Playoff Picture: Football (Oct. 10)

With just four weeks left in the regular season, the playoff picture is starting to look a little clearer in some places.

In others places, it's a murky as ever. Here is where every team and every division stands after this weekend’s games.

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 (3-1, 12.0000, 6th)
• *Pinkerton (3-1, 10.0000, 1st)
• *Concord (3-1, 9.0000, 11th)
• *Salem (3-2, 8.0000, 12th)
• *Alvirne (3-2, 7.2000, 8th)
• *Windham (2-2, 6.5000, 7th)
• Manchester Central (0-5, 0.0000)

East Conference

Team (division record, rating, last week)

• *Exeter (5-0, 12.4000, 2nd)
• *Manchester Memorial (4-0, 11.5000, 5th)
• *Winnacunnet (4-1, 8.0000, 10th)
• Dover (2-3, 4.0000)
• Spaulding (0-4, 0.0000)
• Timberlane (0-5, 0.0000)
• Portsmouth-Oyster River (0-5, 0.0000)

West Conference

Team (division record, rating, last week)

• *Bedford (4-0, 12.5000, 4th)
• *Nashua South (4-0, 12.0000, 3rd)
• *Merrimack (2-2, 6.0000, 9th)
• *Bishop Guertin (2-2, 5.5000, NR)
• Keene (2-2, 5.0000, 13th)
• Goffstown (1-4, 2.8000)
• Nashua North (0-5, 0.0000)

Tiebreakers

• Salem wins the tiebreaker with Winnacunnet thanks to a better football rating against tournament teams.

First-round byes (changes in bold)

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

First-round matchups

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

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, last week)

• *Plymouth (5-0, 14.0000, 2nd)
• *Trinity (4-1, 10.4000, 5th)
• *Bow (3-2, 8.0000, 4th)
• *Merrimack Valley (2-3, 5.2000)
• St. Thomas (2-3, 4.8000)
• Kennett (1-4, 2.4000)
• Pembroke (1-4, 2.4000)
• Kingswood (1-4, 2.0000)

West Conference

Team (division record, rating, last week)

• *Souhegan (5-0, 14.8000, 1st)
• *Pelham (5-0, 13.6000, 3rd)
• *Manchester West (4-1, 9.2000, 6th)
• *John Stark (3-2, 7.2000, 7th)
• Hanover (2-3, 4.8000, 8th)
• ConVal (1-4, 2.4000)
• Milford (1-4, 2.0000)
• Hollis Brookline (0-5, 0.0000)

Quarterfinals (changes in bold)

• No. 8 Merrimack Valley at No. 1 Souhegan
• No. 5 Manchester West at No. 4 Trinity
• No. 7 John Stark at No. 2 Plymouth
• No. 6 Bow 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, last week)

• *Campbell (5-0, 14.0000, 1st)
• *Laconia (3-1, 9.5000, 4th)
• *Inter-Lakes/Moultonborough (3-1, 9.0000, 3rd)
• *Somersworth (2-2, 5.5000, 8th)
• *Gilford (2-3, 4.4000, 7th)
• Epping-Newmarket (1-3, 2.5000)
• Sanborn (0-5, 0.0000)

West Conference

Team (division record, rating, last week)

• *Monadnock (5-0, 12.8000, 2nd)
• *Newport (3-1, 9.5000, 5th)
• *Stevens (3-1, 8.5000, 6th)
• x-Lebanon (1-3, 2.5000)
• Kearsarge (1-4, 2.0000)
• Fall Mountain (0-5, 0.0000)

Tiebreakers

• Newport wins the tiebreaker with Laconia thanks to a better football rating against tournament teams.

Quarterfinals

• No. 8 Gilford at No. 1 Campbell
• No. 5 Inter-Lakes/Moultonborough at No. 4 Laconia
• No. 7 Somersworth at No. 2 Monadnock
• No. 6 Stevens at No. 3 Newport

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, last week)

• *Raymond (4-0, 13.5000, 1st)
• *Mascoma Valley (3-1, 8.5000, 2nd)
• *Franklin (3-1, 8.5000, 4th)
• *Hillsboro-Deering (2-2, 6.5000, 3rd)
• Bishop Brady (2-2, 6.0000)
• Farmington-Nute (2-2, 6.0000)
• Winnisquam (0-4, 0.0000)
• Newfound (0-4, 0.0000)

Tiebreakers

• Mascoma Valley wins the tiebreaker with Franklin thanks to a better football rating against tournament teams.

Semifinals (changes in bold)

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