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 6. 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.
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 will be on the "Bubble", having a chance to get in via tiebreakers but not guaranteed a spot.
Through games played in Week Six, 71 teams have clinched playoff spots.
73 teams are on the Bubble with three conference wins.
92 teams can get on the Bubble with one more conference win.
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.
* - Teams listed with an asterisk have an upcoming game that will be forfeited to them due to a conference opponent on their schedule canceling their season or moving to 8-player. These future canceled games are factored into the information below.
^ - Teams listed with a (^) will receive an upcoming forfeit win due to a COVID cancelation with an opponent and that game is factored into their projected record and qualification below.
71 teams
(Guaranteed conference record over .500)
Team | Enrollment | Projected Division | Conference |
---|---|---|---|
Abbotsford * | 222 | 6 | Marawood |
Amherst | 347 | 5 | CWC-Large |
Aquinas | 302 | 5 | Coulee |
Auburndale | 227 | 6 | Marawood |
Augusta | 215 | 6 | Dairyland |
Badger | 1339 | 2 | Southern Lakes |
Bangor | 181 | 7 | Scenic Bluffs |
Brillion | 339 | 5 | Eastern Wisconsin |
Brodhead/Juda | 393 | 5 | SWC |
Catholic Memorial | 547 | 4 | Parkland |
Cedar Grove-Belgium | 297 | 5 | Big East |
Colby * | 281 | 6 | Marawood |
Coleman | 202 | 6 | Northwoods |
Cumberland | 290 | 5 | Heart O’North |
Darlington | 264 | 6 | SWAL |
De Pere | 1395 | 2 | FRCC-North |
De Soto | 136 | 7 | Ridge & Valley |
Edgar * | 175 | 7 | Marawood |
Edgewood | 499 | 4 | Rock Valley |
Ellsworth | 488 | 4 | Middle Border |
Fort Atkinson | 980 | 3 | Badger-Small |
Franklin | 1547 | 1 | Southeast |
Freedom | 535 | 4 | North Eastern |
Germantown * | 1352 | 2 | Greater Metro |
Grantsburg * | 219 | 6 | Lakeland |
Greendale | 942 | 3 | Woodland |
Hartford Union | 1331 | 2 | North Shore |
Highland | 92 | 7 | Ridge & Valley |
Hurley * | 181 | 7 | Lakeland |
Iola-Scandinavia | 200 | 6 | CWC-Small |
Kenosha St. Joseph Catholic | 233 | 6 | Midwest Classic |
Kewaunee * | 324 | 5 | Packerland |
Kimberly | 1586 | 1 | Fox Valley Association |
Kohler/Sheboygan Christian/Sheboygan Lutheran | 479 | 4 | Eastern Wisconsin |
Lake Country Lutheran | 347 | 5 | Metro Classic |
Lodi | 450 | 4 | Capitol |
Lourdes Academy | 166 | 7 | Trailways |
Luxemburg-Casco | 603 | 3 | North Eastern |
Manitowoc Lincoln | 1507 | 1 | FRCC-South |
Markesan | 271 | 6 | Eastern Suburban |
Marshall | 298 | 5 | Eastern Suburban |
Mauston | 507 | 4 | South Central |
Mayville | 369 | 5 | Flyway |
Middleton | 2283 | 1 | Big Eight |
Monroe | 717 | 3 | Rock Valley |
Mosinee | 618 | 3 | Great Northern |
Northwestern | 419 | 4 | Heart O’North |
Oak Creek | 2113 | 1 | Southeast |
Oconto Falls * | 465 | 4 | Northwoods |
Pacelli | 168 | 7 | CWC-Small |
Plymouth | 728 | 3 | East Central |
Potosi/Cassville | 172 | 7 | Six Rivers |
Prescott | 429 | 4 | Middle Border |
Racine Lutheran * | 318 | 5 | Midwest Classic |
Reedsville | 182 | 7 | Big East |
Regis | 198 | 6 | Cloverbelt |
Rhinelander | 792 | 3 | Great Northern |
Rice Lake | 726 | 3 | Big Rivers |
River Falls | 1097 | 2 | Mississippi Valley |
River Ridge | 187 | 7 | Six Rivers |
Southern Door | 335 | 5 | Packerland |
Spring Valley | 204 | 6 | Dunn-St. Croix |
Stevens Point | 2028 | 1 | VFA |
Sun Prairie | 2520 | 1 | Big Eight |
Sussex Hamilton * | 1462 | 1 | Greater Metro |
Union Grove | 993 | 3 | Southern Lakes |
