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 Seven, 118 teams have clinched playoff spots.
64 teams are on the Bubble with three conference wins.
66 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, Hurley from the Lakeland Conference (which has just seven teams and will play six conference games unlike all other teams) needs one more win to guarantee themselves a conference record of at least .500 and are almost certainly qualify for the playoffs. Webster (who has an upcoming forfeit against Flambeau in Week 8) can join them with one more conference win in Week 9
118 teams
(Guaranteed conference record over .500)
Team | Enrollment | Projected Division | Conference |
---|---|---|---|
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 |
Baldwin-Woodville | 476 | 4 | Middle Border |
Bangor | 214 | 6 | Scenic Bluffs |
Baraboo | 925 | 3 | Mississippi Valley |
Bay Port | 1916 | 1 | FRCC-North |
Belleville | 284 | 6 | SWAL |
Benton/Scales Mound IL/Shullsburg | 243 | 6 | Six Rivers |
Berlin | 465 | 4 | East Central |
Blair-Taylor | 189 | 7 | Dairyland |
Brodhead/Juda | 411 | 5 | SWC |
Brookfield Central | 1212 | 2 | Greater Metro |
Cadott | 260 | 6 | Dunn-St. Croix |
Cambria-Friesland * | 97 | 7 | Trailways |
Cashton | 194 | 7 | Scenic Bluffs |
Catholic Central | 129 | 7 | Midwest Classic |
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 |
Crandon | 235 | 6 | Northwoods |
Crivitz | 237 | 6 | Northwoods |
Cumberland | 310 | 5 | Heart O'North |
D.C. Everest * | 1819 | 1 | Valley Football Association |
Darlington | 272 | 6 | SWAL |
DeForest | 1071 | 2 | Badger-Small |
Durand | 319 | 5 | Cloverbelt |
Edgar | 195 | 7 | Marawood |
Ellsworth | 531 | 4 | Middle Border |
Elmwood/Plum City | 177 | 7 | Dunn-St. Croix |
Evansville | 561 | 4 | Rock Valley |
Franklin | 1569 | 1 | Southeast |
Freedom | 521 | 4 | North Eastern |
Grafton | 693 | 3 | Woodland |
Grantsburg | 223 | 6 | Lakeland |
Greendale | 953 | 3 | Woodland |
Hartford Union | 1320 | 2 | North Shore |
Hudson | 1830 | 1 | Big Rivers |
Kenosha St. Joseph Catholic | 220 | 6 | Midwest Classic |
Kettle Moraine | 1277 | 2 | Classic Eight |
Kewaskum | 580 | 4 | East Central |
Kewaunee | 319 | 5 | Packerland |
Kimberly | 1587 | 1 | Fox Valley Association |
Ladysmith | 253 | 6 | Lakeland |
Lakeside Lutheran | 459 | 4 | Capitol |
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 |
Marquette | 1786 | 1 | Greater Metro |
Marshall | 295 | 5 | Eastern Suburban |
Marshfield | 1233 | 2 | Valley Football Association |
Martin Luther | 631 | 3 | Metro Classic |
Mayville | 393 | 5 | Flyway |
McFarland | 769 | 3 | Rock Valley |
Medford | 705 | 3 | Great Northern |
Menasha | 963 | 3 | FRCC-South |
Middleton | 2378 | 1 | Big Eight |
Milwaukee Hamilton/Audubon Tech | 1798 | 1 | Milwaukee City-Richardson |
Milwaukee King | 1332 | 2 | Milwaukee City-Richardson |
Milwaukee Marshall/Carmen NW/Milw Juneau/Milw Languages | 2267 | 1 | Milwaukee City-Richardson |
Milwaukee Pulaski/Carmen South/Carmen SE | 2172 | 1 | Milwaukee City-Blackbourn |
Milwaukee Vincent/Destiny | 1175 | 2 | 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 |
Muskego | 1637 | 1 | Classic Eight |
Neenah | 2015 | 1 | Fox Valley Association |
New Berlin Eisenhower | 715 | 3 | Parkland |
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 |
Pewaukee | 839 | 3 | Parkland |
