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What would a six-division football playoff field look like?

10/21/2021, 2:30pm CDT
By Travis Wilson

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The WIAA football playoffs get underway tomorrow, and as there have been since 2002, there will be seven divisions of 11-player football, featuring 32 teams in each division. That means next month at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison there will be seven state champions crowned.

However, the situation in 2021 is not the same as back in 2002 when the WIAA expanded to a seventh division. Back then, the former WISAA private schools had joined the WIAA a few years prior, adding a considerable number of teams, resulting in the push for another division.

Now, that trend is going in the other direction, as due to declining enrollments, especially in rural districts, as well as reduced rates of participation, there are fewer athletes playing football. This resulted in the formation of more co-ops in the last two decades, and in 2012, the formation of an 8-player football option. From the initial 16 teams that moved to 8-player in 2012, the number has swelled to 56 in 2021, though not all are eligible for the 8-player playoffs, either due to enrollment size or moving to 8-player out of the normal cycle.

That left fewer than 360 teams eligible for the 11-player postseason in 2021, a decrease of 72 teams from when I started at WSN in 2008, when 432 teams were playing 11-player football and eligible for the postseason.

In recent years, as the number of teams moving to 8-player has increased and the number of teams participating in 11-player has decreased, there has been increased discussion of the possibility of removing one division of 11-player football, going to just six divisions of 11-player with one division of 8-player. Under such a concept, there would still be seven divisions of football and seven state champions, just as there were for many years.

But, the question has become: what would that do to the rest of the 11-player football playoffs, specifically which teams would get in, which would get left out, and how division cutlines would be impacted.

We have done the research to produce a projected 11-player football playoff qualifying field in a 192-team, six-division format in the 2021 season, with the full results below.

Every team that finished 5-2 or better in conference would get in, taking up 128 spots. This year, because of an adjusted Milwaukee City Conference schedule that resulted in some teams not playing a full seven conference games yet retaining WIAA playoff eligibility, both Milwaukee Pulaski and Milwaukee Madison would get in with league records of 4-2 and 3-2 respectively.

That leaves 62 spots remaining, with 64 teams that would finish 4-3 in conference play to fill those positions. The WIAA playoff qualifying criteria would then be applied, but rather than spend hours working through lengthy tiebreaker scenarios for 64 teams, I included all those that finished at or above .500 overall in first. Then, of the remaining teams that went 4-3 in conference and 4-5 overall, I removed Loyal and Fall Creek from the field, as both received two conference forfeit victories. It is not the official way the tiebreakers would have been determined, but it was simpler and easier than doing tiebreakers for 64 teams.

All teams that finished 3-4 in conference or below .500 in conference would not make the playoff field in a six-division format in 2021.

So, with that, 192 playoff spots are filled in six divisions of 32 teams. 

In reviewing the results of the new projected six divisions versus the actual seven division playoff field, there are certainly some things that stand out.

One of the arguments against reducing the field to six divisions came from small schools, who felt the D6/7 cutline would go up considerably, and result in schools of 150 and below enrollment playing against those nearly twice as big, perhaps in the 250 enrollment range.

Instead, the cutline for the lowest division in a six-division format would be almost identical to the seven-division format. All of the teams in a "new" Division 6 would have been in Division 7 in the current structure.

The changes in which teams would be grouped with which other teams in divisions is actually most impacted in the middle divisions, specifically a "new" Division 3 and Division 4. 

In reviewing the teams that would change divisions, especially at the bottom of enrollment ranges, there are a lot of things that would make sense and not be significantly out of line. For instance, the "new" smallest teams in an adjusted Division 1 would include Waunakee, Germantown, and Brookfield East. All play multiple current D1 teams now and would be very competitive in a "new" D1.

Port Washington, Notre Dame, and Rhinelander would be the smallest schools in a revised Division 2 and would fit in just fine with those new schools. 

Of note, Catholic Memorial would be in Division 3 in a revised, six-division format, though rural schools like Denmark, Lake Mills, Mauston, and others would also be in Division 3. Though it would also include more apt competition for Catholic Memorial at the top of the enrollment range such as New Berlin Eisenhower, Rice Lake, Grafton, and others.

You can review the adjusted six-division format below and determine whether you feel it is worth exploring. To this point, there has not been a push by the WIAA or WFCA to reduce the divisions of 11-player football to six, but it likely will be something that continues to garner discussion in football circles in the years to come.

