Playoff Picture: Football (Oct. 22)

With just two weeks left in the regular season, the football playoff picture is starting to come into focus.

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, 15.6667, 2nd)
• *Windham (5-1, 11.3333, 7th)
• *Salem (3-3, 7.3333, 13th)
• *Concord (3-3, 6.3333, 12th)
• Londonderry (2-4, 4.6667)
• Alvirne (2-5, 4.2857)
• Manchester Central (2-5, 4.2857)

East Conference

Team (division record, rating, last week)

• *Winnacunnet (5-1, 13.3333, 3rd)
• *Manchester Memorial (5-1, 12.0000, 5th)
• *Exeter (5-2, 9.7143, 8th)
• *Portsmouth-Oyster River (2-4, 5.3333, 10th)
• Timberlane (3-4, 4.8571, 11th)
• Dover (1-6, 1.7143)
• Spaulding (1-6, 1.7143)

West Conference

Team (division record, rating, last week)

• *Bedford (6-0, 16.6667, 1st)
• *Bishop Guertin (4-2, 10.3333, 4th)
• *Nashua South (4-2, 9.3333, 6th)
• *Merrimack (4-2, 8.3333, 9th)
• *Nashua North (3-4, 5.4286, NR)
• Keene (1-5, 1.6667)
• Goffstown (0-7, 0.0000)

First-round byes (changes in bold)

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

First-round matchups

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

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)

• *Trinity (6-1, 14.0000, 4th)
• *Plymouth (6-1, 13.4286, 2nd)
• *St. Thomas (5-2, 9.1429, 6th)
• *Kingswood (4-3, 6.8571, 7th)
• Kennett (3-4, 4.8571)
• Bow (2-5, 3.1429)
• Merrimack Valley (0-7, 0.0000)
• Pembroke (0-7, 0.0000)

West Conference

Team (division record, rating, last week)

• *Souhegan (7-0, 17.4286, 1st)
• *Pelham (6-1, 13.4286, 3rd)
• *Manchester West (5-2, 10.2857, 5th)
• *Hanover (4-3, 8.2857, 8th)
• ConVal (3-4, 5.7143)
• Milford (2-5, 3.71429)
• Hollis Brookline (2-5, 3.1429)
• John Stark (1-6, 1.4286)

Tiebreaker

• Plymouth wins the tiebreaker with Pelham thanks to a better football rating against tournament teams.

Quarterfinals (changes in bold)

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

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 (6-1, 13.1429, 2nd)
• *Laconia (5-1, 12.3333, 3rd)
• *Epping-Newmarket (4-2, 10.3333, 4th)
• *Gilford (4-2, 9.3333, 5th)
• Inter-Lakes/Moultonborough (3-3, 5.3333)
• Somersworth (1-5, 1.6667)
• Sanborn (0-6, 0.0000)

West Conference

Team (division record, rating, last week)

• *Monadnock (7-0, 13.4286, 1st)
• *Newport (4-2, 8.0000, 7th)
• *Stevens (3-3, 6.6667, 8th)
• *Lebanon (3-3, 6.3333, 6th)
• Fall Mountain (1-6, 1.4286)
• Kearsarge (0-7, 0.0000)

Quarterfinals (changes in bold)

• No. 8 Lebanon at No. 1 Monadnock
• No. 5 Gilford at No. 4 Epping-Newmarket
• No. 7 Stevens at No. 2 Campbell
• No. 6 Newport at 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 (5-0, 13.6000, 1st)
• *Mascoma Valley (4-1, 10.4000, 2nd)
• *Raymond (4-1, 10.0000, 3rd)
• *Farmington-Nute (3-2, 6.8000, 4th)
• Newfound (1-4, 2.0000)
• Winnisquam (1-4, 2.0000)
• Franklin (0-6, 0.0000)

Semifinals (changes in bold)

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