Playoff Picture: Football (Oct. 15)

There are only three weeks left in the regular season and so much still left to be determined.

Here is a look at what the postseason would look like if it started this week.

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, last week)

• *Pinkerton (6-0, 14.3333, 2nd)
• *Windham (4-1, 10.0000, 6th)
• *Salem (2-3, 5.2000, 12th)
• *Concord (2-3, 5.2000, NR )
• Londonderry (2-3, 5.2000)
• Manchester Central (2-4, 4.6667, 11th)
• Alvirne (1-4, 2.8000)

East Conference

Team (division record, rating, last week)

• *Winnacunnet (5-1, 12.6667, 5th)
• *Manchester Memorial (4-1, 10.8000, 3rd)
• *Exeter (4-2, 9.3333, 8th)
• *Portsmouth-Oyster River (2-3, 6.4000, 10th)
• *Timberlane (3-3, 5.6667, NR)
• Dover (1-5, 2.0000)
• Spaulding (1-5, 2.0000)

West Conference

Team (division record, rating, last week)

• *Bedford (5-0, 15.2000, 1st)
• *Bishop Guertin (4-1, 11.2000, 4th)
• *Nashua South (4-1, 10.8000, 7th)
• *Merrimack (3-2, 7.2000, 9th)
• Nashua North (2-4, 4.0000, 13th)
• Keene (1-5, 1.6667)
• Goffstown (0-6, 0.0000)

Tiebreakers

• Manchester Memorial wins the tiebreaker with Nashua South thanks to a better football rating against tournament teams.
• In a three-way tiebreaker, Concord, Salem and Londonderry finish in that order thanks to rating against tournament teams.

First-round byes (changes in bold)

• No. 1 Bedford
• No. 2 Pinkerton
• No. 3 Winnacunnet

First-round matchups

• No. 9 Merrimack at No. 8 Exeter
• No. 12 Concord at No. 5 Manchester Memorial
• No. 13 Salem at No. 4 Bishop Guertin
• No. 10 Portsmouth-Oyster River at No. 7 Windham
• No. 11 Timberlane at No. 6 Nashua South

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 (6-0, 14.6667, 1st)
• *Trinity (4-1, 12.4000, 4th)
• *St. Thomas (4-2, 8.0000, 6th)
• *Kingswood (4-2, 7.3333, 8th)
• Kennett (3-3, 5.3333)
• Bow (1-5, 1.6667)
• Merrimack Valley (0-5, 0.0000)
• Pembroke (0-6, 0.0000)

West Conference

Team (division record, rating, last week)

• *Souhegan (6-0, 15.3333, 2nd)
• *Pelham (6-0, 14.0000, 3rd)
• *Manchester West (4-2, 8.3333, 5th)
• *Hanover (3-3, 6.6667, 7th)
• ConVal (2-4, 4.6667)
• Milford (2-4, 4.0000)
• Hollis Brookline (1-5, 2.0000)
• John Stark (1-5, 1.6667)

Note: The game between Merrimack Valley and Trinity is currently scheduled to be played on Tuesday, Oct. 21. 

Quarterfinals (changes in bold)

• No. 8 Hanover at No. 1 Souhegan
• No. 5 Manchester West at No. 4 Trinity
• No. 7 Kingswood at No. 2 Plymouth
• 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, last week)

• *Campbell (5-1, 12.0000, 1st)
• *Laconia (4-1, 10.8000, 3rd)
• *Epping-Newmarket (3-2, 8.8000, 8th)
• *Gilford (3-2, 8.4000, 5th)
• Inter-Lakes/Moultonborough (3-2, 6.4000)
• Somersworth (1-4, 2.0000)
• Sanborn (0-6, 0.0000)

West Conference

Team (division record, rating, last week)

• *Monadnock (6-0, 13.3333, 2nd)
• *Lebanon (3-2, 7.6000, 6th)
• *Newport (3-2, 7.6000, 7th)
• *Stevens (3-2, 7.6000, 4th)
• Fall Mountain (1-5, 1.6667)
• Kearsarge (0-6, 0.0000)

Tiebreakers

• In a three-way tiebreaker, Lebanon, Newport and Stevens finish in that order thanks to football rating against divisional opponents on the road.

Quarterfinals (changes in bold)

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

Division IV

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

Team (division record, rating, last week)

• *Hillsboro-Deering (4-0, 12.5000, 1st)
• *Mascoma Valley (3-1, 10.0000, 2nd)
• *Raymond (3-1, 9.5000, 3rd)
• *Farmington-Nute (3-1, 8.5000, 4th)
• Newfound (1-3, 2.5000)
• Winnisquam (1-4, 2.0000)
• Franklin (0-5, 0.0000)

Semifinals (changes in bold)

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