Unity * | 285 | 6 | Lakeland |
Waunakee | 1356 | 2 | Badger-Large |
West Salem | 539 | 4 | Mississippi Valley |
Wisconsin Dells | 549 | 4 | South Central |
Xavier | 500 | 4 | Bay |
73 teams
(Teams that have guaranteed at least three conference wins)
Team | Enrollment | Projected Division | Conference |
---|---|---|---|
Altoona | 486 | 4 | Coulee |
Appleton North | 1735 | 1 | Fox Valley Association |
Arcadia | 387 | 5 | Coulee |
Arrowhead | 2088 | 1 | Classic Eight |
Assumption * | 138 | 7 | CWC-Small |
Baraboo | 911 | 3 | Badger-Small |
Bay Port | 1899 | 1 | FRCC-North |
Belleville | 303 | 5 | SWAL |
Berlin | 495 | 4 | East Central |
Black Hawk/Warren IL | 101 | 7 | Six Rivers |
Bloomer | 386 | 5 | Heart O’North |
Brookfield Academy | 323 | 5 | Midwest Classic |
Brookfield East | 1345 | 2 | Greater Metro |
Cambria-Friesland * | 105 | 7 | Trailways |
Campbellsport | 417 | 4 | Flyway |
Cashton | 204 | 6 | Scenic Bluffs |
Catholic Central * | 128 | 7 | Midwest Classic |
Columbus | 433 | 4 | Capitol |
Crivitz | 214 | 6 | Northwoods |
Cuba City | 242 | 6 | SWAL |
DeForest | 1014 | 2 | Badger-Large |
Denmark | 483 | 4 | North Eastern |
Durand | 295 | 5 | Cloverbelt |
Elmwood/Plum City | 190 | 7 | Dunn-St. Croix |
Fond du Lac | 2018 | 1 | Fox Valley Association |
Grafton | 692 | 3 | Woodland |
Hilbert | 158 | 7 | Big East |
Homestead | 1270 | 2 | North Shore |
Howards Grove | 276 | 6 | Big East |
Hudson | 1832 | 1 | Big Rivers |
Ithaca | 141 | 7 | Ridge & Valley |
Janesville Craig | 1714 | 1 | Badger-Large |
Lake Mills | 496 | 4 | Capitol |
Lancaster | 290 | 5 | SWAL |
Loyal | 155 | 7 | CWC-Small |
Marathon * | 258 | 6 | Marawood |
Martin Luther | 593 | 3 | Metro Classic |
McFarland | 763 | 3 | Rock Valley |
Medford | 667 | 3 | Great Northern |
Melrose-Mindoro | 234 | 6 | Dairyland |
Menasha | 910 | 3 | FRCC-South |
Menomonie | 1027 | 2 | Big Rivers |
Milwaukee King | 1441 | 2 | Milwaukee-Richardson |
Mondovi | 272 | 6 | Cloverbelt |
Monona Grove | 1146 | 2 | Badger-Small |
Mount Horeb/Barneveld | 913 | 3 | Badger-Small |
Mukwonago | 1653 | 1 | Classic Eight |
Muskego | 1688 | 1 | Classic Eight |
Notre Dame | 780 | 3 | FRCC-South |
Oconto * | 284 | 6 | Packerland |
Osceola | 518 | 4 | Middle Border |
Pardeeville | 237 | 6 | Eastern Suburban |
Pepin/Alma | 141 | 7 | Dairyland |
Pewaukee | 866 | 3 | Parkland |
Port Washington | 796 | 3 | East Central |
Pulaski | 1196 | 2 | FRCC-North |
Racine Saint Catherine’s | 467 | 4 | Metro Classic |
Randolph * | 185 | 7 | Trailways |
Richland Center | 400 | 5 | SWC |
River Valley | 408 | 4 | SWC |
Saint Croix Falls | 333 | 5 | Heart O’North |
Saint Mary's Springs | 288 | 5 | Flyway |
Stratford | 301 | 5 | CWC-Large |
Tomahawk * | 372 | 5 | Northwoods |
Verona | 1676 | 1 | Big Eight |
Wausau West | 1445 | 1 | VFA |
Wauwatosa West | 1039 | 2 | Parkland |
Webster * | 196 | 7 | Lakeland |
Whitefish Bay | 975 | 3 | North Shore |
Whitnall | 831 | 3 | Woodland |
Winnebago Lutheran Academy | 309 | 5 | Flyway |
Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln | 1482 | 1 | VFA |
Wittenberg-Birnamwood | 317 | 5 | CWC-Large |
92 teams
(Teams with two conference wins that need one more to get on the bubble)
Team | Enrollment | Projected Division | Conference |
---|---|---|---|
Adams-Friendship | 435 | 4 | South Central |
Appleton West | 1352 | 2 | VFA |
Beaver Dam | 1094 | 2 | Badger-Large |
Big Foot | 496 | 4 | Capitol |
Blair-Taylor | 179 | 7 | Dairyland |
Bonduel | 254 | 6 | Packerland |
Boyceville | 207 | 6 | Dunn-St. Croix |
Brookfield Central | 1146 | 2 | Greater Metro |
