Join the Buckle Up Phone Down movement! WisDOT challenges Wisconsin to put safety first by taking the two most important actions to prevent or survive a crash. Accept the Buckle Up Phone Down challenge. Use your seat belt every trip and put down the phone when driving. Take the Buckle Up Phone Down pledge!
It is that time of the year again, where I feel like an accountant on April 15th trying to crunch numbers and figure out the good and bad news for people.
I have predicted every game for the last two weeks of the high school football season, thereby determining final conference records for all teams. With these predictions, I can put together a PROJECTED playoff field. To see full WIAA Playoff Regulations, please visit here.
Please note the emphasis on PROJECTED, as things can and will change between now and the end of the final game next Friday night. Even one or two games going differently amongst the nearly 400 I projected could throw things off. This is meant to give an idea of where teams may fall in divisional placement as we head to the busy final two weeks.
Based on my projections, 190 teams finish with a conference record of better than .500, including Milwaukee Vincent, who we project to go 3-2 in league play. We are working under the assumption that the Week 9 MPS crossovers will count as conference games in the standings, but working to confirm.
That leaves 34 spots available for teams that finish under .500 in conference, with 46 teams finishing 3-4 in league play and eligible for those 34 spots. In the past, this is where we would bore you with all kinds of explanations of the WIAA tiebreakers, but in the interest of brevity, we will just list which tiebreaker step the teams got in below in the playoff qualifier list. To shorten things up, the better wins you have, and later on in the tiebreaker list the better wins your opponents have, the better chance you have in the tiebreaker criteria.
Now that we know the 224 teams PROJECTED to be in the playoffs, we can break them into divisions. The full PROJECTED divisional placements are below.
Division | 2021* | 2020* | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
D1 Low Enrollment | 1441 | N/A | 1492 | 1360 | 1422 | 1449 | 1445 | 1418 | 1421 | 1389 | 1301 | 1331 | 1360 | 1405 |
D2 Low Enrollment | 1014 | N/A | 1038 | 957 | 966 | 953 | 937 | 932 | 936 | 922 | 841 | 878 | 878 | 919 |
D3 Low Enrollment | 591 | N/A | 628 | 543 | 540 | 571 | 561 | 528 | 531 | 544 | 504 | 508 | 513 | 557 |
D4 Low Enrollment | 419 | N/A | 423 | 398 | 367 | 397 | 393 | 345 | 358 | 362 | 352 | 359 | 336 | 353 |
D5 Low Enrollment | 298 | N/A | 299 | 271 | 261 | 290 | 279 | 245 | 266 | 253 | 255 | 252 | 238 | 252 |
D6 Low Enrollment | 214 | N/A | 197 | 197 | 194 | 196 | 202 | 194 | 197 | 200 | 194 | 184 | 181 | 195 |
Team | Enrollment | Conference | Projected Div | Step |
---|---|---|---|---|
Milwaukee Marshall | 2578 | Milwaukee-Richardson | 1 | 1b |
Sun Prairie | 2520 | Big Eight | 1 | 1b |
Kenosha Indian Trail | 2329 | Southeast | 1 | 2.3d |
Middleton | 2283 | Big Eight | 1 | 1b |
Madison Memorial | 2183 | Big Eight | 1 | 1b |
Oak Creek | 2113 | Southeast | 1 | 1b |
Arrowhead | 2088 | Classic Eight | 1 | 1b |
