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The WIAA football playoff qualification process used to be much more confusing, but with statewide conference realignment that went into effect last year, things are easier to follow. This report attempts to simplify where teams stand as of games played through Week 7. This report will be updated again after each week of the season.
The WIAA 11-player football postseason features seven divisions of 32 teams, for a total of 224 teams that qualify for the playoffs. Those 224 teams are determined after the completion of the regular season, and then split into seven equal divisions.
Teams that have a conference winning percentage better than .500 are guaranteed a spot in the playoffs, thus with every team in the state playing (or being credited with) seven conference games, winning four of them guarantees you a spot in the postseason. A caveat is that there are an odd-number of teams in the state this year, and the Capitol Conference only has seven teams and is unpaired, so those teams will play six games, meaning four conference wins clinches a spot and three conference wins gets you qualified and very likely in the postseason, and we are considering that in the "Clinched" category).
With the number of teams playing 11-player football under 370, there are a number of teams that will finish under .500 in conference play that will make the postseason. However, we do not know how many of those under .500 conference teams will qualify, or which tiebreakers the WIAA will have to go through to figure out which ones make it.
For our purposes, teams that reach three conference wins (except Capitol Conference) will be on the "Bubble", having a chance to get in via tiebreakers but not guaranteed a spot.
Through games played in Week Seven, 119 teams have clinched playoff spots.
60 teams are on the Bubble with three conference wins.
66 teams can get on the Bubble with one more conference win.
In addition to these teams, Clinton, Horicon/Hustisford, and Lodi are 2-2 in the Capitol Conference, which plays six league games; these teams are not on the bubble yet but one more win will get them in with a minimum 3-3 record.
This Playoff Qualifying Report lists those teams that have clinched a playoff spot, those that are on the Bubble, and those that need one more conference win to get on the Bubble.
The Playoff Qualifying Report will be updated each week for the rest of the regular season.
119 teams
(Guaranteed conference record over .500)
Team | Enrollment | Projected Division | Conference | TPF Elevation |
---|---|---|---|---|
Abbotsford | 240 | 6 | Marawood/CWC | |
Amherst | 357 | 5 | CWC-Large | |
Aquinas | 318 | 4 | Coulee | * |
Arrowhead | 2037 | 1 | Classic Eight | |
Auburndale | 230 | 6 | Marawood/CWC | |
Badger | 1293 | 2 | Southern Lakes | |
Baldwin-Woodville | 509 | 4 | Middle Border | |
Bangor | 215 | 7 | Scenic Bluffs | |
Bay Port | 1952 | 1 | FRCC-North | |
Beaver Dam | 1047 | 2 | East Central | |
Berlin | 479 | 4 | South Central | |
Black Hawk/Warren (IL) | 218 | 7 | Six Rivers | |
Blair-Taylor | 174 | 7 | Dairyland | |
Bonduel | 263 | 6 | Packerland | |
Boyceville | 213 | 7 | Dunn-St. Croix | |
Brookfield Academy | 333 | 5 | Midwest Classic-Small | |
Burlington | 961 | 3 | Southern Lakes | |
Cambridge | 280 | 6 | Eastern Suburban | |
Catholic Memorial | 571 | 3 | Parkland | * |
Cedar Grove-Belgium | 291 | 6 | Big East | |
Cedarburg | 1087 | 2 | North Shore | |
Cochrane-Fountain City | 180 | 7 | Dairyland | |
Coleman | 225 | 6 | Northwoods | |
