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 8. 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 Nine, 159 teams have clinched playoff spots.
59 teams are on the Bubble with three conference wins.
58 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, a game, or moving to 8-player. These future canceled games are factored into the information below.
^ - Designates team will receive a COVID forfeit that has already been factored into the information below.
159 teams
(Guaranteed conference record over .500)
Team | Enrollment | Projected Division | Conference |
---|---|---|---|
Abbotsford * | 222 | 6 | Marawood |
Amherst | 347 | 5 | CWC-Large |
Appleton North | 1735 | 1 | Fox Valley Association |
Aquinas | 302 | 5 | Coulee |
Arcadia | 387 | 5 | Coulee |
Arrowhead | 2088 | 1 | Classic Eight |
Assumption | 138 | 7 | CWC-Small |
Auburndale | 227 | 6 | Marawood |
Augusta | 215 | 6 | Dairyland |
Badger | 1339 | 2 | Southern Lakes |
Bangor | 181 | 7 | Scenic Bluffs |
Baraboo | 911 | 3 | Badger-Small |
Bay Port | 1899 | 1 | FRCC-North |
Belleville | 303 | 5 | SWAL |
Berlin | 495 | 4 | East Central |
Black Hawk/Warren IL | 197 | 7 | Six Rivers |
Bonduel | 254 | 6 | Packerland |
Boyceville | 207 | 6 | Dunn-St. Croix |
Brillion | 339 | 5 | Eastern Wisconsin |
Brodhead/Juda | 393 | 5 | SWC |
Brookfield Academy | 323 | 5 | Midwest Classic |
Brookfield East | 1345 | 2 | Greater Metro |
Burlington | 1044 | 2 | Southern Lakes |
Cambria-Friesland | 105 | 7 | Trailways |
Campbellsport | 417 | 4 | Flyway |
Cashton | 204 | 6 | Scenic Bluffs |
Catholic Memorial | 547 | 4 | Parkland |
Cedar Grove-Belgium | 297 | 5 | Big East |
Chippewa Falls | 1455 | 1 | Big Rivers |
Colby | 281 | 6 | Marawood |
Coleman | 202 | 6 | Northwoods |
Columbus | 433 | 4 | Capitol |
Crivitz | 214 | 6 | Northwoods |
Cuba City | 242 | 6 | SWAL |
Cumberland | 290 | 5 | Heart O’North |
D.C. Everest * | 1771 | 1 | VFA |
Darlington | 264 | 6 | SWAL |
De Pere | 1395 | 2 | FRCC-North |
De Soto | 136 | 7 | Ridge & Valley |
DeForest | 1014 | 2 | Badger-Large |
Denmark | 483 | 4 | North Eastern |
Durand | 295 | 5 | Cloverbelt |
Edgar * | 175 | 7 | Marawood |
Edgewood | 499 | 4 | Rock Valley |
Ellsworth | 488 | 4 | Middle Border |
Elmwood/Plum City | 190 | 7 | Dunn-St. Croix |
Fort Atkinson | 980 | 3 | Badger-Small |
Fox Valley Lutheran | 658 | 3 | Bay |
Franklin | 1547 | 1 | Southeast |
Freedom | 535 | 4 | North Eastern |
Germantown * | 1352 | 2 | Greater Metro |
Grafton | 692 | 3 | Woodland |
Grantsburg | 219 | 6 | Lakeland |
Greendale | 942 | 3 | Woodland |
Hartford Union | 1331 | 2 | North Shore |
Highland | 92 | 7 | Ridge & Valley |
Hilbert | 158 | 7 | Big East |
Homestead | 1270 | 2 | North Shore |
Hudson | 1832 | 1 | Big Rivers |
Hurley * | 181 | 7 | Lakeland |
Iola-Scandinavia | 200 | 6 | CWC-Small |
Ithaca | 141 | 7 | Ridge & Valley |
Jefferson | 597 | 3 | Rock Valley |
Kaukauna | 1208 | 2 | Fox Valley Association |
Kenosha Bradford/Kenosha Reuther | 2014 | 1 | Southeast |
