Changes are on the horizon for Class 3A football teams in New Mexico as they prepare for a new two-district alignment starting in 2026. The New Mexico Activities Association officially approved this plan during a board meeting on Thursday, marking a significant shift in scheduling for these schools.
This new structure will see teams like St. Michael”s, Las Vegas Robertson, Pojoaque Valley, and West Las Vegas compete in an eight-game district schedule, allowing only two nondistrict games. Previously, these teams played four district games alongside six nondistrict ones.
District 1-3A will include nine teams, while District 2-3A will consist of eight, representing a growth in the number of teams in the districts compared to the previous setup of three smaller districts. The remaining teams in District 1-3A are Aztec, Kirtland Central, Gallup, Thoreau, and Wingate.
The new alignment has received mixed reactions from coaches and athletic directors in the Northern district. Richard Tripp, the athletic director for West Las Vegas, revealed he has already received inquiries from nondistrict schools looking to fill their two available game slots. Meanwhile, Dakota Montoya, athletic director for St. Michael”s, is set to fill his openings with city rivalry games against Capital and Santa Fe High.
Despite the fact that 80% of next year”s schedule is already determined, many believe that having only two nondistrict games is insufficient. Montoya expressed the value of playing a variety of teams to explore different playing styles, noting that scheduling games against teams like Albuquerque Academy and Albuquerque St. Pius X might not be feasible under the new structure.
Additionally, the decision by St. Michael”s to compete in Class 3A, despite being classified as a 2A school, has complicated scheduling for other teams. During the meeting, NMAA executive director Dusty Young presented two proposals regarding football classifications. The first maintained the current model, limiting each class from 3A to 6A to 16 teams. The second proposed a more traditional classification based on enrollment breaks but did not receive a board vote.
Montoya mentioned that there is a possibility Dexter may also move up from 2A to 3A, which could prompt a reconsideration of the districts to a three-district structure with six teams each. This would allow a balanced schedule of ten games, helping teams better prepare for district play.
As Northern teams adjust to the new landscape, Santa Fe High has moved down to 5A, joining city rival Capital in District 1-5A, which also includes Los Lunas, Albuquerque Cibola, and Piedra Vista, all of which competed in the Class 6A playoffs last season.
John Michael Salazar, head coach for the Jaguars, emphasized the importance of having Santa Fe High as a district rival, as it allows for the scheduling of two nondistrict opponents along with their game against St. Michael”s. He noted the significance of strengthening their schedule to enhance the program”s competitiveness.
Meanwhile, Santa Fe Indian School will rejoin district competition after spending two years as an independent, moving down to 2A. They will compete in District 2-2A alongside McCurdy, Estancia, Laguna-Acoma, Albuquerque Legacy Academy, Raton, Santa Rosa, and Tucumcari.
In non-football changes, Santa Fe High and Capital will welcome Cibola to District 2-5A as Albuquerque Manzano drops to 4A across all sports. Other teams, such as Mesa Vista, Mora, and Peñasco, will drop to 1A starting in 2026, with Escalante possibly appealing to move down as well.
In girls” soccer, Class 1A/3A will consolidate into two districts with only 16 teams participating. District 2-1A/3A will include St. Michael”s, Santa Fe Indian School, Santa Fe Prep, Academy for Technology and the Classics, Monte del Sol, Navajo Prep, West Las Vegas, and Las Vegas Robertson. Cross-country will also reintroduce Class 1A with 20 teams, and there will be adjustments to scoring, allowing only four runners to be counted instead of the traditional five.
The NMAA has set a deadline for schools to file appeals regarding the new alignment, with final approvals expected at a meeting on December 10.
