Playoff Picture: Football (Oct. 8)

The regular season is now past the halfway point and there are still plenty of teams battling to put themselves in playoff position.

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 (5-0, 14.0000, 1st)
• *Windham (3-1, 9.5000, 8th)
• *Manchester Central (2-3, 5.6000, 9th)
• *Salem (2-3, 5.2000, 10th)
• Concord (2-3, 4.8000, 12th)
• Londonderry (1-3, 3.0000)
• Alvirne (1-4, 2.8000)

East Conference

Team (division record, rating, last week)

• *Manchester Memorial (4-0, 13.0000, 5th)
• *Winnacunnet (4-1, 10.8000, 2nd)
• *Exeter (3-2, 8.0000, 6th)
• *Portsmouth-Oyster River (2-3, 6.0000, NR)
• Timberlane (2-3, 4.8000)
• Dover (1-4, 2.4000)
• Spaulding (1-4, 2.4000)

West Conference

Team (division record, rating, last week)

• *Bedford (4-0, 14.0000, 4th)
• *Bishop Guertin (4-0, 13.5000, 3rd)
• *Nashua South (3-1, 9.0000, 7th)
• *Merrimack (2-2, 6.0000, 13th)
• *Nashua North (2-3, 4.8000, 11th)
• Keene (1-4, 2.0000)
• Goffstown (0-5, 0.0000)

Tiebreakers

• Bedford wins the tiebreaker with Pinkerton thanks to a better football rating against tournament teams.
• Merrimack wins the tiebreaker with Portsmouth-Oyster River thanks  to a better football rating against tournament teams.
• In a three-way tiebreaker, Nashua North finishes ahead of Concord and Timberlane thanks to a better football rating against tournament teams.

First-round byes (changes in bold)

• No. 1 Bedford
• No. 2 Pinkerton
• No. 3 Manchester Memorial

First-round matchups

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

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, 14.4000, 1st)
• *Trinity (3-1, 10.0000, 4th)
• *St. Thomas (4-1, 9.2000, 6th)
• *Kingswood (3-2, 6.8000)
• Kennett (2-3, 4.0000)
• Bow (1-4, 2.0000)
• Merrimack Valley (0-4, 0.0000)
• Pembroke (0-5, 0.0000)

West Conference

Team (division record, rating, last week)

• *Souhegan (5-0, 14.8000, 2nd)
• *Pelham (5-0, 12.4000, 3rd)
• *Manchester West (4-1, 9.6000, 5th)
• *Hanover (2-3, 5.2000, 7th)
• *Milford (2-3, 4.8000, 8th)
• ConVal (1-4, 2.8000)
• Hollis Brookline (1-4, 2.4000)
• John Stark (1-4, 2.0000)

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

Quarterfinals

• No. 8 Milford at No. 1 Plymouth
• No. 5 Manchester West at No. 4 Trinity
• No. 7 Hanover at No. 2 Souhegan
• 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 (5-0, 13.6000, 1st)
• *Laconia (3-1, 10.0000, 5th)
• *Gilford (3-2, 7.6000, 4th)
• *Epping-Newmarket (2-2, 6.0000, 6th)
• Inter-Lakes/Moultonborough (2-2, 5.5000)
• Somersworth (1-3, 2.5000)
• Sanborn (0-5, 0.0000)

West Conference

Team (division record, rating, last week)

• *Monadnock (5-0, 12.0000, 2nd)
• *Stevens (3-1, 9.0000, 3rd)
• *Lebanon (2-2, 7.0000, 8th)
• *Newport (2-2, 6.0000, 7th)
• Fall Mountain (1-4, 2.0000)
• Kearsarge (0-5, 0.0000)

Tiebreakers

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

Quarterfinals (changes in bold)

• No. 8 Epping-Newmarket at No. 1 Campbell
• No. 5 Gilford at No. 4 Stevens
• No. 7 Newport at No. 2 Monadnock
• No. 6 Lebanon 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 (3-0, 12.6667, 1st)
• *Mascoma Valley (3-1, 9.5000, 3rd)
• *Raymond (2-1, 8.6667, 4th)
• *Farmington-Nute (2-1, 7.3333, 2nd)
• Newfound (1-2, 3.3333)
• Winnisquam (1-3, 2.5000)
• Franklin (0-4, 0.0000)

Semifinals (changes in bold)

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