Playoff Picture: Football (Oct. 1)

It's now October, which means the postseason is starting to appear on the horizon for high school football. With almost every team having played three games so far, here is a look at where everyone stands if the playoffs started today.

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

Division I

In 2025, 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)

• *Pinkerton (4-0, 13.5000)
• *Windham (2-1, 7.3333)
• *Manchester Central (2-2, 6.5000)
• *Salem (2-2, 6.0000)
• *Concord (2-2, 5.5000)
• Londonderry (1-3, 2.5000)
• Alvirne (0-4, 0.0000)

East Conference

Team (division record, rating)

• *Winnacunnet (4-0, 13.0000)
• *Manchester Memorial (3-0, 12.0000)
• *Exeter (3-1, 9.0000)
• Spaulding (1-3, 3.0000)
• Timberlane (1-3, 3.0000)
• Dover (1-3, 3.0000)
• Portsmouth-Oyster River (1-3, 3.0000)

West Conference

Team (division record, rating)

• *Bishop Guertin (3-0, 12.6667)
• *Bedford (3-0, 12.0000)
• *Nashua South (2-1, 8.0000)
• *Nashua North (2-2, 6.0000)
• *Merrimack (1-2, 4.6667)
• Keene (1-3, 2.5000)
• Goffstown (0-4, 0.0000)

Tiebreakers

• Bedford wins the tiebreaker with Manchester Memorial thanks to a better football rating against tournament teams.
• Salem wins the tiebreaker with Nashua North thanks to a better football rating in divisional road games.

First-round byes

• No. 1 Pinkerton
• No. 2 Winnacunnet
• No. 3 Bishop Guertin

First-round matchups

• No. 9 Manchester Central at No. 8 Windham
• No. 12 Concord at No. 5 Manchester Memorial
• No. 13 Merrimack at No. 4 Bedford
• No. 10 Salem at No. 7 Nashua South
• No. 11 Nashua North at No. 6 Exeter

Division II

The top seed in each conference, determined by football rating, will receive the top two seeds. The remaining six playoff spots will be determined by football rating and seeded 3-8.

East Conference

Team (division record, rating)

• *Plymouth (4-0, 14.5000)
• *Trinity (3-1, 9.5000)
• *St. Thomas (3-1, 8.0000)
• Kingswood (2-2, 5.5000)
• Kennett (2-2, 5.0000)
• Bow (1-3, 2.5000)
• Merrimack Valley (0-4, 0.0000)
• Pembroke (0-4, 0.0000)

West Conference

Team (division record, rating)

• *Souhegan (4-0, 14.0000)
• *Pelham (4-0, 12.0000)
• *Manchester West (3-1, 8.0000)
• *Hanover (2-2, 6.5000)
• *Milford (2-2, 5.5000)
• ConVal (1-3, 3.5000)
• John Stark (1-3, 2.5000)
• Hollis Brookline (0-4, 0.0000)

Tiebreakers

• Manchester West wins the tiebreaker with St. Thomas thanks to a win over a higher seeded team in the division.
• Milford wins the tiebreaker with Kingswood thanks to a better football rating in road games.

Quarterfinals

• No. 8 Milford at No. 1 Plymouth
• No. 5 Manchester West at No. 4 Trinity
• No. 7 Hanover at No. 2 Souhegan
• No. 6 St. Thomas at No. 3 Pelham

Division III

The top seed in each conference, determined by football rating, will receive the top two seeds. The remaining six playoff spots will be determined by football rating and seeded 3-8.

East Conference

Team (division record, rating)

• *Campbell (4-0, 12.0000)
• *Gilford (3-1, 9.0000)
• *Laconia (2-1, 8.6667)
• *Epping-Newmarket (2-1, 8.0000)
• Inter-Lakes/Moultonborough (1-2, 3.3333)
• Somersworth (1-3, 2.5000)
• Sanborn (0-4, 0.0000)

West Conference

Team (division record, rating)

• *Monadnock (4-0, 11.5000)
• *Stevens (3-0, 11.3333)
• *Newport (1-2, 4.0000)
• *Lebanon (1-2, 4.0000)
• Fall Mountain (1-3, 2.5000)
• Kearsarge (0-4, 0.0000)

Tiebreakers

• Newport wins the tiebreaker with Lebanon thanks to a head-to-head victory.

Quarterfinals

• No. 8 Lebanon at No. 1 Campbell
• No. 5 Laconia at No. 4 Gilford
• No. 7 Newport at No. 2 Monadnock
• No. 6 Epping-Newmarket at No. 3 Stevens

Division IV

The top four teams in the division, determined by football rating, will make the playoffs and be seeded 1-4.

Team (record, rating)

• *Hillsboro-Deering (3-0, 12.0000)
• *Farmington-Nute (2-0, 10.0000)
• *Mascoma Valley (2-1, 7.3333)
• *Raymond (1-1, 6.0000)
• Winnisquam (1-2, 3.3333)
• Newfound (0-2, 0.0000)
• Franklin (0-3, 0.0000)

Semifinals

• No. 4 Raymond at No. 1 Hillsboro-Deering
• No. 3 Mascoma Valley at No. 2 Farmington-Nute