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Football Playoff Qualifying Report - Week 9

10/13/2024, 12:45am CDT
By Travis Wilson

WSN Football Playoff Coverage presented by the Buckle Up Phone Down Pledge

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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. A caveat is that there are an odd-number of teams in the state this year, and the Capitol 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, and we are considering that in the "Clinched" category).

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 (except Capitol Conference) will be on the "Bubble", having a chance to get in via tiebreakers but not guaranteed a spot.

Through games played in Week Eight, 160 teams have clinched playoff spots. 

47 teams are on the Bubble with three conference wins.

55 teams can get on the Bubble with one more conference win.

In addition to these teams, Clinton is 2-3 as a member of the Capitol Conference. If they Cougars win, they'd get to 3-3 and we'd consider them as clinched; if they lose they'd fall to 2-4, we'd consider them as eliminated.

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.

To view the full WIAA playoff qualifying procedures, click here.
 
To view Standings for all conferences on one page, please click here.
 
To view Enrollment numbers and a projected divisional placement for each team for the 2024 season, please click here.
 
You can sort by the different columns (School, Enrollment, Projected Division, Conference) by clicking on the heading on each particular table.

TEAMS THAT HAVE CLINCHED A PLAYOFF SPOT

160 teams

(Guaranteed conference record over .500)

