Ewert projection of the final fieldEwert’s picks: week 9 ratings, 10/22/26, 5:39 AM CentralField table · How it works
Bracket and table computed Thu, Oct 22 · 5:37 PM CDT
No future qualifying games remain · 0 picks · partial: unresolved data can change the field · UNOFFICIAL.
- Final Finished, with the score
- Ewert’s pick A guess, not a set matchup
Division 5 · Projected final field and cut line
Ordered by our projected final standings if the remaining ES picks win. Records, totals, seeds and the cut line use that same scenario; arrows compare with reported Week 9 standings. UNOFFICIAL · partial: unresolved games or opponent data can change these placements.
No future qualifying games remain. This is a comparison of the current qualifying results, not a new forecast; unresolved results or opponent data still affect the comparison.
| Rank | +/− | Team | City | W-L | Total | Tier 1 AVG | Tier 2 AVG | Tier 2 Wins | Projected Seed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | – | Racine Lutheran check | Racine | 9-0 | 26.38 | 4.89 | 2.39 | 40 | 1-D |
| 2 | – | Darlington check | Darlington | 9-0 | 26.33 | 4.17 | 2.46 | 48 | 1-B |
| 3 | – | Amherst check | Amherst | 9-0 | 23.33 | 4.28 | 2.12 | 41 | 1-A |
| 4 | – | New Glarus check | New Glarus | 8-1 | 21.50 | 3.67 | 1.98 | 39 | 1-C |
| 5 | – | Durand-Arkansaw check | Durand | 8-1 | 19.39 | 3.67 | 1.75 | 35 | 2-B |
| 6 | – | Saint Croix Falls check | Saint Croix Falls | 8-1 | 17.78 | 4.00 | 1.53 | 30 | 2-C |
| 7 | – | Grantsburg check | Grantsburg | 8-1 | 17.06 | 3.44 | 1.51 | 31 | 2-A |
| 8 | – | Lake Country Lutheran check | Hartland | 7-2 | 16.22 | 4.00 | 1.36 | 23 | 2-D |
| 9 | – | Brillion check | Brillion | 7-2 | 15.09 | 3.39 | 1.30 | 24 | 3-A |
| 10 | – | Milwaukee North/Milwaukee WI Conservatory of Lifelong Learning check | 4-1 | 14.40 | 4.50 | 1.10 | 7 | 3-D | |
| 11 | – | Watertown Luther Prep check | Watertown | 6-3 | 14.39 | 3.50 | 1.21 | 19 | 3-B |
| 12 | – | Mayville check | Mayville | 6-3 | 13.11 | 2.89 | 1.14 | 21 | 3-C |
| 13 | – | Elk Mound check | Elk Mound | 6-3 | 11.83 | 2.83 | 1.00 | 20 | 4-B |
| 14 | – | Chilton check | Chilton | 5-4 | 11.50 | 2.28 | 1.02 | 19 | 4-A |
| 15 | – | New Holstein check | New Holstein | 6-3 | 11.50 | 2.89 | 0.96 | 17 | 4-C |
| 16 | – | Kiel check | Kiel | 5-4 | 11.39 | 2.44 | 0.99 | 18 | 4-D |
| 17 | – | Westfield check | Westfield | 6-3 | 10.83 | 2.56 | 0.92 | 19 | 5-B |
| 18 | – | Winnebago Lutheran check | Fond du Lac | 5-4 | 10.61 | 2.44 | 0.91 | 15 | 5-C |
| 19 | – | Milwaukee Academy of Science check | Milwaukee | 5-4 | 10.28 | 2.72 | 0.84 | 14 | 5-D |
| 20 | – | Peshtigo check | Peshtigo | 5-4 | 9.61 | 2.50 | 0.79 | 14 | 5-A |
| 21 | – | Amery check | Amery | 5-4 | 9.56 | 2.61 | 0.77 | 14 | 6-C |
| 22 | – | University School of Milwaukee check | Milwaukee | 6-3 | 8.59 | 3.22 | 0.60 | 10 | 6-D |
| 23 | – | Arcadia check | Arcadia | 5-4 | 8.39 | 2.17 | 0.69 | 14 | 6-B |
| 24 | – | Tomahawk check | Tomahawk | 4-5 | 7.72 | 2.39 | 0.59 | 9 | 6-A |
| 25 | – | Spencer/Columbus Catholic check | 4-5 | 7.56 | 1.72 | 0.65 | 13 | 7-A | |
| 26 | – | Ozaukee/Random Lake check | 5-4 | 7.56 | 2.22 | 0.59 | 11 | 7-B | |
| 27 | – | Brookfield Academy check | Brookfield | 3-6 | 6.96 | 1.44 | 0.61 | 10 | 7-D |
| 28 | – | Oostburg check | Oostburg | 5-4 | 6.33 | 2.33 | 0.44 | 9 | 7-C |
| 29 | – | Dodgeville check | Dodgeville | 4-5 | 5.89 | 1.94 | 0.44 | 8 | 8-B |