Stevens Point | 2028 | VFA | 1 | 1b |
Fond du Lac | 2018 | FVA | 1 | 1b |
Kenosha Bradford | 2014 | Southeast | 1 | 1b |
Neenah | 2014 | FVA | 1 | 2.2 |
Bay Port | 1899 | FRCC-North | 1 | 1b |
Marquette University | 1844 | Greater Metro | 1 | 1b |
Hudson | 1832 | Big Rivers | 1 | 1b |
Milwaukee Hamilton | 1802 | Milwaukee-Richardson | 1 | 1b |
D.C. Everest | 1771 | VFA | 1 | 1b |
Appleton North | 1735 | FVA | 1 | 1b |
Janesville Craig | 1714 | Badger-Large | 1 | 1b |
Muskego | 1688 | Classic Eight | 1 | 1b |
Oconomowoc | 1682 | Classic Eight | 1 | 2.2 |
Verona | 1676 | Big Eight | 1 | 1b |
Oshkosh West | 1675 | FVA | 1 | 2.2 |
Mukwonago | 1653 | Classic Eight | 1 | 1b |
Madison La Follette | 1602 | Big Eight | 1 | 2.2 |
Kimberly | 1586 | FVA | 1 | 1b |
Franklin | 1547 | Southeast | 1 | 1b |
Manitowoc Lincoln | 1507 | FRCC-South | 1 | 1b |
Wisconsin Rapids | 1482 | VFA | 1 | 1b |
Sussex Hamilton | 1462 | Greater Metro | 1 | 1b |
Chippewa Falls | 1455 | Big Rivers | 1 | 1b |
Wausau West | 1445 | VFA | 1 | 1b |
Milwaukee King | 1441 | Milwaukee-Richardson | 1 | 1b |
Racine Horlick | 1409 | Southeast | 2 | 2.2 |
De Pere | 1395 | FRCC-North | 2 | 1b |
Milwaukee Reagan | 1385 | Milwaukee-Blackbourn | 2 | 1b |
Waunakee | 1356 | Badger-Large | 2 | 1b |
Germantown | 1352 | Greater Metro | 2 | 1b |
Brookfield East | 1345 | Greater Metro | 2 | 1b |
Badger | 1339 | Southern Lakes | 2 | 1b |
Hartford | 1331 | North Shore | 2 | 1b |
Kettle Moraine | 1298 | Classic Eight | 2 | 1b |
Homestead | 1270 | North Shore | 2 | 1b |
Marshfield | 1219 | VFA | 2 | 2.3c |
Kaukauna | 1208 | FVA | 2 | 1b |
Watertown | 1208 | Badger-Large | 2 | 2.2 |
Pulaski | 1196 | FRCC-North | 2 | 1b |
Waukesha West | 1191 | Classic Eight | 2 | 2.2 |
Monona Grove | 1146 | Badger-Small | 2 | 1b |
Brookfield Central | 1146 | Greater Metro | 2 | 2.2 |
Westosha Central | 1136 | Southern Lakes | 2 | 2.3d |
River Falls | 1097 | Mississippi Valley | 2 | 1b |
Beaver Dam | 1094 | Badger-Large | 2 | 2.2 |
Nicolet | 1090 | North Shore | 2 | 1b |
Cedarburg | 1072 | North Shore | 2 | 1b |
Milwaukee Vincent | 1072 | Milwaukee-Blackbourn | 2 | 1b |
La Crosse Central | 1059 | Mississippi Valley | 2 | 1b |
West De Pere | 1046 | FRCC-North | 2 | 1b |
Burlington | 1044 | Southern Lakes | 2 | 1b |
South Milwaukee | 1041 | Woodland | 2 | 2.3d |
Wauwatosa West | 1039 | Parkland | 2 | 1b |
Waterford | 1034 | Southern Lakes | 2 | 1b |
Slinger | 1032 | North Shore | 2 | 2.2 |
Menomonie | 1027 | Big Rivers | 2 | 1b |
DeForest | 1014 | Badger-Large | 2 | 1b |
Union Grove | 993 | Southern Lakes | 3 | 1b |
New Richmond | 991 | Big Rivers | 3 | 1b |
Ashwaubenon | 981 | FRCC-North | 3 | 2.2 |
Fort Atkinson | 980 | Badger-Small | 3 | 1b |
Whitefish Bay | 975 | North Shore | 3 | 1b |
Onalaska | 951 | Mississippi Valley | 3 | 1b |
Greendale | 942 | Woodland | 3 | 1b |
Mount Horeb/Barneveld | 913 | Badger-Small | 3 | 1b |
Baraboo | 911 | Badger-Small | 3 | 1b |
Menasha | 910 | FRCC-South | 3 | 1b |
Wisconsin Lutheran | 883 | Woodland | 3 | 1b |
Pewaukee | 866 | Parkland | 3 | 1b |
Whitnall | 831 | Woodland | 3 | 1b |
Port Washington | 796 | East Central | 3 | 1b |
Rhinelander | 792 | Great Northern | 3 | 1b |