Projected, Hypothetical Six Division Playoff Structure in 2021

Team Conference Enroll Orig. Div New Div
Milwaukee Marshall/Carmen NW/Milw Juneau/Milw Languages Milwaukee-Richardson 2578 1 1
Sun Prairie Big Eight 2520 1 1
Milwaukee Pulaski/Carmen South/Carmen SE Milwaukee-Blackbourn 2306 1 1
Middleton Big Eight 2283 1 1
Madison Memorial Big Eight 2183 1 1
Oak Creek Southeast 2113 1 1
Arrowhead Classic Eight 2088 1 1
Stevens Point VFA 2028 1 1
Fond du Lac FVA 2018 1 1
Kenosha Bradford/Kenosha Reuther Southeast 2014 1 1
Bay Port FRCC-North 1899 1 1
Marquette University Greater Metro 1844 1 1
Hudson Big Rivers 1832 1 1
Milwaukee Hamilton/Audubon Tech Milwaukee-Richardson 1802 1 1
D.C. Everest VFA 1771 1 1
Appleton North FVA 1735 1 1
Muskego Classic Eight 1688 1 1
Verona Big Eight 1676 1 1
Mukwonago Classic Eight 1653 1 1
Kimberly FVA 1586 1 1
Franklin Southeast 1547 1 1
Manitowoc Lincoln FRCC-South 1507 1 1
Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln VFA 1482 1 1
Sussex Hamilton Greater Metro 1462 1 1
Chippewa Falls Big Rivers 1455 1 1
Wausau West VFA 1445 1 1
Milwaukee King Milwaukee-Richardson 1441 2 1
De Pere FRCC-North 1395 2 1
Milwaukee Reagan Milwaukee-Blackbourn 1385 2 1
Waunakee Badger-Large 1356 2 1
Germantown Greater Metro 1352 2 1
Brookfield East Greater Metro 1345 2 1
Badger Southern Lakes 1339 2 2
Hartford Union North Shore 1331 2 2
Kettle Moraine Classic Eight 1298 2 2
Homestead North Shore 1270 2 2
Kaukauna FVA 1208 2 2
Pulaski FRCC-North 1196 2 2
Monona Grove Badger-Small 1146 2 2
River Falls Mississippi Valley 1097 2 2
Nicolet North Shore 1090 2 2
Cedarburg North Shore 1072 2 2
La Crosse Central Mississippi Valley 1059 2 2
West De Pere FRCC-North 1046 2 2
Burlington Southern Lakes 1044 2 2
Wauwatosa West Parkland 1039 2 2
Waterford Southern Lakes 1034 2 2
Menomonie Big Rivers 1027 2 2
DeForest Badger-Large 1014 2 2
Union Grove Southern Lakes 993 2 2
New Richmond Big Rivers 991 2 2
Fort Atkinson Badger-Small 980 3 2
Whitefish Bay North Shore 975 3 2
Onalaska Mississippi Valley 951 3 2
Greendale Woodland 942 3 2
Mount Horeb/Barneveld Badger-Small 913 3 2
Baraboo Badger-Small 911 3 2
Menasha FRCC-South 910 3 2
Wisconsin Lutheran Woodland 883 3 2
Pewaukee Parkland 866 3 2
Whitnall Woodland 831 3 2
Port Washington East Central 796 3 2
Rhinelander Great Northern 792 3 2
Notre Dame FRCC-South 780 3 2
McFarland Rock Valley 763 3 3
Milwaukee Madison Milwaukee-Blackbourn 743 3 3
New Berlin Eisenhower Parkland 732 3 3
Plymouth East Central 728 3 3
Rice Lake Big Rivers 726 3 3
Monroe Rock Valley 717 3 3
Grafton Woodland 692 3 3
Medford Great Northern 667 3 3
Fox Valley Lutheran Bay 658 3 3
Mosinee Great Northern 618 3 3
Luxemburg-Casco North Eastern 603 3 3
Jefferson Rock Valley 597 3 3
Martin Luther Metro Classic 593 3 3
Waupaca Bay 591 3 3
Kewaskum East Central 568 4 3
Wisconsin Dells South Central 549 4 3
Catholic Memorial Parkland 547 4 3
West Salem Mississippi Valley 539 4 3
Winneconne Bay 537 4 3
Freedom North Eastern 535 4 3
Osceola Middle Border 518 4 3
Two Rivers Eastern Wisconsin 516 4 3
Mauston South Central 507 4 3
Xavier Bay 500 4 3
Edgewood Rock Valley 499 4 3
Lake Mills Capitol 496 4 3
Berlin East Central 495 4 3
Ellsworth Middle Border 488 4 3
Altoona Coulee 486 4 3
Denmark North Eastern 483 4 3