Columbus | 373 | 4 | Capitol | * |
Crivitz | 202 | 7 | Northwoods | |
Cuba City | 269 | 6 | SWAL | |
D.C. Everest | 1830 | 1 | Wisconsin Valley | |
Darlington | 258 | 5 | SWAL | * |
Edgar | 201 | 7 | Marawood/CWC | |
Eleva-Strum | 194 | 7 | Dairyland | |
Ellsworth | 527 | 4 | Middle Border | |
Evansville | 513 | 4 | Rock Valley | |
Franklin | 1606 | 1 | Southeast | |
Freedom | 481 | 4 | North Eastern | |
Germantown | 1295 | 2 | Greater Metro | |
Grafton | 718 | 3 | Woodland | |
Grantsburg | 270 | 6 | Lakeland | |
Greendale | 915 | 3 | Woodland | |
Hillsboro | 151 | 7 | Scenic Bluffs | |
Holmen | 1254 | 2 | Mississippi Valley | |
Homestead | 1227 | 2 | North Shore | |
Ithaca | 116 | 7 | Scenic Bluffs | |
Johnson Creek | 181 | 7 | Trailways | |
Kaukauna | 1262 | 2 | Fox Valley Association | |
Kenosha Christian Life | 196 | 7 | Midwest Classic-Small | |
Kenosha St. Joseph Catholic | 219 | 7 | Midwest Classic-Small | |
Kiel | 420 | 5 | Eastern Wisconsin | |
Kimberly | 1574 | 1 | Fox Valley Association | |
La Crosse Central | 1011 | 2 | Mississippi Valley | |
La Crosse Logan | 714 | 3 | Mississippi Valley | |
Ladysmith | 249 | 6 | Lakeland | |
Lake Country Lutheran | 350 | 5 | Metro Classic | |
Lake Mills | 482 | 4 | Capitol | |
Lancaster | 318 | 5 | SWC | |
Lomira | 315 | 5 | Flyway | |
Luxemburg-Casco | 648 | 3 | North Eastern | |
Madison Memorial | 2031 | 1 | Big Eight | |
Marquette | 1786 | 1 | Greater Metro | |
Martin Luther | 676 | 3 | Metro Classic | |
Mayville | 363 | 4 | Flyway | * |
Medford | 715 | 3 | Great Northern | |
Menasha | 1022 | 2 | FRCC-South | |
Milton | 1054 | 2 | Badger-Large | |
Milwaukee Academy of Science | 392 | 5 | Midwest Classic-Large | |
Milwaukee Hamilton/Audubon Technology | 1946 | 1 | Milwaukee City-Richardson | |
Milwaukee King | 1349 | 2 | Milwaukee City-Richardson | |
Milwaukee Washington/Fuller Collegiate Academy | 825 | 3 | Milwaukee City-Blackbourn | |
Monroe | 715 | 2 | Rock Valley | * |
Mosinee | 625 | 4 | Great Northern | |
Mount Horeb/Barneveld | 910 | 3 | Badger-Small | |
Mukwonago | 1588 | 1 | Classic Eight | |
Neenah | 1977 | 1 | Fox Valley Association | |
Nekoosa | 288 | 6 | South Central | |
New Holstein | 327 | 5 | Eastern Wisconsin | |
New Richmond | 1088 | 2 | Big Rivers | |
Northwestern | 392 | 5 | Heart O'North | |
Notre Dame | 739 | 3 | FRCC-South | |
Obama SCTE | 782 | 3 | Milwaukee City-Blackbourn | |
Oconomowoc | 1628 | 1 | Classic Eight | |
Oconto Falls | 533 | 4 | Northwoods | |
Oshkosh North | 1268 | 2 | FRCC-South | |
Pardeeville | 274 | 6 | Eastern Suburban | |
Pepin/Alma | 148 | 7 | Dairyland | |
Port Washington | 804 | 3 | East Central | |
Potosi/Cassville | 166 | 7 | Six Rivers | |
Prairie du Chien | 323 | 5 | SWC | |
Prescott | 427 | 4 | Middle Border | |
Racine Case | 1849 | 1 | Southeast | |
Racine Horlick | 1289 | 2 | Southeast | |
Racine Lutheran | 343 | 5 | Midwest Classic-Large | |
Racine St. Catherine’s | 456 | 4 | Metro Classic | |
Randolph | 171 | 7 | Trailways | |
Reedsville | 192 | 6 | Big East | * |
Regis | 212 | 6 | Cloverbelt | * |
Rice Lake | 706 | 2 | Big Rivers | * |
Saint Croix Falls | 358 | 5 | Heart O'North | |
Saint Mary’s Springs | 263 | 5 | Flyway | * |
Seymour | 595 | 4 | Bay | |
Sheboygan North | 1662 | 1 | FRCC-South | |
Slinger | 1041 | 2 | North Shore | |
Southern Door | 311 | 5 | Packerland | |
Spring Valley | 180 | 7 | Dunn-St. Croix | |
Stanley-Boyd | 321 | 5 | Cloverbelt | |
Stevens Point | 2083 | 1 | Wisconsin Valley | |
Stoughton | 861 | 3 | Badger-Small | |
Stratford | 271 | 5 | CWC-Large | * |