Notre Dame | 780 | FRCC-South | 3 | 1b |
McFarland | 763 | Rock Valley | 3 | 1b |
Portage | 753 | Badger-Small | 3 | 2.2 |
Lakeland | 750 | Great Northern | 3 | 2.2 |
New Berlin West | 748 | Parkland | 3 | 2.3d |
New Berlin Eisenhower | 732 | Parkland | 3 | 1b |
Plymouth | 728 | East Central | 3 | 1b |
Rice Lake | 726 | Big Rivers | 3 | 1b |
Monroe | 717 | Rock Valley | 3 | 1b |
Grafton | 692 | Woodland | 3 | 1b |
Medford | 667 | Great Northern | 3 | 1b |
Fox Valley Lutheran | 658 | Bay | 3 | 1b |
Mosinee | 618 | Great Northern | 3 | 1b |
Luxemburg-Casco | 603 | North Eastern | 3 | 1b |
Jefferson | 597 | Rock Valley | 3 | 1b |
Martin Luther | 593 | Metro Classic | 3 | 1b |
Waupaca | 591 | Bay | 3 | 1b |
Kewaskum | 568 | East Central | 4 | 1b |
Wisconsin Dells | 549 | South Central | 4 | 1b |
Catholic Memorial | 547 | Parkland | 4 | 1b |
West Salem | 539 | Mississippi Valley | 4 | 1b |
Winneconne | 537 | Bay | 4 | 1b |
Freedom | 535 | North Eastern | 4 | 1b |
Kettle Moraine Lutheran | 522 | East Central | 4 | 2.2 |
Osceola | 518 | Middle Border | 4 | 1b |
Two Rivers | 516 | Eastern Wisconsin | 4 | 2.2 |
Mauston | 507 | South Central | 4 | 1b |
Xavier | 500 | Bay | 4 | 1b |
Edgewood | 499 | Rock Valley | 4 | 1b |
Lake Mills | 496 | Capitol | 4 | 1b |
Big Foot | 496 | Capitol | 4 | 2.2 |
Berlin | 495 | East Central | 4 | 1b |
Ellsworth | 488 | Middle Border | 4 | 1b |
Altoona | 486 | Coulee | 4 | 1b |
Denmark | 483 | North Eastern | 4 | 1b |
Kohler/Sheb. Luth./Christian | 479 | Eastern Wisconsin | 4 | 1b |
Sheboygan Falls | 478 | East Central | 4 | 1b |
Platteville | 471 | SWC | 4 | 1b |
Racine St. Catherine's | 467 | Metro Classic | 4 | 1b |
Oconto Falls | 465 | Northwoods | 4 | 1b |
Baldwin-Woodville | 456 | Middle Border | 4 | 2.2 |
Lodi | 450 | Capitol | 4 | 1b |
Wrightstown | 445 | North Eastern | 4 | 1b |
Adams-Friendship | 435 | South Central | 4 | 2.2 |
Columbus | 433 | Capitol | 4 | 1b |
Kiel | 430 | Eastern Wisconsin | 4 | 2.2 |
Prescott | 429 | Middle Border | 4 | 1b |
Lakeside Lutheran | 428 | Capitol | 4 | 1b |
Northwestern | 419 | Heart O’North | 4 | 1b |
Campbellsport | 417 | Flyway | 5 | 1b |
University School | 410 | Metro Classic | 5 | 1b |
River Valley | 408 | SWC | 5 | 1b |
Clintonville | 401 | Packerland | 5 | 1b |
Richland Center | 400 | SWC | 5 | 1b |
Watertown Luther Prep | 397 | Capitol | 5 | 2.2 |
Brodhead/Juda | 393 | SWC | 5 | 1b |
Arcadia | 387 | Coulee | 5 | 1b |
Bloomer | 386 | Heart O’North | 5 | 1b |
Tomahawk | 372 | Northwoods | 5 | 1b |
Prairie du Chien | 371 | SWC | 5 | 1b |
Mayville | 369 | Flyway | 5 | 1b |
Amherst | 347 | CWC-Large | 5 | 1b |
Lake Country Lutheran | 347 | Metro Classic | 5 | 1b |
Brillion | 339 | Eastern Wisconsin | 5 | 1b |
New Holstein | 337 | Eastern Wisconsin | 5 | 1b |
Southern Door | 335 | Packerland | 5 | 1b |
Saint Croix Falls | 333 | Heart O’North | 5 | 1b |
Spencer/Columbus Catholic | 333 | CWC-Large | 5 | 1b |
Stanley-Boyd | 330 | Cloverbelt | 5 | 1b |
Kewaunee | 324 | Packerland | 5 | 1b |
Westby | 324 | Coulee | 5 | 1b |
Brookfield Academy | 323 | Midwest Classic | 5 | 1b |
Racine Lutheran | 318 | Midwest Classic | 5 | 1b |
Wittenberg-Birnamwood | 317 | CWC-Large | 5 | 1b |
