Playoff Picture: Football (Oct. 3)

With the calendar flipping to October, the midway point of the 2024 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 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)

• *Pinkerton (3-0, 12.6667)
• *Londonderry (2-1, 9.3333)
• *Windham (2-1, 8.6667)
• *Alvirne (3-1, 8.5000)
• *Concord (2-1, 7.3333)
• *Salem (2-2, 5.5000)
• Manchester Central (0-4, 0.0000)

East Conference

Team (division record, rating)

• *Exeter (4-0, 12.0000)
• *Manchester Memorial (3-0, 10.6667)
• *Winnacunnet (3-1, 7.5000)
• Dover (1-3, 2.5000)
• Spaulding (0-3, 0.0000)
• Timberlane (0-4, 0.0000)
• Portsmouth-Oyster River (0-4, 0.0000)

West Conference

Team (division record, rating)

• *Nashua South (3-0, 12.0000)
• *Bedford (3-0, 11.3333)
• *Merrimack (2-1, 8.0000)
• *Keene (2-2, 5.0000)
• Bishop Guertin (1-2, 4.0000)
• Goffstown (1-3, 3.5000)
• Nashua North (0-4, 0.0000)

Tiebreakers

• Exeter wins the tiebreaker with Nashua South thanks to a better football rating against tournament teams.

First-round byes

• No. 1 Pinkerton
• No. 2 Exeter
• No. 3 Nashua South

First-round matchups

• No. 9 Merrimack at No. 8 Alvirne
• No. 12 Salem at No. 5 Manchester Memorial
• No. 13 Keene at No. 4 Bedford
• No. 10 Winnacunnet at No. 7 Windham
• No. 11 Concord 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)

• *Plymouth (4-0, 13.0000)
• *Bow (3-1, 9.5000)
• *Trinity (3-1, 9.0000)
• Merrimack Valley (2-2, 6.0000)
• Kingswood (1-3, 2.5000)
• Kennett (1-3, 2.5000)
• St. Thomas (1-3, 2.5000)
• Pembroke (0-4, 0.0000)

West Conference

Team (division record, rating)

• *Souhegan (4-0, 13.5000)
• *Pelham (4-0, 13.5000)
• *Manchester West (3-1, 8.0000)
• *John Stark (2-2, 6.5000)
• *Hanover (2-2, 6.0000)
• ConVal (1-3, 3.0000)
• Milford (1-3, 2.5000)
• Hollis Brookline (0-4, 0.0000

Tiebreakers

• Souhegan wins the tiebreaker with Pelham thanks to a better football rating against tournament teams.
• Hanover wins the tiebreaker with Merrimack Valley thanks to a better football rating in divisional road games.

Quarterfinals

• No. 8 Hanover at No. 1 Souhegan
• No. 5 Trinity at No. 4 Bow
• No. 7 John Stark at No. 2 Plymouth
• No. 6 Manchester West 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, 13.0000)
• *Inter-Lakes/Moultonborough (2-1, 8.6667)
• *Laconia (2-1, 8.6667)
• *Gilford (2-2, 5.5000)
• *Somersworth (2-2, 5.5000)
• Epping-Newmarket (1-2, 3.3333)
• Sanborn (0-4, 0.0000)

West Conference

Team (division record, rating)

• *Monadnock (4-0, 12.5000)
• *Newport (2-1, 8.6667)
• *Stevens (2-1, 7.3333)
• x-Lebanon (1-2, 3.3333)
• Kearsarge (1-3, 2.5000)
• Fall Mountain (0-4, 0.0000)

Tiebreakers

• In a three-way tiebreaker, Inter-Lakes/Moultonborough, Laconia and Newport finish in that order thanks to football rating in road games against division opponents.
• Gilford wins the tiebreaker with Somersworth thanks to football rating in road games against division opponents.

Quarterfinals

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

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)

• *Raymond (3-0, 12.0000)
• *Mascoma Valley (2-1, 8.0000)
• *Hillsboro-Deering (2-1, 8.0000)
• *Franklin (2-1, 8.0000)
• Farmington-Nute (2-1, 7.3333)
• Bishop Brady (1-2, 3.3333)
• Winnisquam (0-3, 0.0000)
• Newfound (0-3, 0.0000)

Tiebreakers

• In a three-way tiebreaker, Mascoma Valley and Hillsboro-Deering finish ahead of Franklin thanks to football rating against tournament teams.
• Mascoma Valley wins the tiebreaker with Hillsboro-Deering thanks to a head-to-head victory.

Semifinals

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