| 30 | – | Bloomer check | Bloomer | 4-5 | 5.22 | 2.00 | 0.36 | 7 | 8-C |
| 31 | – | Wittenberg-Birnamwood check | Wittenberg | 2-7 | 5.11 | 1.00 | 0.46 | 8 | 8-A |
| 32 | – | Columbus check | Columbus | 2-7 | 5.00 | 1.11 | 0.43 | 7 | 8-D |
| Cut line · the top 32 qualify | |||||||||
| 33 | – | Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau checkBelow cut line | Galesville | 3-6 | 4.50 | 1.44 | 0.34 | 7 | Below cut line |
| 34 | – | Obama SCTE checkBelow cut line | Milwaukee | 3-3 | 4.04 | 2.75 | 0.14 | 1 | Below cut line |
| 35 | – | Northland Pines checkBelow cut line | Eagle River | 4-5 | 3.78 | 1.89 | 0.21 | 4 | Below cut line |
| 36 | – | Neillsville/Granton checkBelow cut line | 3-6 | 3.67 | 1.22 | 0.27 | 6 | Below cut line | |
| 37 | – | Wautoma checkBelow cut line | Wautoma | 2-7 | 3.56 | 1.00 | 0.28 | 6 | Below cut line |
| 38 | – | East Troy checkBelow cut line | East Troy | 2-7 | 3.00 | 1.11 | 0.21 | 4 | Below cut line |
| 39 | – | Southwestern/East Dubuque (IL) checkBelow cut line | 2-7 | 2.72 | 0.94 | 0.20 | 4 | Below cut line | |
| 40 | – | Parkview/Albany checkBelow cut line | 3-6 | 2.72 | 1.17 | 0.17 | 4 | Below cut line | |
| 41 | – | Kingdom Prep Lutheran checkBelow cut line | Wauwatosa | 3-6 | 2.12 | 1.72 | 0.04 | 1 | Below cut line |
| 42 | – | Richland Center checkBelow cut line | Richland Center | 3-6 | 2.00 | 1.50 | 0.06 | 1 | Below cut line |
| 43 | – | Spooner checkBelow cut line | Spooner | 1-8 | 1.33 | 0.44 | 0.10 | 2 | Below cut line |
| 44T | – | Omro checkBelow cut line | Omro | 1-8 | 0.56 | 0.56 | 0.00 | 0 | Below cut line |
| 44T | – | Prescott checkBelow cut line | Prescott | 1-8 | 0.56 | 0.56 | 0.00 | 0 | Below cut line |
| 46T | – | Brodhead/Juda checkBelow cut line | 1-8 | 0.50 | 0.50 | 0.00 | 0 | Below cut line | |
| 46T | – | Sturgeon Bay checkBelow cut line | Sturgeon Bay | 1-8 | 0.50 | 0.50 | 0.00 | 0 | Below cut line |
| 48T | – | Adams-Friendship checkBelow cut line | Adams | 0-9 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0 | Below cut line |
| 48T | – | Clintonville checkBelow cut line | Clintonville | 0-9 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0 | Below cut line |
| 48T | – | River Valley checkBelow cut line | Spring Green | 0-9 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0 | Below cut line |
| 48T | – | Viroqua checkBelow cut line | Viroqua | 0-9 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0 | Below cut line |
| — | Northwood/Solon Springs checkProgram eligibility not verified | 0-0 | — | — | — | — | Unverified | ||
| — | Winter/Birchwood checkProgram eligibility not verified | 0-0 | — | — | — | — | Unverified | ||
Remaining-game assumptions
0 ES picks; 0 future games without a qualified pick; 1 other games awaiting a confirmed result or schedule; 1 held games. Neither the field nor the pairings are official.
The same current ES pick is used for both teams, then every opponent's points and games are recomputed through Friday 2026-10-16. No predicted score or result is saved. Forecasts remain fixed for this scenario; they refresh after actual results through the normal rating update.
Wisconsin programs continue below the cut line in the same table. Eligibility notes use the published WIAA record; where it does not identify the reason, we say so. A three-year enrollment average above 200 can have a second-year commitment exception.