Kohler/Sheboygan Christian/Sheboygan Lutheran Eastern Wisconsin 479 4 3
Sheboygan Falls East Central 478 4 3
Racine Saint Catherine???s Metro Classic 467 4 4
Oconto Falls Northwoods 465 4 4
Lodi Capitol 450 4 4
Wrightstown North Eastern 445 4 4
Adams-Friendship South Central 435 4 4
Columbus Capitol 433 4 4
Prescott Middle Border 429 4 4
Lakeside Lutheran Capitol 428 4 4
Northwestern Heart O' North 419 4 4
Campbellsport Flyway 417 5 4
University School of Milwaukee Metro Classic 410 5 4
River Valley SWC 408 5 4
Clintonville Packerland 401 5 4
Richland Center SWC 400 5 4
Brodhead/Juda SWC 393 5 4
Arcadia Coulee 387 5 4
Tomahawk Northwoods 372 5 4
Prairie du Chien SWC 371 5 4
Mayville Flyway 369 5 4
Spooner Heart O' North 359 5 4
Amherst CWC-Large 347 5 4
Lake Country Lutheran Metro Classic 347 5 4
Brillion Eastern Wisconsin 339 5 4
Southern Door Packerland 335 5 4
Saint Croix Falls Heart O' North 333 5 4
Spencer/Columbus Catholic CWC-Large 333 5 4
Stanley-Boyd Cloverbelt 330 5 4
Kewaunee Packerland 324 5 4
Westby Coulee 324 5 4
Brookfield Academy Midwest Classic 323 5 4
Racine Lutheran Midwest Classic 318 5 4
Wittenberg-Birnamwood CWC-Large 317 5 4
Poynette South Central 312 5 5
Winnebago Lutheran Academy Flyway 309 5 5
Belleville SWAL 303 5 5
Aquinas Coulee 302 5 5
Stratford CWC-Large 301 5 5
Marshall Eastern Suburban 298 5 5
Cedar Grove-Belgium Big East 297 6 5
Durand Cloverbelt 295 6 5
Cumberland Heart O' North 290 6 5
Lancaster SWAL 290 6 5
Saint Mary's Springs Flyway 288 6 5
Unity Lakeland 285 6 5
Colby Marawood 281 6 5
Fall River/Rio Trailways 275 6 5
Mondovi Cloverbelt 272 6 5
Markesan Eastern Suburban 271 6 5
Darlington SWAL 264 6 5
Waterloo Eastern Suburban 259 6 5
Bonduel Packerland 254 6 5
Cadott Dunn-St. Croix 245 6 5
Cuba City SWAL 242 6 5
Pardeeville Eastern Suburban 237 6 5
Luther Scenic Bluffs 237 6 5
Melrose-Mindoro Dairyland 234 6 5
Kenosha St. Joseph Catholic Midwest Classic 233 6 5
Necedah Scenic Bluffs 231 6 5
Whitehall Dairyland 230 6 5
Auburndale Marawood 227 6 5
Abbotsford Marawood 222 6 5
Grantsburg Lakeland 219 6 5
Ozaukee Big East 217 6 5
Augusta Dairyland 215 6 5
Crivitz Northwoods 214 6 6
Boyceville Dunn-St. Croix 207 6 6
Spring Valley Dunn-St. Croix 204 7 6
Cashton Scenic Bluffs 204 7 6
Coleman Northwoods 202 7 6
Iola-Scandinavia CWC-Small 200 7 6
Regis Cloverbelt 198 7 6
Black Hawk/Warren IL Six Rivers 197 7 6
Webster Lakeland 196 7 6
Elmwood/Plum City Dunn-St. Croix 190 7 6
Glenwood City Dunn-St. Croix 188 7 6
River Ridge Six Rivers 187 7 6
Johnson Creek Trailways 187 7 6
Randolph Trailways 185 7 6
Reedsville Big East 182 7 6
Hurley Lakeland 181 7 6
Bangor Scenic Bluffs 181 7 6
New Lisbon Scenic Bluffs 180 7 6
Edgar Marawood 175 7 6
Potosi/Cassville Six Rivers 172 7 6
Pacelli CWC-Small 168 7 6
Lourdes Academy Trailways 166 7 6
Hilbert Big East 158 7 6
Wauzeka-Steuben/Seneca Ridge & Valley 153 7 6
Pepin/Alma Dairyland 141 7 6
Ithaca Ridge & Valley 141 7 6
Assumption CWC-Small 138 7 6
De Soto Ridge & Valley 136 7 6
Catholic Central Midwest Classic 128 7 6
Turtle Lake Dunn-St. Croix 121 7 6
Cambria-Friesland Trailways 105 7 6
Highland Ridge & Valley 92 7 6

About the Author

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.

Tag(s): News Archive  News  Travis Wilson  Football Playoffs