Kenosha St. Joseph Catholic | 233 | 6 | Midwest Classic |
Kewaskum | 568 | 4 | East Central |
Kewaunee | 324 | 5 | Packerland |
Kimberly | 1586 | 1 | Fox Valley Association |
Kohler/Sheboygan Christian/Sheboygan Lutheran | 479 | 4 | Eastern Wisconsin |
La Crosse Central | 1059 | 2 | Mississippi Valley |
Lake Country Lutheran | 347 | 5 | Metro Classic |
Lake Mills | 496 | 4 | Capitol |
Lakeside Lutheran | 428 | 4 | Capitol |
Lancaster | 290 | 5 | SWAL |
Lodi | 450 | 4 | Capitol |
Lourdes Academy | 166 | 7 | Trailways |
Loyal | 155 | 7 | CWC-Small |
Luxemburg-Casco | 603 | 3 | North Eastern |
Manitowoc Lincoln | 1507 | 1 | FRCC-South |
Markesan | 271 | 6 | Eastern Suburban |
Marshall | 298 | 5 | Eastern Suburban |
Martin Luther | 593 | 3 | Metro Classic |
Mauston | 507 | 4 | South Central |
Mayville | 369 | 5 | Flyway |
Medford | 667 | 3 | Great Northern |
Melrose-Mindoro | 234 | 6 | Dairyland |
Menasha | 910 | 3 | FRCC-South |
Menomonie | 1027 | 2 | Big Rivers |
Middleton | 2283 | 1 | Big Eight |
Milwaukee Hamilton/Audubon Tech | 1802 | 1 | Milwaukee-Richardson |
Milwaukee King | 1441 | 2 | Milwaukee-Richardson |
Milwaukee Marshall/Carmen NW/Milw Juneau/Milw Languages | 2578 | 1 | Milwaukee-Richardson |
Mondovi | 272 | 6 | Cloverbelt |
Monona Grove | 1146 | 2 | Badger-Small |
Monroe | 717 | 3 | Rock Valley |
Mosinee | 618 | 3 | Great Northern |
Mount Horeb/Barneveld | 913 | 3 | Badger-Small |
Mukwonago | 1653 | 1 | Classic Eight |
Muskego | 1688 | 1 | Classic Eight |
Necedah | 231 | 6 | Scenic Bluffs |
New Richmond | 991 | 3 | Big Rivers |
Nicolet | 1090 | 2 | North Shore |
Northwestern | 419 | 4 | Heart O’North |
Notre Dame | 780 | 3 | FRCC-South |
Oak Creek | 2113 | 1 | Southeast |
Oconto Falls | 465 | 4 | Northwoods |
Osceola | 518 | 4 | Middle Border |
Pacelli | 168 | 7 | CWC-Small |
Pardeeville | 237 | 6 | Eastern Suburban |
Pepin/Alma | 141 | 7 | Dairyland |
Pewaukee | 866 | 3 | Parkland |
Plymouth | 728 | 3 | East Central |
Port Washington | 796 | 3 | East Central |
Potosi/Cassville | 172 | 7 | Six Rivers |
Prairie du Chien | 371 | 5 | SWC |
Prescott | 429 | 4 | Middle Border |
Pulaski | 1196 | 2 | FRCC-North |
Racine Lutheran * | 318 | 5 | Midwest Classic |
Racine Saint Catherine’s | 467 | 4 | Metro Classic |
Randolph * | 185 | 7 | Trailways |
Reedsville | 182 | 7 | Big East |
Regis | 198 | 6 | Cloverbelt |
Rhinelander | 792 | 3 | Great Northern |
Rice Lake | 726 | 3 | Big Rivers |
Richland Center | 400 | 5 | SWC |
River Falls | 1097 | 2 | Mississippi Valley |
River Ridge | 187 | 7 | Six Rivers |
River Valley | 408 | 4 | SWC |
Saint Croix Falls | 333 | 5 | Heart O’North |
Saint Mary's Springs | 288 | 5 | Flyway |
Southern Door | 335 | 5 | Packerland |
Spring Valley | 204 | 6 | Dunn-St. Croix |
Stevens Point | 2028 | 1 | VFA |
Stratford | 301 | 5 | CWC-Large |
Sun Prairie | 2520 | 1 | Big Eight |
Sussex Hamilton | 1462 | 1 | Greater Metro |
Tomahawk | 372 | 5 | Northwoods |