Team Enrollment Projected Division Conference TPF Elevation
Abbotsford 240 6 Marawood/CWC
Amherst 357 5 CWC-Large
Appleton North 1720 1 Fox Valley Association
Aquinas 318 4 Coulee *
Arrowhead 2037 1 Classic Eight
Auburndale 230 6 Marawood/CWC
Badger 1293 2 Southern Lakes
Baldwin-Woodville 509 4 Middle Border
Bangor 215 7 Scenic Bluffs
Bay Port 1952 1 FRCC-North
Beaver Dam 1047 2 East Central
Belleville 294 6 SWAL
Berlin 479 4 South Central
Black Hawk/Warren (IL) 218 7 Six Rivers
Blair-Taylor 174 7 Dairyland
Bonduel 263 6 Packerland
Boyceville 213 7 Dunn-St. Croix
Brookfield Academy 333 5 Midwest Classic-Small
Burlington 961 3 Southern Lakes
Cambria-Friesland 113 7 Trailways
Cambridge 280 6 Eastern Suburban
Cameron 310 5 Lakeland
Cashton 194 7 Scenic Bluffs
Catholic Memorial 571 3 Parkland *
Cedar Grove-Belgium 291 6 Big East
Cedarburg 1087 2 North Shore
Chetek-Weyerhaeuser 251 6 Lakeland
Cochrane-Fountain City 180 7 Dairyland
Coleman 225 6 Northwoods
Columbus 373 4 Capitol *
Crivitz 202 7 Northwoods
Cuba City 269 6 SWAL
D.C. Everest 1830 1 Wisconsin Valley
Darlington 258 5 SWAL *
De Pere 1464 1 FRCC-North
Delavan-Darien 620 4 Rock Valley
Edgar 201 7 Marawood/CWC
Edgerton 551 4 Rock Valley
Eleva-Strum 194 7 Dairyland
Ellsworth 527 4 Middle Border
Evansville 513 4 Rock Valley
Franklin 1606 1 Southeast
Freedom 481 4 North Eastern
Germantown 1295 2 Greater Metro
Glenwood City 203 7 Dunn-St. Croix
Grafton 718 3 Woodland
Grantsburg 270 6 Lakeland
Greendale 915 3 Woodland
Hillsboro 151 7 Scenic Bluffs
Holmen 1254 2 Mississippi Valley
Homestead 1227 2 North Shore
Horicon/Hustisford 365 5 Capitol
Howards Grove 266 6 Big East
Hudson 1732 1 Big Rivers
Iola-Scandinavia 201 7 Marawood/CWC
Ithaca 116 7 Scenic Bluffs
Janesville Craig 1632 1 Big Eight
Johnson Creek 181 7 Trailways
Kaukauna 1262 2 Fox Valley Association
Kenosha Christian Life 196 7 Midwest Classic-Small
Kenosha St. Joseph Catholic 219 7 Midwest Classic-Small
Kewaunee 308 5 Packerland
Kiel 420 5 Eastern Wisconsin
Kimberly 1574 1 Fox Valley Association
La Crosse Central 1011 2 Mississippi Valley
La Crosse Logan 714 3 Mississippi Valley
Ladysmith 249 6 Lakeland
Lake Country Lutheran 350 5 Metro Classic
Lake Mills 482 4 Capitol
Lancaster 318 5 SWC
Little Chute 477 4 North Eastern
Lodi 448 4 Capitol
Lomira 315 5 Flyway
Luther 253 6 Coulee
Luxemburg-Casco 648 3 North Eastern
Madison Memorial 2031 1 Big Eight
Manitowoc Lutheran 248 6 Big East
Marquette 1786 1 Greater Metro
Marshfield 1252 2 Wisconsin Valley
Martin Luther 676 3 Metro Classic
Mayville 363 4 Flyway *
Medford 715 3 Great Northern
Menasha 1022 2 FRCC-South
Middleton 2388 1 Big Eight
Milton 1054 2 Badger-Large
Milwaukee Academy of Science 392 5 Midwest Classic-Large
Milwaukee Hamilton/Audubon Technology 1946 1 Milwaukee City-Richardson
Milwaukee King 1349 2 Milwaukee City-Richardson
Milwaukee Reagan 1365 1 Milwaukee City-Richardson
Milwaukee Washington/Fuller Collegiate Academy 825 3 Milwaukee City-Blackbourn
Mineral Point 240 6 SWAL
Mondovi 270 6 Cloverbelt
Monona Grove 1184 2 Badger-Large
Monroe 715 2 Rock Valley *
Mosinee 625 4 Great Northern
Mount Horeb/Barneveld 910 3 Badger-Small
Mukwonago 1588 1 Classic Eight
Neenah 1977 1 Fox Valley Association
Nekoosa 288 6 South Central
New Berlin West 689 3 Parkland
New Holstein 327 5 Eastern Wisconsin
New Richmond 1088 2 Big Rivers
Northwestern 392 5 Heart O'North
Notre Dame 739 3 FRCC-South
Oak Creek 2177 1 Southeast
Obama SCTE 782 3 Milwaukee City-Blackbourn
Oconomowoc 1628 1 Classic Eight
Oconto Falls 533 4 Northwoods
Onalaska 920 3 Mississippi Valley
Oostburg 324 5 Big East
Oshkosh North 1268 2 FRCC-South
Pardeeville 274 6 Eastern Suburban
Pepin/Alma 148 7 Dairyland
Platteville 489 4 SWC
Plymouth 733 3 East Central
Port Washington 804 3 East Central
Potosi/Cassville 166 7 Six Rivers
Poynette 307 5 Eastern Suburban
Prairie du Chien 323 5 SWC
Prescott 427 4 Middle Border
Pulaski 1114 2 FRCC-North
Racine Case 1849 1 Southeast
Racine Horlick 1289 2 Southeast
Racine Lutheran 343 5 Midwest Classic-Large
Racine St. Catherine’s 456 4 Metro Classic
Randolph 171 7 Trailways
Reedsburg 857 3 Mississippi Valley
Reedsville 192 6 Big East *
Regis 212 6 Cloverbelt *
Rice Lake 706 2 Big Rivers *
River Ridge 166 7 Six Rivers
Roncalli 229 6 Eastern Wisconsin
Saint Croix Falls 358 5 Heart O'North
Saint Mary’s Springs 263 5 Flyway *
Seymour 595 4 Bay
Sheboygan North 1662 1 FRCC-South
Slinger 1041 2 North Shore
Southern Door 311 5 Packerland
Spooner 373 5 Heart O'North
Spring Valley 180 7 Dunn-St. Croix
Stanley-Boyd 321 5 Cloverbelt
Stevens Point 2083 1 Wisconsin Valley
Stoughton 861 3 Badger-Small
Stratford 271 5 CWC-Large *
Sun Prairie East 1342 2 Badger-Large
Sussex Hamilton 1554 1 Greater Metro
Verona 1794 1 Big Eight
Waterford 889 3 Southern Lakes
Waunakee 1352 1 Badger-Large *
Wausau East 941 3 Great Northern
Wauwatosa East 1035 2 Parkland
Wauwatosa West 1027 2 Parkland
West De Pere 1081 2 FRCC-North
West Salem 603 4 Coulee
Whitnall 850 3 Woodland
Winneconne 510 4 Bay
Wisconsin Dells 572 4 South Central
Wisconsin Lutheran 924 3 Woodland
Wittenberg-Birnamwood 338 5 CWC-Large
Wrightstown 399 5 North Eastern

TEAMS THAT ARE ON THE BUBBLE & CAN CLINCH WITH ONE MORE WIN

47 teams

(Teams that have guaranteed at least three conference wins)

