Playoff Picture: Football (Nov. 3)

The football regular season is done and here is what we expect the playoffs for all four divisions to look like when pairings are released by the NHIAA on Monday.

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, previous)

• *Londonderry (6-2, 13.0000, 3rd)
• *Pinkerton (6-2, 12.7500, 7th)
• *Salem (6-2, 12.5000, 6th)
• *Alvirne (6-3, 10.4444, 5th)
• *Concord (4-4, 8.2500, 9th)
• *Windham (3-5, 6.5000, 11th)
• x-Manchester Central (1-8, 1.7778)

East Conference

Team (division record, rating, previous)

• *Exeter (8-0, 16.2500, 2nd)
• *Manchester Memorial (6-2, 11.0000, 8th)
• *Winnacunnet (5-3, 8.0000, 12th)
• x-Dover (2-6, 3.2500)
• x-Timberlane (2-7, 2.6667)
• x-Spaulding (1-7, 1.7500)
• x-Portsmouth-Oyster River (1-7, 1.5000)

West Conference

Team (division record, rating, previous)

• *Bedford (8-0, 17.0000, 1st)
• *Nashua South (6-2, 12.0000, 4th)
• *Bishop Guertin (4-4, 7.5000, 10th)
• *Merrimack (3-5, 6.0000)
• x-Goffstown (3-6, 5.5556)
• x-Keene (3-5, 5.2500, 13th)
• x-Nashua North (2-6, 4.0000)

Remaining Games: None.

Here is what we expect the playoff pairings to look like when the brackets are released on Monday:

First-round byes

• No. 1 Bedford
• No. 2 Exeter
• No. 3 Londonderry

First-round matchups

• No. 9 Concord at No. 8 Alvirne
• No. 12 Windham at No. 5 Salem
• No. 13 Merrimack at No. 4 Pinkerton
• No. 10 Winnacunnet at No. 7 Manchester Memorial
• No. 11 Bishop Guertin at No. 6 Nashua South

Playoff Dates

• Preliminary Round: Saturday, Nov. 9, 1 p.m. at higher seed*
• Quarterfinals: Saturday, Nov. 16, 1 p.m. at higher seed*
• Semifinals: Saturday, Nov. 23, 1 p.m. at higher seed*
• Championship: Saturday, Nov. 30, 1 p.m. at TBD

* – can be changed to Friday night upon mutual agreement.

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, previous)

• *Plymouth (9-0, 18.0000, 1st)
• *Trinity (8-1, 16.0000, 3rd)
• *Bow (5-4, 9.7778, 6th)
• *Merrimack Valley (4-5, 6.8889)
• x-St. Thomas (4-5, 6.2222, 8th)
• x-Kingswood (3-6, 4.6667)
• x-Kennett (2-7, 3.7778)
• x-Pembroke (2-7, 2.8889)

West Conference

Team (division record, rating, previous)

• *Pelham (8-1, 16.0000, 2nd)
• *Souhegan (7-2, 13.1111, 4th)
• *John Stark (6-3, 10.6667, 5th)
• *Manchester West (6-3, 9.5556, 7th)
• x-Hanover (4-5, 5.7778)
• x-ConVal (3-6, 4.0000)
• x-Milford (1-8, 1.1111)
• x-Hollis Brookline (0-9, 0.0000)

Quarterfinals

• No. 8 Merrimack Valley at No. 1 Plymouth
• No. 5 John Stark at No. 4 Souhegan
• No. 7 Manchester West at No. 2 Pelham
• No. 6 Bow at No. 3 Trinity

Playoff Dates

• Quarterfinals: Saturday, Nov. 9, 1 p.m. at higher seed*
• Semifinals: Saturday, Nov. 16, 1 p.m. at higher seed*
• Championship: Saturday, Nov. 23, 1 p.m. at TBD

* – can be changed to Friday night upon mutual agreement.

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, previous)

• *Campbell (8-0, 18.0000, 1st)
• *Inter-Lakes/Moultonborough (7-1, 13.0000, 3rd)
• *Gilford (5-3, 10.5000, 6th)
• *Laconia (4-4, 7.7500, 7th)
• *Somersworth (3-5, 5.7500, 8th)
• x-Epping-Newmarket (3-5, 4.7500)
• x-Sanborn (1-7, 1.2500)

West Conference

Team (division record, rating, previous)

• *Monadnock (7-1, 13.2500, 2nd)
• *Newport (5-3, 9.0000, 4th)
• *Stevens (5-3, 9.0000, 5th)
• x-Kearsarge (2-6, 3.7500)
• x-Lebanon (2-6, 3.0000)
• x-Fall Mountain (0-8, 0.0000)

Tiebreaker

• Newport wins the tiebreaker with Stevens thanks to a head-to-head victory.

Quarterfinals

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

Playoff Dates

• Quarterfinals: Saturday, Nov. 9, 1 p.m. at higher seed*
• Semifinals: Saturday, Nov. 16, 1 p.m. at higher seed*
• Championship: Saturday, Nov. 23, 1 p.m. at TBD

* – can be changed to Friday night upon mutual agreement.

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, previous)

• *Raymond (7-0, 15.7143, 1st)
• *Mascoma Valley (6-1, 12.5714, 2nd)
• *Hillsboro-Deering (4-3, 7.7143, 3rd)
• *Franklin (4-3, 7.4286)
• X-Bishop Brady (3-4, 5.7143, 4th)
• x-Farmington-Nute (2-5, 3.7143)
• x-Winnisquam (1-5, 2.3333)
• x-Newfound (0-6, 0.0000)

Semifinals

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

Playoff Dates

• Semifinals: Saturday, Nov. 9, 1 p.m. at higher seed*
• Championship: Saturday, Nov. 16, 1 p.m. at TBD

* – can be changed to Friday night upon mutual agreement.