Playoff Picture: Division I Football (Nov. 1)

Here is a look at the standings going into the final week of the regular season and a breakdown of what could happen for each team still in contention, including lowest possible football rating, highest possible rating and predicted rating.

Note: Standings based off results reported to NHIAA.org and other media outlets. These are not official standings or pairings.

Division I

In 2024, the top team in each conference, determined by football rating, will receive the top three seeds and get a first-round bye. The remaining 10 playoff spots will be determined by football rating and seeded 4-13.

Central Conference

Team (division record, rating, last week)

• *Londonderry (6-1, 14.2857, 3rd)
• *Alvirne (6-2, 11.2500, 5th)
• *Salem (5-2, 11.1429, 6th)
• *Pinkerton (5-2, 10.8571, 7th)
• *Concord (4-3, 8.5714, 8th)
• *Windham (3-4, 7.1429, 10th)
• x-Manchester Central (0-8, 0.0000)

East Conference

Team (division record, rating, last week)

• *Exeter (7-0, 14.5714, 2nd)
• *Manchester Memorial (5-2, 9.7143, 11th)
• *Winnacunnet (4-3, 6.5714, 12th)
• Dover (2-5, 3.4286)
• x-Timberlane (2-6, 2.7500)
• x-Spaulding (1-6, 2.0000)
• x-Portsmouth-Oyster River (0-7, 0.0000)

West Conference

Team (division record, rating, last week)

• *Bedford (7-0, 16.0000, 4th)
• *Nashua South (6-1, 12.8571, 1st)
• *Bishop Guertin (4-3, 8.2857, 9th)
• *Keene (3-4, 5.7143, 13th)
• Merrimack (2-5, 4.2857)
• x-Nashua North (2-6, 3.5000)
• Goffstown (2-6, 3.0000)

First-round byes (changes in bold)

• No. 1 Bedford
• No. 2 Exeter
• No. 3 Londonderry

First-round matchups

• No. 9 Concord at No. 8 Manchester Memorial
• No. 12 Winnacunnet at No. 5 Alvirne
• No. 13 Keene at No. 4 Nashua South
• No. 10 Bishop Guertin at No. 7 Pinkerton
• No. 11 Windham at No. 6 Salem

Playoff Dates

• Preliminary Round: Saturday, Nov. 9, 1 p.m. at higher seed*
• Quarterfinals: Saturday, Nov. 16, 1 p.m. at higher seed*
• Semifinals: Saturday, Nov. 23, 1 p.m. at higher seed*
• Championship: Saturday, Nov. 30, 1 p.m. at TBD

* – can be changed to Friday night upon mutual agreement.

Scenarios

Bedford

• Game: at Keene, Friday, 6:30 p.m.
• Wins: Nashua North, Bishop Guertin, Goffstown, Merrimack, Pinkerton, Portsmouth-Oyster River, Nashua South.
• Lowest possible rating: 14.5000.
• Highest possible rating: 17.0000.
• Likely rating: 16.7500.

Bedford has already clinched the top spot in the West Conference and a first-round bye. The Bulldogs clinch the No. 1 seed with a win over Keene.

Exeter

• Game: vs. Londonderry, Friday, 7 p.m.
• Wins: Spaulding, Portsmouth-Oyster River, Timberlane, Manchester Memorial, Nashua North, Dover, Winnacunnet.
• Lowest possible rating: 13.5000.
• Highest possible rating: 16.2500.
• Likely rating: 16.2500.

Exeter has already clinched the top spot in the East Conference and a first-round bye. The Blue Hawks will be the No. 2 seed with a win or the No. 1 seed with a win and a Bedford loss. Exeter would be the No. 3 seed with a loss.

Londonderry

• Game: at Exeter, Friday, 7 p.m.
• Wins: Salem, Concord, Alvirne, Manchester Central, Nashua North, Windham.
• Lowest possible rating: 13.0000.
• Highest possible rating: 16.2500.
• Likely rating: 13.0000.

Londonderry clinches the Central Conference, a first-round bye and the No. 2 seed with a win, or the No. 1 seed with a win and a Bedford loss. A loss could drop the Lancers out of a first-round bye.

Nashua South

• Game: vs. Goffstown, Friday, 6:30 p.m. at Souhegan High School.
• Wins: Bishop Guertin, Merrimack, Keene, Winnacunnet, Manchester Central, Nashua North.
• Lowest possible rating: 11.5000.
• Highest possible rating: 14.0000.
• Likely rating: 13.5000.

Nashua South clinches the No. 4 seed with a win over Goffstown. A loss would move the winner of Alvirne-Pinkerton ahead of the Panthers.

