High Point Central pauses varsity football for 2026 season

High Point Central High School announced on January 13, 2026 that it will suspend its varsity football program for the 2026 season and operate only a junior varsity program while the school rebuilds. The one-year pause follows a 2025 campaign in which the Bison went winless and were outscored 523–0, prompting school leaders to prioritize player development, participation and program readiness.

The decision was announced at a special meeting and confirmed to local media. Under the plan, varsity competition will be paused for one season while coaches and administrators concentrate on rebuilding roster depth through the junior varsity program and focused offseason development. School leaders framed the step as an effort to return a stronger varsity team in 2027 rather than to permanently end varsity play.

For players and families the immediate consequences are concrete. Senior athletes lose a final season of varsity competition this year, affecting game experience and exposure. Underclassmen will see increased JV opportunities and access to more concentrated coaching time, but they will also miss the continuity and intensity that varsity schedules and rivalries provide. The pause will shift travel, practice and game-day routines for students, families and volunteer booster groups that support the program.

The move also has broader implications for Guilford County high school athletics. Community engagement tied to Friday night games, local business revenues on game nights and the feeder pipeline for nearby colleges and clinics are likely to feel the ripple effects of a temporary varsity absence. Administratively, the plan raises questions about how the district will measure progress: what benchmarks will determine readiness to resume varsity competition, how participation and safety issues will be tracked, and how resources will be allocated to coaching, conditioning and equipment during the rebuild.

Transparency and clear timelines will be important to maintain trust. Residents and stakeholders should expect the school to publish criteria for returning to varsity competition, outline support for displaced seniors, and provide regular updates on participation numbers and injury prevention efforts. Boosters, alumni and community partners can play a constructive role by supporting JV operations and investing in offseason development programs.

The takeaway? This is a short-term reset aimed at rebuilding a battered program, but it will require visible accountability and community buy-in to succeed. If you care about Bison football, show up to meetings, back the JV players working to rebuild the herd, and press the school for clear milestones so everyone knows what success looks like. Our two cents? Support the kids while insisting on a measurable plan to bring varsity football back stronger.