Sun Prairie East | 1342 | 2 | Badger-Large | |
Sussex Hamilton | 1554 | 1 | Greater Metro | |
Verona | 1794 | 1 | Big Eight | |
Waunakee | 1352 | 1 | Badger-Large | * |
Wauwatosa East | 1035 | 2 | Parkland | |
Wauwatosa West | 1027 | 2 | Parkland | |
West De Pere | 1081 | 2 | FRCC-North | |
West Salem | 603 | 4 | Coulee | |
Winneconne | 510 | 4 | Bay | |
Wisconsin Dells | 572 | 4 | South Central | |
Wisconsin Lutheran | 924 | 3 | Woodland | |
Wittenberg-Birnamwood | 338 | 5 | CWC-Large | |
Wrightstown | 399 | 5 | North Eastern |
60 teams
(Teams that have guaranteed at least three conference wins)
Team | Enrollment | Projected Division | Conference | TPF Elevation |
---|---|---|---|---|
Appleton North | 1720 | 1 | Fox Valley Association | |
Barron | 325 | 5 | Heart O'North | |
Belleville | 294 | 6 | SWAL | |
Cambria-Friesland | 113 | 7 | Trailways | |
Cameron | 310 | 5 | Lakeland | |
Campbellsport | 492 | 4 | Flyway | |
Cashton | 194 | 7 | Scenic Bluffs | |
Chetek-Weyerhaeuser | 251 | 6 | Lakeland | |
Chippewa Falls | 1424 | 1 | Big Rivers | |
De Pere | 1464 | 1 | FRCC-North | |
DeForest | 1141 | 2 | Badger-Large | |
Delavan-Darien | 620 | 4 | Rock Valley | |
Edgerton | 551 | 4 | Rock Valley | |
Edgewood | 619 | 4 | Badger-Small | |
Elk Mound | 368 | 5 | Cloverbelt | |
Glenwood City | 203 | 7 | Dunn-St. Croix | |
Hartford | 1337 | 2 | North Shore | |
Howards Grove | 266 | 6 | Big East | |
Hudson | 1732 | 1 | Big Rivers | |
Iola-Scandinavia | 201 | 7 | Marawood/CWC | |
Janesville Craig | 1632 | 1 | Big Eight | |
Kenosha Bradford | 1887 | 1 | Southeast | |
Kewaunee | 308 | 5 | Packerland | |
Little Chute | 477 | 4 | North Eastern | |
Luther | 253 | 6 | Coulee | |
Madison West | 2193 | 1 | Big Eight | |
Manitowoc Lutheran | 248 | 6 | Big East | |
Marshall | 287 | 6 | Eastern Suburban | |
Marshfield | 1252 | 2 | Wisconsin Valley | |
Menomonie | 966 | 3 | Big Rivers | |
Middleton | 2388 | 1 | Big Eight | |
Milwaukee Bradley Tech/Milwaukee Arts | 1986 | 1 | Milwaukee City-Richardson | |
Milwaukee Reagan | 1365 | 1 | Milwaukee City-Richardson | |
Mineral Point | 240 | 6 | SWAL | |
Mondovi | 270 | 6 | Cloverbelt | |
Monona Grove | 1184 | 2 | Badger-Large | |
New Berlin West | 689 | 3 | Parkland | |
New Glarus | 320 | 5 | SWC | |
Oak Creek | 2177 | 1 | Southeast | |
Onalaska | 920 | 3 | Mississippi Valley | |
Oostburg | 324 | 5 | Big East | |
Platteville | 489 | 4 | SWC | |
Plymouth | 733 | 3 | East Central | |
Poynette | 307 | 5 | Eastern Suburban | |
Pulaski | 1114 | 2 | FRCC-North | |
Reedsburg | 857 | 3 | Mississippi Valley | |
River Ridge | 166 | 7 | Six Rivers | |
Roncalli | 229 | 6 | Eastern Wisconsin | |
Saint Croix Central | 506 | 4 | Middle Border | |
Saint Francis | 553 | 4 | Midwest Classic-Large | |
Shoreland Lutheran | 425 | 5 | Metro Classic | |
Spooner | 373 | 5 | Heart O'North | |
Sturgeon Bay | 404 | 5 | Packerland | |
Waterford | 889 | 3 | Southern Lakes | |
Waupun | 569 | 4 | South Central | |
Wausau East | 941 | 3 | Great Northern | |
Westby | 297 | 6 | Coulee | |
Westfield | 295 | 6 | Trailways | |
Westosha Central | 1283 | 2 | Southern Lakes | |
Whitnall | 850 | 3 | Woodland |
66 teams
(Teams with two conference wins that need one more to get on the bubble)
Team | Enrollment | Projected Division | Conference | TPF Elevation |
---|---|---|---|---|
Antigo | 642 | 3 | Great Northern | |
Appleton West | 1602 | 1 | FRCC-North | |
Arcadia | 430 | 4 | Coulee | |
Beloit Memorial | 1576 | 1 | Southern Lakes | |
Bloomer | 408 | 5 | Heart O'North | |