Union Grove | 993 | 3 | Southern Lakes |
Unity | 285 | 6 | Lakeland |
Verona | 1676 | 1 | Big Eight |
Waterford | 1034 | 2 | Southern Lakes |
Waterloo | 259 | 6 | Eastern Suburban |
Waunakee | 1356 | 2 | Badger-Large |
Wausau West | 1445 | 1 | VFA |
Wauwatosa West | 1039 | 2 | Parkland |
Wauzeka-Steuben/Seneca | 153 | 7 | Ridge & Valley |
Webster * | 196 | 7 | Lakeland |
West Salem | 539 | 4 | Mississippi Valley |
Westby | 324 | 5 | Coulee |
Whitefish Bay | 975 | 3 | North Shore |
Whitnall | 831 | 3 | Woodland |
Winneconne | 537 | 4 | Bay |
Wisconsin Dells | 549 | 4 | South Central |
Wisconsin Lutheran | 883 | 3 | Woodland |
Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln | 1482 | 1 | VFA |
Wittenberg-Birnamwood | 317 | 5 | CWC-Large |
Wrightstown | 445 | 4 | North Eastern |
Xavier | 500 | 4 | Bay |
59 teams
(Teams that have guaranteed at least three conference wins)
Team | Enrollment | Projected Division | Conference |
---|---|---|---|
Adams-Friendship | 435 | 4 | South Central |
Altoona | 486 | 4 | Coulee |
Ashwaubenon | 981 | 3 | FRCC-North |
Beaver Dam | 1094 | 2 | Badger-Large |
Benton/Scales Mound IL/Shullsburg ^ | 243 | 7 | Six Rivers |
Bloomer | 386 | 5 | Heart O’North |
Cadott | 245 | 6 | Dunn-St. Croix |
Catholic Central | 128 | 7 | Midwest Classic |
Cedarburg | 1072 | 2 | North Shore |
Clintonville | 401 | 5 | Packerland |
Crandon | 234 | 6 | Northwoods |
Fall Creek | 237 | 6 | Cloverbelt |
Fall River/Rio | 275 | 6 | Trailways |
Fond du Lac | 2018 | 1 | Fox Valley Association |
Glenwood City | 188 | 7 | Dunn-St. Croix |
Howards Grove | 276 | 6 | Big East |
Janesville Craig | 1714 | 1 | Badger-Large |
Johnson Creek | 187 | 7 | Trailways |
Kenosha Christian Life | 215 | 6 | Midwest Classic |
Kettle Moraine | 1298 | 2 | Classic Eight |
Lomira | 341 | 5 | Flyway |
Luther | 237 | 6 | Scenic Bluffs |
Madison Memorial | 2183 | 1 | Big Eight |
Marathon * | 258 | 6 | Marawood |
Marquette University | 1844 | 1 | Greater Metro |
Marshfield | 1219 | 2 | VFA |
McFarland | 763 | 3 | Rock Valley |
Milwaukee Reagan | 1385 | 2 | Milwaukee-Blackbourn |
Milwaukee Vincent/Destiny | 1072 | 2 | Milwaukee-Blackbourn |
Mineral Point | 227 | 6 | SWAL |
New Berlin Eisenhower | 732 | 3 | Parkland |
New Berlin West | 748 | 3 | Parkland |
New Holstein | 337 | 5 | Eastern Wisconsin |
New Lisbon | 180 | 7 | Scenic Bluffs |
Oconomowoc | 1682 | 1 | Classic Eight |
Oconto | 284 | 6 | Packerland |
Onalaska | 951 | 3 | Mississippi Valley |
Oshkosh West | 1675 | 1 | Fox Valley Association |
Ozaukee | 217 | 6 | Big East |
Pittsville | 179 | 7 | CWC-Small |
Platteville | 471 | 4 | SWC |
Portage | 753 | 3 | Badger-Small |
Poynette | 312 | 5 | South Central |
Racine Horlick | 1409 | 2 | Southeast |
Saint Francis | 504 | 4 | Metro Classic |
Sheboygan Falls | 478 | 4 | East Central |
Slinger | 1032 | 2 | North Shore |
Spencer/Columbus Catholic | 333 | 5 | CWC-Large |
Spooner | 359 | 5 | Heart O’North |
Stanley-Boyd | 330 | 5 | Cloverbelt |
Turtle Lake | 121 | 7 | Dunn-St. Croix |