Team Enrollment Projected Division Conference TPF Elevation
Arcadia 430 4 Coulee
Barron 325 5 Heart O'North
Brillion 319 5 Eastern Wisconsin
Campbellsport 492 4 Flyway
Chippewa Falls 1424 1 Big Rivers
Colby 307 5 CWC-Large
Crandon 232 6 Northwoods
Cudahy 683 3 Midwest Classic-Large
DeForest 1141 2 Badger-Large
Edgewood 619 4 Badger-Small
Elk Mound 368 5 Cloverbelt
Fall Creek 254 6 Cloverbelt
Greenfield 1136 2 Woodland
Hartford 1337 2 North Shore
Iowa-Grant 212 7 Six Rivers
Kenosha Bradford 1887 1 Southeast
Kohler/Sheboygan Christian/Lutheran 565 4 Eastern Wisconsin
Lourdes Academy 172 7 Trailways
Madison West 2193 1 Big Eight
Marshall 287 6 Eastern Suburban
McFarland 742 3 Rock Valley
Menomonie 966 3 Big Rivers
Milwaukee Bay View 938 3 Milwaukee City-Blackbourn
Milwaukee Marshall/Carmen Northwest/Juneau/School of Languages 1844 1 Milwaukee City-Richardson
Mishicot 268 6 Packerland
New Berlin Eisenhower 724 3 Parkland
New Glarus 320 5 SWC
Pewaukee 870 3 Classic Eight
Royall 140 7 Scenic Bluffs
Saint Croix Central 506 4 Middle Border
Saint Francis 553 4 Midwest Classic-Large
Sauk Prairie 864 3 Badger-Small
Shoreland Lutheran 425 5 Metro Classic
Sturgeon Bay 404 5 Packerland
Turtle Lake 122 7 Dunn-St. Croix
Union Grove 1010 2 Southern Lakes
Watertown Luther Prep 409 5 Metro Classic
Waupaca 644 3 Bay
Waupun 569 4 South Central
Wausau West 1537 1 Wisconsin Valley
Westby 297 6 Coulee
Westfield 295 6 Trailways
Westosha Central 1283 2 Southern Lakes
Weyauwega-Fremont 290 6 CWC-Large
Whitefish Bay 911 3 North Shore
Winnebago Lutheran 340 5 Flyway
Xavier 457 4 Bay

TEAMS THAT CAN GET ON THE BUBBLE WITH ONE MORE WIN

55 teams

(Teams with two conference wins that need one more to get on the bubble)

^ - Pius XI Catholic will receive a forfeit win from Dominican in Week 9 and thus will finish 3-4 in the Midwest Classic-Small.

Team Enrollment Projected Division Conference TPF Elevation
Amery 436 4 Middle Border
Antigo 642 3 Great Northern
Ashwaubenon 996 2 FRCC-North
Beloit Memorial 1576 1 Southern Lakes
Bloomer 408 5 Heart O'North
Brodhead/Juda 413 5 SWC
Brookfield Central 1173 2 Greater Metro
Chilton 396 5 Eastern Wisconsin
Durand-Arkansaw 313 5 Cloverbelt
Eau Claire North 1697 1 Wisconsin Valley
Elkhorn 1122 2 Southern Lakes
Fennimore 246 6 SWAL
Fond du Lac 1913 1 Fox Valley Association
Fox Valley Lutheran 745 3 Bay
Hayward/Lac Courte Oreilles 720 3 Heart O'North
Hilbert 143 7 Big East
Hortonville 1326 2 Fox Valley Association
Jefferson 612 4 Rock Valley
Kettle Moraine 1274 1 Classic Eight *
Kettle Moraine Lutheran 568 4 East Central
Lakeland 704 3 Great Northern
Living Word Lutheran 242 6 Midwest Classic-Small
Markesan 243 6 Eastern Suburban
Mauston 442 4 South Central
Melrose-Mindoro 217 7 Dairyland
Merrill 762 3 Great Northern
Milwaukee Bradley Tech/Milwaukee Arts 1986 1 Milwaukee City-Richardson
Milwaukee North/Conservatory of Lifelong Learning 651 3 Milwaukee City-Blackbourn
Milwaukee Pulaski/Carmen South/Carmen Southeast 2254 1 Milwaukee City-Richardson
Milwaukee Riverside/Golda Meir 2267 1 Milwaukee City-Richardson
Milwaukee Vincent/Destiny 1065 2 Milwaukee City-Blackbourn
Muskego 1648 1 Classic Eight
New Lisbon 153 7 Scenic Bluffs
New London 707 3 Bay
Osceola 511 4 Middle Border
Pacelli 180 7 Marawood/CWC
Palmyra-Eagle 178 7 Trailways
Pecatonica/Argyle 196 7 Six Rivers
Peshtigo 340 5 Packerland
Pittsville 176 7 Marawood/CWC
Pius XI Catholic ^ 737 3 Midwest Classic-Large
Portage 648 3 Badger-Small
Richland Center 404 5 SWC
River Falls 1123 2 Big Rivers
River Valley 379 5 SWC
Shiocton 214 7 Northwoods
Southwestern/East Dubuque, IL 378 5 SWAL
Tomahawk 353 5 Great Northern
Unity 291 6 Lakeland
Valders 297 6 Eastern Wisconsin
Waterloo 261 6 Eastern Suburban
Waukesha North 962 3 Parkland
Wauzeka-Steuben/Seneca 186 7 Six Rivers
West Bend West 1072 2 North Shore
Whitehall 221 7 Dairyland

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.

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