Brillion | 319 | 5 | Eastern Wisconsin | |
Brodhead/Juda | 413 | 5 | SWC | |
Brookfield Central | 1173 | 2 | Greater Metro | |
Chilton | 396 | 5 | Eastern Wisconsin | |
Colby | 307 | 5 | CWC-Large | |
Crandon | 232 | 6 | Northwoods | |
Cudahy | 683 | 3 | Midwest Classic-Large | |
Durand-Arkansaw | 313 | 5 | Cloverbelt | |
Eau Claire North | 1697 | 1 | Wisconsin Valley | |
Fall Creek | 254 | 6 | Cloverbelt | |
Fennimore | 246 | 6 | SWAL | |
Fond du Lac | 1913 | 1 | Fox Valley Association | |
Fox Valley Lutheran | 745 | 3 | Bay | |
Greenfield | 1136 | 2 | Woodland | |
Hayward/Lac Courte Oreilles | 720 | 3 | Heart O'North | |
Hilbert | 143 | 7 | Big East | |
Iowa-Grant | 212 | 7 | Six Rivers | |
Jefferson | 612 | 4 | Rock Valley | |
Kettle Moraine | 1274 | 1 | Classic Eight | |
Kettle Moraine Lutheran | 568 | 4 | East Central | |
Kohler/Sheboygan Christian/Lutheran | 565 | 4 | Eastern Wisconsin | |
Lakeland | 704 | 3 | Great Northern | |
Lourdes Academy | 172 | 7 | Trailways | |
Markesan | 243 | 6 | Eastern Suburban | |
Mauston | 442 | 4 | South Central | |
McFarland | 742 | 3 | Rock Valley | |
Merrill | 762 | 3 | Great Northern | |
Milwaukee Bay View | 938 | 3 | Milwaukee City-Blackbourn | |
Milwaukee Marshall/Carmen Northwest/Juneau/School of Languages | 1844 | 1 | Milwaukee City-Richardson | |
Milwaukee Riverside/Golda Meir | 2267 | 1 | Milwaukee City-Richardson | |
Milwaukee Vincent/Destiny | 1065 | 2 | Milwaukee City-Blackbourn | |
Mishicot | 268 | 6 | Packerland | |
Muskego | 1648 | 1 | Classic Eight | |
New Berlin Eisenhower | 724 | 3 | Parkland | |
New Lisbon | 153 | 7 | Scenic Bluffs | |
New London | 707 | 3 | Bay | |
Osceola | 511 | 4 | Middle Border | |
Pacelli | 180 | 7 | Marawood/CWC | |
Palmyra-Eagle | 178 | 7 | Trailways | |
Pecatonica/Argyle | 196 | 7 | Six Rivers | |
Peshtigo | 340 | 5 | Packerland | |
Pewaukee | 870 | 3 | Classic Eight | |
Pittsville | 176 | 7 | Marawood/CWC | |
Pius XI Catholic | 737 | 3 | Midwest Classic-Large | |
River Valley | 379 | 5 | SWC | |
Royall | 140 | 7 | Scenic Bluffs | |
Sauk Prairie | 864 | 3 | Badger-Small | |
Shiocton | 214 | 7 | Northwoods | |
Turtle Lake | 122 | 7 | Dunn-St. Croix | |
Union Grove | 1010 | 2 | Southern Lakes | |
Valders | 297 | 6 | Eastern Wisconsin | |
Watertown Luther Prep | 409 | 5 | Metro Classic | |
Waukesha North | 962 | 3 | Parkland | |
Waupaca | 644 | 3 | Bay | |
Wausau West | 1537 | 1 | Wisconsin Valley | |
Wauzeka-Steuben/Seneca | 186 | 7 | Six Rivers | |
Weyauwega-Fremont | 290 | 6 | CWC-Large | |
Whitefish Bay | 911 | 3 | North Shore | |
Whitehall | 221 | 7 | Dairyland | |
Winnebago Lutheran | 340 | 5 | Flyway | |
Xavier | 457 | 4 | Bay |
Travis Wilson serves as the WisSports.net General Manager, Football Editor, and contributing writer for other parts of the site. Wilson was selected as part of the Sports 40 Under 40 list by Coach & AD Magazine and the National High School Athletic Coaches Association for 2019. The Wisconsin Football Coaches Association (WFCA) named Travis the 2015 recipient of the Dave McClain Distinguished Service Award. He currently serves on the WFCA Executive Board and is a member of the Executive Board of the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association. A graduate of Richland Center High School and Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Travis was a three-sport athlete in high school (football, baseball, basketball), inducted to the Richland Center High School Hall of Fame in 2023, and currently resides in Reedsburg. You can follow him on Twitter at @travisWSN.