Two Rivers | 516 | 4 | Eastern Wisconsin |
University School of Milwaukee | 410 | 4 | Metro Classic |
Watertown Luther Prep | 397 | 5 | Capitol |
Waukesha West | 1191 | 2 | Classic Eight |
Waupaca | 591 | 3 | Bay |
West De Pere | 1046 | 2 | FRCC-North |
Whitehall | 230 | 6 | Dairyland |
Winnebago Lutheran Academy | 309 | 5 | Flyway |
58 teams
(Teams with two conference wins that need one more to get on the bubble)
Team | Enrollment | Projected Division | Conference |
---|---|---|---|
Appleton West | 1352 | 2 | VFA |
Ashland | 640 | 3 | Great Northern |
Baldwin-Woodville | 456 | 4 | Middle Border |
Beloit Memorial | 1867 | 1 | Big Eight |
Big Foot | 496 | 4 | Capitol |
Black River Falls | 490 | 4 | Coulee |
Blair-Taylor | 179 | 7 | Dairyland |
Brookfield Central | 1146 | 2 | Greater Metro |
Cambridge | 284 | 6 | Eastern Suburban |
Chilton | 382 | 5 | Eastern Wisconsin |
Clinton | 380 | 5 | Eastern Suburban |
Cochrane-Fountain City | 189 | 7 | Dairyland |
Deerfield | 209 | 6 | Trailways |
East Troy | 532 | 4 | Rock Valley |
Elkhorn Area | 1012 | 2 | Southern Lakes |
Evansville | 548 | 4 | Rock Valley |
Green Bay Preble | 2154 | 1 | FRCC-North |
Greenfield | 1138 | 2 | Woodland |
Hayward/Lac Courte Oreilles | 674 | 3 | Great Northern |
Holmen | 1180 | 2 | Mississippi Valley |
Janesville Parker | 1403 | 2 | Badger-Large |
Kenosha Indian Trail | 2329 | 1 | Southeast |
Kenosha Tremper | 1913 | 1 | Southeast |
Kettle Moraine Lutheran | 522 | 4 | East Central |
Kiel | 430 | 4 | Eastern Wisconsin |
La Crosse Logan | 728 | 3 | Mississippi Valley |
Laconia | 318 | 5 | Flyway |
Ladysmith | 243 | 6 | Lakeland |
Lakeland | 750 | 3 | Great Northern |
Little Chute | 507 | 4 | North Eastern |
Living Word Lutheran | 204 | 6 | Midwest Classic |
Madison La Follette | 1602 | 1 | Big Eight |
Menominee Indian | 336 | 5 | Northwoods |
Menomonee Falls | 1311 | 2 | Greater Metro |
Merrill | 810 | 3 | Great Northern |
Milton | 1102 | 2 | Badger-Large |
Milwaukee Bradley Tech/Milw Arts | 2038 | 1 | Milwaukee-Richardson |
Milwaukee Riverside/Golda Meir | 2552 | 1 | Milwaukee-Richardson |
Neenah | 2014 | 1 | Fox Valley Association |
Neillsville/Granton | 345 | 5 | Cloverbelt |
Nekoosa | 288 | 5 | CWC-Large |
Oostburg | 343 | 5 | Big East |
Reedsburg | 868 | 3 | Badger-Small |
Rib Lake/Prentice | 243 | 6 | Lakeland |
Saint Croix Central | 486 | 4 | Middle Border |
Saint Thomas More | 529 | 4 | Metro Classic |
Shawano Community | 794 | 3 | Bay |
Sheboygan North | 1692 | 1 | FRCC-South |
Sheboygan South | 1310 | 2 | FRCC-South |
Shiocton | 204 | 6 | CWC-Large |
South Milwaukee | 1041 | 2 | Woodland |
Sparta | 850 | 3 | Mississippi Valley |
Valders | 299 | 5 | Eastern Wisconsin |
Watertown | 1208 | 2 | Badger-Large |
Wautoma | 395 | 5 | South Central |
Wauwatosa East | 1153 | 2 | Parkland |
West Allis Hale | 1336 | 2 | Greater Metro |
Westosha Central | 1136 | 2 | Southern Lakes |
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.