Plymouth | 739 | 3 | East Central |
Potosi/Cassville | 182 | 7 | Six Rivers |
Prairie du Chien | 373 | 5 | SWC |
Racine Lutheran | 325 | 5 | Midwest Classic |
Racine Saint Catherine’s | 464 | 4 | Metro Classic |
Reedsburg | 890 | 3 | Mississippi Valley |
Reedsville | 187 | 7 | Big East |
Regis | 200 | 7 | Cloverbelt |
River Falls | 1101 | 2 | Big Rivers |
River Ridge | 196 | 7 | Six Rivers |
Saint Croix Falls | 352 | 5 | Heart O'North |
Saint Mary's Springs | 273 | 6 | Flyway |
Slinger | 1069 | 2 | North Shore |
Southern Door | 323 | 5 | Packerland |
Spring Valley | 199 | 7 | Dunn-St. Croix |
Stratford | 272 | 6 | CWC-Large |
Sun Prairie East | 1238 | 2 | Badger-Large |
Sussex Hamilton | 1508 | 1 | Greater Metro |
Two Rivers | 553 | 4 | Eastern Wisconsin |
Unity | 289 | 6 | Lakeland |
University School of Milwaukee | 403 | 5 | Metro Classic |
Verona | 1756 | 1 | Big Eight |
Waterford | 984 | 3 | Southern Lakes |
Waunakee | 1336 | 2 | Badger-Large |
Wausau West | 1530 | 1 | Valley Football Association |
Wauzeka-Steuben/Seneca | 160 | 7 | Ridge & Valley |
West Bend East | 971 | 3 | North Shore |
West De Pere | 1042 | 2 | FRCC-North |
West Salem | 592 | 4 | Coulee |
Wisconsin Dells | 591 | 4 | South Central |
Wisconsin Lutheran | 857 | 3 | Woodland |
Wisconsin Rapids * | 1491 | 1 | Valley Football Association |
Wrightstown | 427 | 4 | North Eastern |
64 teams
(Teams that have guaranteed at least three conference wins)
Team | Enrollment | Projected Division | Conference |
---|---|---|---|
Appleton North | 1736 | 1 | Fox Valley Association |
Arrowhead | 2070 | 1 | Classic Eight |
Bonduel | 270 | 6 | Packerland |
Boyceville | 200 | 7 | Dunn-St. Croix |
Brookfield East | 1336 | 2 | Greater Metro |
Burlington | 1040 | 2 | Southern Lakes |
Cameron | 268 | 6 | Heart O'North |
Campbellsport | 435 | 4 | Flyway |
Chippewa Falls | 1485 | 1 | Big Rivers |
Clinton | 394 | 5 | Eastern Suburban |
Clintonville | 403 | 5 | Northwoods |
De Pere | 1455 | 1 | FRCC-North |
Denmark | 496 | 4 | North Eastern |
Edgewood | 528 | 4 | Capitol |
Fall Creek | 240 | 6 | Cloverbelt |
Fond du Lac | 2037 | 1 | Fox Valley Association |
Fox Valley Lutheran | 670 | 3 | North Eastern |
Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau | 427 | 4 | Coulee |
Germantown | 1332 | 2 | Greater Metro |
Greenfield * | 1136 | 2 | Woodland |
Highland | 107 | 7 | Ridge & Valley |
Holmen | 1228 | 2 | Mississippi Valley |
Howards Grove | 262 | 6 | Big East |
Iola-Scandinavia * | 193 | 7 | CWC-Small |
Ithaca | 143 | 7 | Ridge & Valley |
Janesville Craig | 1740 | 1 | Big Eight |
Johnson Creek | 178 | 7 | Trailways |
Kaukauna | 1233 | 2 | Fox Valley Association |
Kenosha Indian Trail | 2286 | 1 | Southeast |
Kiel | 390 | 5 | Eastern Wisconsin |
Laconia | 311 | 5 | Flyway |
Lakeland | 749 | 3 | Great Northern |
Lancaster | 297 | 5 | SWC |
Madison Memorial | 2150 | 1 | Big Eight |
Mauston | 490 | 4 | South Central |
Merrill | 786 | 3 | Great Northern |
Milwaukee Riverside/Golda Meir | 2431 | 1 | Milwaukee City-Richardson |
Milwaukee Washington/Fuller Collegiate | 934 | 3 | Milwaukee City-Blackbourn |
New Berlin West | 716 | 3 | Parkland |
New Lisbon | 171 | 7 | Scenic Bluffs |
New Richmond | 1057 | 2 | Big Rivers |
Oconto Falls | 490 | 4 | Northwoods |
Oostburg | 343 | 5 | Big East |
Oregon | 1252 | 2 | Badger-Large |
