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. A caveat is that there are an odd-number of teams in the state this year, and the Lakeland 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.
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, 74 teams have clinched playoff spots.
67 teams are on the Bubble with three conference wins.
82 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.
-- In addition to the teams below, Ladysmith and Unity from the Lakeland Conference (which has just seven teams and will play six conference games unlike all other teams) have guaranteed themselves a conference record of at least .500 and are almost certainly in the playoffs. Hurley can join them with one more conference win, as can Webster (who has an upcoming forfeit against Flambeau).
74 teams
(Guaranteed conference record over .500)
Team | Enrollment | Projected Division | Conference |
---|---|---|---|
Milwaukee Vincent/Destiny | 1175 | 2 | Milwaukee City-Blackbourn |
Adams-Friendship | 477 | 4 | South Central |
Amherst | 338 | 5 | CWC-Large |
Aquinas | 313 | 5 | Coulee |
Assumption | 132 | 7 | CWC-Small |
Auburndale | 224 | 6 | Marawood |
Badger | 1336 | 2 | Southern Lakes |
Baraboo | 925 | 3 | Mississippi Valley |
Bay Port | 1916 | 1 | FRCC-North |
Belleville | 284 | 6 | SWAL |
Berlin | 465 | 4 | East Central |
Blair-Taylor | 189 | 7 | Dairyland |
Brodhead/Juda | 411 | 5 | SWC |
Cambria-Friesland | 97 | 7 | Trailways |
Cashton | 194 | 7 | Scenic Bluffs |
Catholic Memorial | 566 | 4 | Parkland |
Cedar Grove-Belgium | 296 | 5 | Big East |
Chilton | 405 | 5 | Eastern Wisconsin |
Cochrane-Fountain City | 184 | 7 | Dairyland |
Colby | 320 | 5 | Marawood |
Coleman | 221 | 6 | Northwoods |
Columbus | 428 | 4 | Capitol |
Cumberland | 310 | 5 | Heart O'North |
Darlington | 272 | 6 | SWAL |
Ellsworth | 531 | 4 | Middle Border |
Freedom | 521 | 4 | North Eastern |
Grafton | 693 | 3 | Woodland |
Grantsburg | 223 | 6 | Lakeland |
Hartford Union | 1320 | 2 | North Shore |
Kenosha St. Joseph Catholic | 220 | 6 | Midwest Classic |
Kewaunee | 319 | 5 | Packerland |
Kimberly | 1587 | 1 | Fox Valley Association |
Little Chute | 530 | 4 | North Eastern |
Lodi | 456 | 4 | Capitol |
Lourdes Academy * | 161 | 7 | Trailways |
Luther | 231 | 6 | Scenic Bluffs |
Markesan | 273 | 6 | Eastern Suburban |
Marshall | 295 | 5 | Eastern Suburban |
Marshfield | 1233 | 2 | Valley Football Association |
Martin Luther | 631 | 3 | Metro Classic |
Mayville | 393 | 5 | Flyway |
Medford | 705 | 3 | Great Northern |
Menasha | 963 | 3 | FRCC-South |
Milwaukee Hamilton/Audubon Tech | 1798 | 1 | Milwaukee City-Richardson |
Milwaukee Pulaski/Carmen South/Carmen SE | 2172 | 1 | Milwaukee City-Blackbourn |
Mondovi | 256 | 6 | Cloverbelt |
Monroe | 740 | 3 | Rock Valley |
Mosinee | 643 | 3 | Great Northern |
Mount Horeb/Barneveld | 899 | 3 | Badger-Small |
Mukwonago | 1669 | 1 | Classic Eight |
Neenah | 2015 | 1 | Fox Valley Association |
Northwestern | 412 | 5 | Heart O'North |
Notre Dame | 755 | 3 | FRCC-South |
Oak Creek | 2122 | 1 | Southeast |
Onalaska | 953 | 3 | Mississippi Valley |
Pepin/Alma | 138 | 7 | Dairyland |
Prairie du Chien | 373 | 5 | SWC |
Racine Lutheran | 325 | 5 | Midwest Classic |
Racine Saint Catherine’s | 464 | 4 | Metro Classic |
Regis | 200 | 7 | Cloverbelt |
River Falls | 1101 | 2 | Big Rivers |
River Ridge | 196 | 7 | Six Rivers |
Saint Mary's Springs | 273 | 6 | Flyway |
Southern Door | 323 | 5 | Packerland |
