Big Central Conference Announces Football Division Changes for 2026-2027 Seasons
The 59-team league shuffled smaller and mid-sized schools between divisions. Most large-enrollment schools stayed put.
The Big Central Conference unveiled new high school football division alignments Wednesday for 2026 and 2027. The 59-team league shuffled smaller and mid-sized schools between divisions. Most large-enrollment schools stayed put.
Hunterdon Central exits the American Silver. They'll join Liberty Silver with Montgomery, North Hunterdon, Somerville, and Watchung Hills. American Silver now consists of Bridgewater-Raritan, Hillsborough, Phillipsburg, and Ridge.
Rahway takes Perth Amboy's spot in Liberty Gold, teaming with defending champ Woodbridge, Colonia, Plainfield, and Linden. Perth Amboy slides to Patriot Silver. Spotswood moves there too after jumping up from Freedom Gold.
United Silver got tougher. Bernards now competes with Governor Livingston, J.F. Kennedy, and South Plainfield. Spotswood captured three straight Freedom Gold titles before their promotion.
J.P. Stevens drops to Freedom Gold to play Brearley, Dayton, Highland Park, Roselle Park, and South River. Patriot Silver features A.L. Johnson, Metuchen, New Providence, Perth Amboy, Roselle, and Spotswood.
North Plainfield and New Brunswick departed United Silver. Both enter Patriot Gold with Delaware Valley, Voorhees, and Hillside. Hillside left United Gold, which now has Carteret, Cranford, Scotch Plains-Fanwood, and Summit.
Three divisions remained unchanged. American Gold, National Gold, and National Silver house Group 4 and 5 schools, plus St. Joseph (Metuchen) and St. Thomas Aquinas.
Manville defends its Freedom Silver title in the same grouping with other Group 1 schools. That division contains Belvidere, Bound Brook, Dunellen, Middlesex, and South Hunterdon.
The league has 12 divisions. These alignments remain for two seasons, then the conference reviews them again.
