Playoff Picture: Football (Oct. 2)

With the calendar flipping to October, the midway point of the 2023 football season is here.

After last weekend, every team in the state has played at least three games, and the playoff picture is, at the very least, starting to develop. 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 2023, 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 (5-0, 12.8000)
• *Salem (5-0, 12.4000)
• *Londonderry (2-1, 9.5000)
• *Manchester Central (2-3, 4.4000)
• *Alvirne (1-3, 3.5000)
• *Concord (1-3, 3.5000)
• Windham (1-3, 3.0000)

East Conference

Team (division record, rating)

• *Portsmouth-Oyster River (4-0, 12.0000)
• *Exeter (4-0, 12.0000)
• *Dover (3-1, 8.0000)
• Timberlane (1-3, 2.5000)
• Manchester Memorial (1-3, 2.5000)
• Spaulding (0-4, 0.0000)
• Winnacunnet (0-4, 0.0000)

West Conference

Team (division record, rating)

• *Bedford (5-0, 13.2000)
• *Nashua North (3-2, 7.2000)
• *Keene (2-2, 6.0000)
• *Bishop Guertin (2-2, 6.0000)
• Merrimack (1-3, 3.0000)
• Goffstown (1-4, 2,0000)
• Nashua South (0-4, 0.0000)

Tiebreakers

• Portsmouth-Oyster River wins the tiebreaker with Exeter thanks to a better football rating in road games against divisional opponents.
• Keene wins the tiebreaker with Bishop Guertin thanks to a better football rating in road games against divisional opponents.
• Alvirne wins the tiebreaker with Concord thanks to a better football rating against tournament teams.

First-round byes

• No. 1 Bedford
• No. 2 Pinkerton
• No. 3 Portsmouth-Oyster River

First-round matchups

• No. 9 Keene at No. 8 Nashua North
• No. 12 Alvirne at No. 5 Exeter
• No. 13 Concord at No. 4 Salem
• No. 10 Bishop Guertin at No. 7 Dover
• No. 11 Manchester Central at No. 6 Londonderry

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)

• *Kennett (4-1, 11.2000)
• *Plymouth (4-1, 10.4000)
• *Sanborn (3-2, 8.8000)
• *St. Thomas (3-2, 8.0000)
• Laconia (2-2, 6.5000)
• Gilford-Belmont (2-3, 5.6000)
• Bow (2-3, 5.2000)
• Merrimack Valley (1-4, 2.8000)
• Pembroke (1-4, 2.4000)

West Conference

Team (division record, rating)

• *Pelham (5-0, 13.2000)
• *Souhegan (4-0, 13.0000)
• *John Stark (4-1, 9.6000)
• *Hanover (3-1, 8.5000)
• Hillsboro-Deering/Hopkinton (1-4, 2.0000)
• Milford (1-4, 2.0000)
• Hollis Brookline (0-4, 0.0000)
• Manchester West (0-4, 0.0000)

Quarterfinal Matchups

• No. 8 St. Thomas at No. 1 Pelham
• No. 5 John Stark at No. 4 Plymouth
• No. 7 Hanover at No. 2 Kennett
• No. 6 Sanborn at No. 3 Souhegan

Division III

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

Team (record, rating)

1. *Campbell (5-0, 14.0000)
2. *Trinity (4-1, 11.2000)
3. *Fall Mountain (4-1, 10.0000)
4. *Inter-Lakes/Moultonborough (3-2, 7.6000)
5. ConVal (3-2, 7.2000)
6. Monadnock (2-3, 6.4000)
7. Stevens (2-3, 4.4000)
8. Epping-Newmarket (1-4, 2.4000)
9. Kingswood (1-4, 2.0000)
10. Kearsarge (0-5, 0.0000)

Semifinal Matchups

• No. 4 Inter-Lakes/Moultonborough at No. 1 Campbell
• No. 3 Fall Mountain at No. 2 Trinity

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)

1. *Raymond (4-0, 12.5000)
2. *Newport (4-0, 11.5000)
3. *Somersworth (2-1, 8.6667)
4. *Bishop Brady (2-2, 5.0000)
5. Franklin (2-2, 5.0000)
6. Mascoma Valley (1-3, 3.5000)
7. Winnisquam (0-4, 0.0000)
8. Newfound (0-4, 0.0000)

Tiebreakers

• Bishop Brady wins the tiebreaker with Franklin thanks to a better football rating in road games against division opponents.

Semifinal Matchups

• No. 4 Bishop Brady at No. 1 Raymond
• No. 3 Somersworth at No. 2 Newport