Alvirne

• Game: vs. Pinkerton, Friday, 7 p.m.
• Wins: Manchester Central, Salem, Timberlane, Spaulding, Concord, Keene.
• Lowest possible rating: 10.2222.
• Highest possible rating: 13.3333.
• Likely rating: 10.4444.

Alvirne would clinch at least the No. 5 seed and a home playoff game with a win over Pinkerton. A loss could drop the Broncos as low as No. 9.

Salem

• Game: vs. Concord, Friday, 7 p.m., Trinity Stadium, Haverhill.
• Wins: Manchester Central, Windham, Dover, Pinkerton, Bishop Guertin.
• Lowest possible rating: 10.0000.
• Highest possible rating: 13.0000.
• Likely rating: 12.5o00.

Salem has likely clinched a home playoff game and a win over Concord would likely give the Blue Devils the No. 6 seed.

Pinkerton

• Game: at Alvirne, Friday, 7 p.m.
• Wins: Windham, Manchester Central, Londonderry, Portsmouth-Oyster River, Concord.
• Lowest possible rating: 9.7500.
• Highest possible rating: 13.2500.
• Likely rating: 12.7500.

Pinkerton has likely clinched a home playoff game and a win over Alvirne could move the Astros as high as No. 4, if South also loses to Goffstown.

Manchester Memorial

• Game: vs. Timberlane, Friday, 6:30 p.m.
• Wins: Dover, Spaulding, Portsmouth-Oyster River, Goffstown, Winnacunnet.
• Lowest possible rating: 9.0000.
• Highest possible rating: 11.0000.
• Likely rating: 10.7500.

Manchester Memorial will clinch a home playoff game with a win over Timberlane. A loss will likely mean the Crusaders are on the road for the playoffs.

Concord

• Game: at Salem, Friday, 7 p.m., Trinity Stadium, Haverhill.
• Wins: Manchester Central, Windham, Manchester Memorial, Goffstown.
• Lowest possible rating: 7.7500.
• Highest possible rating: 10.7500.
• Likely rating: 8.0000.

Concord could get a home playoff game with a win over Salem. A loss would mean the Crimson Tide are on the road in the postseason.

Bishop Guertin

• Game: at Merrimack, Friday, 6:30 p.m.
• Wins: Goffstown, Nashua North, Keene, Dover.
• Lowest possible rating: 7.2500.
• Highest possible rating: 9.7500.
• Likely rating: 9.0000.

Bishop Guertin has clinched a playoff spot and will likely be on the road for the first round.

Windham

• Game: at Manchester Central, Friday, 6:30 p.m.
• Wins: Timberlane, Alvirne, Merrimack.
• Lowest possible rating: 6.2500.
• Highest possible rating: 8.2500.
• Likely rating: 7.5000.

Windham has clinched a playoff spot and will be on the road for the first round.

Winnacunnet

• Game: at Dover, Friday, 7 p.m.
• Wins: Portsmouth-Oyster River, Spaulding, Manchester Central, Timberlane.
• Lowest possible rating: 6.0000.
• Highest possible rating: 8.2500.
• Likely rating: 7.7500.

Winnacunnet would clinch a playoff spot with a win against Dover or a loss and a Merrimack loss to Bishop Guertin or a loss, a Merrimack win and a win by either Timberlane, Bedford or Manchester Central.

Keene

• Game: vs. Bedford, Friday, 6:30 p.m.
• Wins: Spaulding, Goffstown, Nashua North.
• Lowest possible rating: 5.0000.
• Highest possible rating: 8.5000.
• Likely rating: 5.2500.

Keene would clinch a playoff spot with a win over Bedford or a loss and losses by Merrimack, Dover and Goffstown.

Merrimack

• Game: vs. Bishop Guertin, Friday, 6:30 p.m.
• Wins: Timberlane, Keene.
• Lowest possible rating: 3.7500.
• Highest possible rating: 6.2500.
• Likely rating: 3.7500.

Merrimack would clinch a playoff spot with a win over Bishop Guertin and a loss by Keene, or a loss by Winnacunnet and Manchester Central.

Dover

• Game: vs. Winnacunnet, Friday, 7 p.m.
• Wins: Timberlane, Portsmouth-Oyster River.
• Lowest possible rating: 3.0000.
• Highest possible rating: 5.7500.
• Likely rating: 3.0000.

Dover would clinch a playoff spot with a win over Winnacunnet and losses by Keene and Merrimack.

Goffstown

• Game: vs. Nashua South, Friday, 6:30 p.m. at Souhegan High School.
• Wins: Manchester Central, Merrimack.
• Lowest possible rating: 2.6667.
• Highest possible rating: 5.5556.
• Likely rating: 2.6667.

Goffstown could clinch a playoff spot with a win over Nashua South and a combination of losses by Winnacunnet, Keene, Merrimack and Dover.