Poynette | 312 | South Central | 5 | 1b |
Winnebago Lutheran | 309 | Flyway | 5 | 1b |
Belleville | 303 | SWAL | 5 | 1b |
Aquinas | 302 | Coulee | 5 | 1b |
Stratford | 301 | CWC-Large | 5 | 1b |
Valders | 299 | Eastern Wisconsin | 5 | 2.2 |
Marshall | 298 | Eastern Suburban | 5 | 1b |
Cedar Grove-Belgium | 297 | Big East | 6 | 1b |
Durand | 295 | Cloverbelt | 6 | 1b |
Cumberland | 290 | Heart O’North | 6 | 1b |
Lancaster | 290 | SWAL | 6 | 1b |
Saint Mary's Springs | 288 | Flyway | 6 | 1b |
Unity | 285 | Lakeland | 6 | 1b |
Cambridge | 284 | Eastern Suburban | 6 | 2.3d |
Oconto | 284 | Packerland | 6 | 2.3d |
Colby | 281 | Marawood | 6 | 1b |
Howards Grove | 276 | Big East | 6 | 1b |
Mondovi | 272 | Cloverbelt | 6 | 1b |
Markesan | 271 | Eastern Suburban | 6 | 1b |
Darlington | 264 | SWAL | 6 | 1b |
Waterloo | 259 | Eastern Suburban | 6 | 1b |
Bonduel | 254 | Packerland | 6 | 1b |
Cadott | 245 | Dunn-St. Croix | 6 | 2.2 |
Benton/Scales Mound/Shullsburg | 243 | Six Rivers | 6 | 2.2 |
Cuba City | 242 | SWAL | 6 | 1b |
Fall Creek | 237 | Cloverbelt | 6 | 1b |
Luther | 237 | Scenic Bluffs | 6 | 1b |
Pardeeville | 237 | Eastern Suburban | 6 | 1b |
Melrose-Mindoro | 234 | Dairyland | 6 | 1b |
Kenosha St. Joseph | 233 | Midwest Classic | 6 | 1b |
Necedah | 231 | Scenic Bluffs | 6 | 1b |
Whitehall | 230 | Dairyland | 6 | 1b |
Auburndale | 227 | Marawood | 6 | 1b |
Mineral Point | 227 | SWAL | 6 | 2.2 |
Abbotsford | 222 | Marawood | 6 | 1b |
Grantsburg | 219 | Lakeland | 6 | 1b |
Ozaukee | 217 | Big East | 6 | 2.3d |
Augusta | 215 | Dairyland | 6 | 1b |
Crivitz | 214 | Northwoods | 6 | 1b |
Boyceville | 207 | Dunn-St. Croix | 7 | 1b |
Spring Valley | 204 | Dunn-St. Croix | 7 | 1b |
Cashton | 204 | Scenic Bluffs | 7 | 1b |
Coleman | 202 | Northwoods | 7 | 1b |
Iola-Scandinavia | 200 | CWC-Small | 7 | 1b |
Regis | 198 | Cloverbelt | 7 | 1b |
Black Hawk/Warren | 197 | Six Rivers | 7 | 1b |
Webster | 196 | Lakeland | 7 | 1b |
Elmwood/Plum City | 190 | Dunn-St. Croix | 7 | 1b |
Glenwood City | 188 | Dunn-St. Croix | 7 | 1b |
River Ridge | 187 | Six Rivers | 7 | 1b |
Johnson Creek | 187 | Trailways | 7 | 1b |
Randolph | 185 | Trailways | 7 | 1b |
Reedsville | 182 | Big East | 7 | 1b |
Hurley | 181 | Lakeland | 7 | 1b |
Bangor | 181 | Scenic Bluffs | 7 | 1b |
Blair-Taylor | 179 | Dairyland | 7 | 2.3c |
Edgar | 175 | Marawood | 7 | 1b |
Potosi/Cassville | 172 | Six Rivers | 7 | 1b |
Pacelli | 168 | CWC-Small | 7 | 1b |
Lourdes Academy | 166 | Trailways | 7 | 1b |
Hilbert | 158 | Big East | 7 | 1b |
Loyal | 155 | CWC-Small | 7 | 1b |
Wauzeka/Seneca | 153 | Ridge & Valley | 7 | 1b |
Ithaca | 141 | Ridge & Valley | 7 | 1b |
Pepin/Alma | 141 | Dairyland | 7 | 1b |
Assumption | 138 | CWC-Small | 7 | 1b |
De Soto | 136 | Ridge & Valley | 7 | 1b |
Catholic Central | 128 | Midwest Classic | 7 | 1b |
Turtle Lake | 121 | Dunn-St. Croix | 7 | 2.2 |
Cambria-Friesland | 105 | Trailways | 7 | 1b |
Highland | 92 | Ridge & Valley | 7 | 1b |
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.
For the latest and most up to date football news and recruiting information, follow Travis on Twitter @travisWSN. Email story ideas, recruiting info, etc. to Travis at travis(at)wissports.net.