this matchup, but don’t be surprised if it’s closer than you think.