Spring Valley | 199 | 7 | Dunn-St. Croix |
Stratford | 272 | 6 | CWC-Large |
Two Rivers | 553 | 4 | Eastern Wisconsin |
University School of Milwaukee | 403 | 5 | Metro Classic |
Verona | 1756 | 1 | Big Eight |
Waunakee | 1336 | 2 | Badger-Large |
West De Pere | 1042 | 2 | FRCC-North |
West Salem | 592 | 4 | Coulee |
Wisconsin Dells | 591 | 4 | South Central |
Wisconsin Rapids | 1491 | 1 | Valley Football Association |
67 teams
(Teams that have guaranteed at least three conference wins)
Team | Enrollment | Projected Division | Conference |
---|---|---|---|
Arrowhead | 2070 | 1 | Classic Eight |
Baldwin-Woodville | 476 | 4 | Middle Border |
Bangor | 214 | 6 | Scenic Bluffs |
Benton/Scales Mound IL/Shullsburg | 243 | 6 | Six Rivers |
Brookfield Central | 1212 | 2 | Greater Metro |
Brookfield East | 1336 | 2 | Greater Metro |
Cadott | 260 | 6 | Dunn-St. Croix |
Campbellsport | 435 | 4 | Flyway |
Catholic Central | 129 | 7 | Midwest Classic |
Crandon | 235 | 6 | Northwoods |
Crivitz | 237 | 6 | Northwoods |
D.C. Everest | 1819 | 1 | Valley Football Association |
DeForest | 1071 | 2 | Badger-Small |
Durand | 319 | 5 | Cloverbelt |
Edgar | 195 | 7 | Marawood |
Elmwood/Plum City | 177 | 7 | Dunn-St. Croix |
Evansville | 561 | 4 | Rock Valley |
Fox Valley Lutheran | 670 | 3 | North Eastern |
Franklin | 1569 | 1 | Southeast |
Germantown | 1332 | 2 | Greater Metro |
Greendale | 953 | 3 | Woodland |
Howards Grove | 262 | 6 | Big East |
Hudson | 1830 | 1 | Big Rivers |
Ithaca | 143 | 7 | Ridge & Valley |
Kaukauna | 1233 | 2 | Fox Valley Association |
Kettle Moraine | 1277 | 2 | Classic Eight |
Kewaskum | 580 | 4 | East Central |
Lakeside Lutheran | 459 | 4 | Capitol |
Lancaster | 297 | 5 | SWC |
Marquette | 1786 | 1 | Greater Metro |
McFarland | 769 | 3 | Rock Valley |
Middleton | 2378 | 1 | Big Eight |
Milwaukee King | 1332 | 2 | Milwaukee City-Richardson |
Milwaukee Marshall/Carmen NW/Milw Juneau/Milw Languages | 2267 | 1 | Milwaukee City-Richardson |
Milwaukee Riverside/Golda Meir | 2431 | 1 | Milwaukee City-Richardson |
Milwaukee Washington/Fuller Collegiate | 934 | 3 | Milwaukee City-Blackbourn |
Muskego | 1637 | 1 | Classic Eight |
New Berlin Eisenhower | 715 | 3 | Parkland |
New Berlin West | 716 | 3 | Parkland |
New Lisbon | 171 | 7 | Scenic Bluffs |
Oconto Falls | 490 | 4 | Northwoods |
Oostburg | 343 | 5 | Big East |
Oregon | 1252 | 2 | Badger-Large |
Pewaukee | 839 | 3 | Parkland |
Plymouth | 739 | 3 | East Central |
Port Washington | 825 | 3 | East Central |
Portage | 730 | 3 | Badger-Small |
Potosi/Cassville | 182 | 7 | Six Rivers |
Racine Horlick | 1403 | 2 | Southeast |
Randolph * | 196 | 7 | Trailways |
Reedsburg | 890 | 3 | Mississippi Valley |
Reedsville | 187 | 7 | Big East |
Saint Croix Falls | 352 | 5 | Heart O'North |
Sheboygan North | 1726 | 1 | FRCC-South |
Slinger | 1069 | 2 | North Shore |
Sturgeon Bay | 411 | 5 | Packerland |
Sun Prairie East | 1238 | 2 | Badger-Large |
Sussex Hamilton | 1508 | 1 | Greater Metro |
Turtle Lake | 121 | 7 | Dunn-St. Croix |
Waterford | 984 | 3 | Southern Lakes |
Wausau West | 1530 | 1 | Valley Football Association |
Wautoma | 399 | 5 | South Central |
Wauzeka-Steuben/Seneca | 160 | 7 | Ridge & Valley |
West Bend East | 971 | 3 | North Shore |
Westosha Central | 1184 | 2 | Southern Lakes |
Wisconsin Lutheran | 857 | 3 | Woodland |
Wrightstown | 427 | 4 | North Eastern |
82 teams
(Teams with two conference wins that need one more to get on the bubble)