Burlington | 1044 | 2 | Southern Lakes |
Cadott | 245 | 6 | Dunn-St. Croix |
Cambridge | 284 | 6 | Eastern Suburban |
Cedarburg | 1072 | 2 | North Shore |
Chilton | 382 | 5 | Eastern Wisconsin |
Chippewa Falls | 1455 | 1 | Big Rivers |
Clintonville | 401 | 5 | Packerland |
Cochrane-Fountain City | 189 | 7 | Dairyland |
Crandon | 234 | 6 | Northwoods |
D.C. Everest | 1771 | 1 | VFA |
Elkhorn Area | 1012 | 2 | Southern Lakes |
Evansville | 548 | 4 | Rock Valley |
Fall Creek | 237 | 6 | Cloverbelt |
Fall River/Rio * | 275 | 6 | Trailways |
Fox Valley Lutheran | 658 | 3 | Bay |
Glenwood City | 188 | 7 | Dunn-St. Croix |
Green Bay Preble | 2154 | 1 | FRCC-North |
Greenfield | 1138 | 2 | Woodland |
Holmen | 1180 | 2 | Mississippi Valley |
Jefferson | 597 | 3 | Rock Valley |
Johnson Creek | 187 | 7 | Trailways |
Kaukauna | 1208 | 2 | Fox Valley Association |
Kenosha Bradford/Kenosha Reuther | 2014 | 1 | Southeast |
Kenosha Christian Life * | 215 | 6 | Midwest Classic |
Kenosha Indian Trail | 2329 | 1 | Southeast |
Kenosha Tremper | 1913 | 1 | Southeast |
Kettle Moraine | 1298 | 2 | Classic Eight |
Kewaskum | 568 | 4 | East Central |
Kiel | 430 | 4 | Eastern Wisconsin |
La Crosse Central | 1059 | 2 | Mississippi Valley |
Ladysmith * | 243 | 6 | Lakeland |
Lakeside Lutheran | 428 | 4 | Capitol |
Lomira | 341 | 5 | Flyway |
Luther | 237 | 6 | Scenic Bluffs |
Madison Memorial | 2183 | 1 | Big Eight |
Marquette University * | 1844 | 1 | Greater Metro |
Marshfield | 1219 | 2 | VFA |
Menominee Indian | 336 | 5 | Northwoods |
Milwaukee Bradley Tech/Milw Arts | 2038 | 1 | Milwaukee-Richardson |
Milwaukee Hamilton/Audubon Tech | 1802 | 1 | Milwaukee-Richardson |
Milwaukee Marshall/Carmen NW/Milw Juneau/Milw Languages | 2578 | 1 | Milwaukee-Richardson |
Mishicot * | 255 | 6 | Packerland |
Necedah | 231 | 6 | Scenic Bluffs |
Neenah | 2014 | 1 | Fox Valley Association |
Nekoosa | 288 | 5 | CWC-Large |
New Berlin Eisenhower | 732 | 3 | Parkland |
New Holstein | 337 | 5 | Eastern Wisconsin |
New Lisbon | 180 | 7 | Scenic Bluffs |
New Richmond | 991 | 3 | Big Rivers |
Nicolet | 1090 | 2 | North Shore |
Oconomowoc | 1682 | 1 | Classic Eight |
Onalaska | 951 | 3 | Mississippi Valley |
Oshkosh West | 1675 | 1 | Fox Valley Association |
Pittsville | 179 | 7 | CWC-Small |
Portage | 753 | 3 | Badger-Small |
Prairie du Chien | 371 | 5 | SWC |
Rib Lake/Prentice | 243 | 6 | Lakeland |
Rosholt * | 177 | 7 | CWC-Small |
Saint Croix Central | 486 | 4 | Middle Border |
Saint Thomas More | 529 | 4 | Metro Classic |
Sheboygan Falls | 478 | 4 | East Central |
Sheboygan South | 1310 | 2 | FRCC-South |
Slinger | 1032 | 2 | North Shore |
South Milwaukee | 1041 | 2 | Woodland |
Sparta | 850 | 3 | Mississippi Valley |
Spencer/Columbus Catholic | 333 | 5 | CWC-Large |
Stanley-Boyd | 330 | 5 | Cloverbelt |
Turtle Lake | 121 | 7 | Dunn-St. Croix |
University School of Milwaukee | 410 | 4 | Metro Classic |
Waterford | 1034 | 2 | Southern Lakes |
Waterloo | 259 | 6 | Eastern Suburban |
Watertown | 1208 | 2 | Badger-Large |
Watertown Luther Prep | 397 | 5 | Capitol |
Waukesha West | 1191 | 2 | Classic Eight |
Waupaca | 591 | 3 | Bay |
Wautoma | 395 | 5 | South Central |
Wauwatosa East | 1153 | 2 | Parkland |
Wauzeka-Steuben/Seneca | 153 | 7 | Ridge & Valley |
West Allis Hale | 1336 | 2 | Greater Metro |
West De Pere | 1046 | 2 | FRCC-North |
Westby | 324 | 5 | Coulee |
Winneconne | 537 | 4 | Bay |
Wisconsin Lutheran | 883 | 3 | Woodland |
Wrightstown | 445 | 4 | North Eastern |
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.