Port Washington | 825 | 3 | East Central |
Portage | 730 | 3 | Badger-Small |
Pulaski | 1161 | 2 | FRCC-North |
Racine Horlick | 1403 | 2 | Southeast |
Randolph | 196 | 7 | Trailways |
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 |
Sheboygan North | 1726 | 1 | FRCC-South |
Stoughton | 905 | 3 | Badger-Small |
Sturgeon Bay | 411 | 5 | Packerland |
Turtle Lake | 121 | 7 | Dunn-St. Croix |
Waterloo | 268 | 6 | Eastern Suburban |
Watertown Luther Prep | 423 | 4 | Metro Classic |
Wautoma | 399 | 5 | South Central |
Westby | 308 | 5 | Coulee |
Westosha Central | 1184 | 2 | Southern Lakes |
Wittenberg-Birnamwood | 322 | 5 | CWC-Large |
Xavier | 479 | 4 | Bay |
66 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 |
Arcadia | 418 | 4 | Coulee |
Ashwaubenon | 1013 | 2 | FRCC-North |
Augusta | 216 | 6 | Dairyland |
Black Hawk/Warren IL | 200 | 7 | Six Rivers |
Bloomer | 401 | 5 | Heart O'North |
Brillion | 353 | 5 | Eastern Wisconsin |
Cedarburg | 1107 | 2 | North Shore |
Deerfield | 203 | 6 | Trailways |
Delavan-Darien | 654 | 3 | Rock Valley |
Eau Claire North | 1622 | 1 | Big Rivers |
Edgerton | 527 | 4 | Rock Valley |
Fall River/Rio | 289 | 6 | Trailways |
Hilbert | 151 | 7 | Big East |
Hillsboro | 181 | 7 | Ridge & Valley |
Homestead | 1262 | 2 | North Shore |
Horicon/Hustisford | 379 | 5 | Eastern Suburban |
Hortonville | 1253 | 2 | Valley Football Association |
Iowa-Grant | 199 | 7 | Ridge & Valley |
Janesville Parker | 1442 | 2 | Big Eight |
Jefferson | 599 | 3 | Rock Valley |
Kettle Moraine Lutheran | 534 | 4 | East Central |
Kohler/Sheboygan Christian/Sheboygan Lutheran | 545 | 4 | Eastern Wisconsin |
La Crosse Logan | 754 | 3 | Mississippi Valley |
Lake Country Lutheran | 353 | 5 | Metro Classic |
Lake Mills | 488 | 4 | Capitol |
Luxemburg-Casco | 601 | 3 | North Eastern |
Madison West | 2276 | 1 | Big Eight |
Manawa | 221 | 6 | CWC-Large |
Manitowoc Lincoln | 1527 | 1 | FRCC-South |
Marathon | 249 | 6 | Marawood |
Melrose-Mindoro | 242 | 6 | Dairyland |
Menomonie | 1034 | 2 | Big Rivers |
Milton | 1075 | 2 | Badger-Large |
Milwaukee Lutheran | 860 | 3 | Parkland |
Milwaukee Madison | 710 | 3 | Milwaukee City-Blackbourn |
Milwaukee Reagan | 1286 | 2 | Milwaukee City-Richardson |
Milwaukee South | 1091 | 2 | Milwaukee City-Blackbourn |
Mineral Point | 239 | 6 | SWAL |
Mishicot | 275 | 6 | Packerland |
Monona Grove | 1191 | 2 | Badger-Small |
New Holstein | 311 | 5 | Eastern Wisconsin |
Oconomowoc | 1676 | 1 | Classic Eight |
Omro | 339 | 5 | Flyway |
Pacelli | 175 | 7 | CWC-Small |
Pardeeville | 259 | 6 | Trailways |
Platteville | 461 | 4 | SWC |
Racine Case | 1828 | 1 | Southeast |
Racine Park | 1081 | 2 | Southeast |
Riverdale | 207 | 6 | Ridge & Valley |
Shiocton | 213 | 6 | CWC-Large |
Shorewood/Messmer | 1205 | 2 | Woodland |
Somerset | 463 | 4 | Middle Border |
South Milwaukee | 1032 | 2 | Woodland |
Stanley-Boyd | 332 | 5 | Cloverbelt |
Stevens Point | 2096 | 1 | Valley Football Association |
Sun Prairie West | 1266 | 2 | Badger-Large |
Union Grove | 994 | 3 | Southern Lakes |
Waukesha West | 1175 | 2 | Classic Eight |
Waupaca | 601 | 3 | Bay |
Wauwatosa West | 1075 | 2 | Parkland |
Westfield | 287 | 6 | South Central |
Weyauwega-Fremont | 289 | 6 | CWC-Large |
Wilmot Union | 906 | 3 | Southern Lakes |
Winneconne | 522 | 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.