Team | Enrollment | Projected Division | Conference |
---|---|---|---|
Abbotsford | 241 | 6 | Marawood |
Altoona | 529 | 4 | Coulee |
Appleton North | 1736 | 1 | Fox Valley Association |
Arcadia | 418 | 4 | Coulee |
Ashwaubenon | 1013 | 2 | FRCC-North |
Augusta | 216 | 6 | Dairyland |
Black Hawk/Warren IL | 200 | 7 | Six Rivers |
Bonduel | 270 | 6 | Packerland |
Boyceville | 200 | 7 | Dunn-St. Croix |
Brillion | 353 | 5 | Eastern Wisconsin |
Brookfield Academy * | 337 | 5 | Midwest Classic |
Burlington | 1040 | 2 | Southern Lakes |
Cameron | 268 | 6 | Heart O'North |
Cedarburg | 1107 | 2 | North Shore |
Chippewa Falls | 1485 | 1 | Big Rivers |
Clinton | 394 | 5 | Eastern Suburban |
Clintonville | 403 | 5 | Northwoods |
De Pere | 1455 | 1 | FRCC-North |
Delavan-Darien | 654 | 3 | Rock Valley |
Denmark | 496 | 4 | North Eastern |
Eau Claire North | 1622 | 1 | Big Rivers |
Edgerton | 527 | 4 | Rock Valley |
Edgewood | 528 | 4 | Capitol |
Fall Creek | 240 | 6 | Cloverbelt |
Fall River/Rio | 289 | 6 | Trailways |
Fond du Lac | 2037 | 1 | Fox Valley Association |
Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau | 427 | 4 | Coulee |
Greenfield | 1136 | 2 | Woodland |
Highland | 107 | 7 | Ridge & Valley |
Hillsboro | 181 | 7 | Ridge & Valley |
Holmen | 1228 | 2 | Mississippi Valley |
Horicon/Hustisford | 379 | 5 | Eastern Suburban |
Hortonville | 1253 | 2 | Valley Football Association |
Iola-Scandinavia | 193 | 7 | CWC-Small |
Iowa-Grant | 199 | 7 | Ridge & Valley |
Janesville Craig | 1740 | 1 | Big Eight |
Janesville Parker | 1442 | 2 | Big Eight |
Johnson Creek | 178 | 7 | Trailways |
Kenosha Christian Life | 213 | 6 | Midwest Classic |
Kenosha Indian Trail | 2286 | 1 | Southeast |
Kiel | 390 | 5 | Eastern Wisconsin |
Kohler/Sheboygan Christian/Sheboygan Lutheran | 545 | 4 | Eastern Wisconsin |
Laconia | 311 | 5 | Flyway |
Lake Country Lutheran | 353 | 5 | Metro Classic |
Lake Mills | 488 | 4 | Capitol |
Lakeland | 749 | 3 | Great Northern |
Luxemburg-Casco | 601 | 3 | North Eastern |
Madison Memorial | 2150 | 1 | Big Eight |
Madison West | 2276 | 1 | Big Eight |
Marathon | 249 | 6 | Marawood |
Mauston | 490 | 4 | South Central |
Menomonie | 1034 | 2 | Big Rivers |
Merrill | 786 | 3 | Great Northern |
Milton | 1075 | 2 | Badger-Large |
Milwaukee Lutheran | 860 | 3 | Parkland |
Milwaukee Reagan | 1286 | 2 | Milwaukee City-Richardson |
Mineral Point | 239 | 6 | SWAL |
Mishicot | 275 | 6 | Packerland |
New Richmond | 1057 | 2 | Big Rivers |
Oconomowoc | 1676 | 1 | Classic Eight |
Omro | 339 | 5 | Flyway |
Pacelli | 175 | 7 | CWC-Small |
Pardeeville | 259 | 6 | Trailways |
Pulaski | 1161 | 2 | FRCC-North |
Racine Case | 1828 | 1 | Southeast |
Racine Park | 1081 | 2 | Southeast |
Rice Lake | 711 | 3 | Middle Border |
Saint Croix Central | 531 | 4 | Middle Border |
Saint Francis | 504 | 4 | Midwest Classic |
Sheboygan Falls | 522 | 4 | East Central |
Shiocton | 213 | 6 | CWC-Large |
Shorewood/Messmer | 1205 | 2 | Woodland |
Somerset | 463 | 4 | Middle Border |
Stevens Point * | 2096 | 1 | Valley Football Association |
Stoughton | 905 | 3 | Badger-Small |
Waterloo | 268 | 6 | Eastern Suburban |
Watertown Luther Prep | 423 | 4 | Metro Classic |
Westby | 308 | 5 | Coulee |
Weyauwega-Fremont | 289 | 6 | CWC-Large |
Wilmot Union | 906 | 3 | Southern Lakes |
Wittenberg-Birnamwood | 322 | 5 | CWC-Large |
Xavier | 479 | 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.