About this projection
Ewert’s picks are guesses. Hypothetical playoff winners use the current ES model and rated snapshots, not seeds. Early rounds assume the higher seed hosts; state semifinals and final assume a neutral site. No new games, results or forecasts are saved. ES basis: week 9, 10/22/26, 5:39 AM Central. Missing or near-even inputs remain TBD.
Unofficial projection. This final-field scenario adds the qualified ES picks above to actual results; it does not predict a completed result or the likelihood of this exact combined bracket. Seeds come from the unofficial playoff matrix above (WIAA’s formula on the actual results plus hypothetical winners, 2026 regulations). Regions and Level 1 pairings follow the regulations’ travel rules with an approximation: straight-line miles between school ZIP centroids instead of WIAA’s travel distances, so a region letter or a pairing near the margin can differ. Slots: projected from the unofficial matrix; not WIAA's published bracket. Through week 9 (games dated Friday 2026-10-16 or earlier; WIAA deadline: completion before 11:59 p.m. Central; stored dates do not establish finish times). 32 of 51 in the field.
How WIAA builds the bracket, and how to check a team
- Tier 1 points. Every win earns points set by the team you beat: Division 1 = 6.5, D2 = 6.0, D3 = 5.5, D4 = 5.0, D5 = 4.5, D6 = 4.0, D7 = 3.5. A tie earns half. A loss earns nothing. A forfeit win earns the full value. Tier 1 AVG = Tier 1 points ÷ games played (at most 9).
- Tier 2 points. Add up their Tier 1 points for every team you beat (a team you tied is not beaten and adds no points). Opponents’ games = the games played by every team you played, won, lost or tied, added together (each counted up to 9). Tier 2 AVG = Tier 2 points ÷ opponents’ games, and the Tier 2 score is 9 × Tier 2 AVG. WIAA’s rule: “Divide Tier 2 points by opponents’ games played and multiply by 9 (this is a 100% bonus to the Strength of Victory) to get the Tier 2 score.”
- Total (PQS) = Tier 1 AVG + 9 × Tier 2 AVG. WIAA’s own example: Franklin 2024, 56.0 ÷ 9 + 228.5 ÷ 81 × 9 = 31.61. Ties in Total are broken by Tier 3, the average of the Tier 2 scores of the teams you beat.
- Replacement games. If a team replaced a forfeit win with a new game that week, the forfeit counts when the replacement was lost; when it was won, whichever is worth more counts (regulations 3h). WIAA prints such games as “Seeding Only”. When you beat a team in its replacement game, your Tier 2 points count that team’s Tier 1 points without the forfeit win it kept that week.
- Field and seeds. Teams are ranked inside their division by Total. The top 32 qualify after Week 9. Ranks 1–4 are the #1 seeds, 5–8 the #2 seeds, and so on to #8. The four #1 seeds anchor four regions: the #1- and #4-ranked go to one half of the state bracket, #2 and #3 to the other. #2 seeds join the nearest #1 seed, #3 and #4 seeds their likely second-round opponents, and #5–#8 are placed by the shortest total travel. Level 1 is #8 at #1, #5 at #4, #7 at #2 and #6 at #3 in each region.
Worked example: Clintonville (rank 48T, seed out)
| Date | Opponent | Result | Opponent’s value | Tier 1 earned | Opp. Tier 1 points | Opp. games | Counts? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-08-21 | Amherst | L | 4.5 (D5) | 0.00 | — | 9 | yes |
| 2026-08-27 | Sturgeon Bay | L | 4.5 (D5) | 0.00 | — | 9 | yes |
| 2026-09-04 | Manawa | L | 3.5 (D7) | 0.00 | — | 9 | yes |
| 2026-09-11 | Colby | L | 4 (D6) | 0.00 | — | 9 | yes |
| 2026-09-18 | Crivitz | L | 3.5 (D7) | 0.00 | — | 9 | yes |
| 2026-09-25 | Coleman | L | 3.5 (D7) | 0.00 | — | 9 | yes |
| 2026-10-02 | Northland Pines | L | 4.5 (D5) | 0.00 | — | 9 | yes |
| 2026-10-09 | Shiocton | L | 3.5 (D7) | 0.00 | — | 9 | yes |
| 2026-10-16 | Crandon | L | 3.5 (D7) | 0.00 | — | 9 | yes |
Tier 1 AVG = 0.00 ÷ 9 = 0.000. Tier 2 points = 0 = 0.00; opponents’ games = 9 + 9 + 9 + 9 + 9 + 9 + 9 + 9 + 9 = 81; Tier 2 AVG = 0.00 ÷ 81 = 0.000. Total = 0.000 + 9 × 0.000 = 0.00.
To check another team’s numbers, open its row’s “check” link in the tables above. Confirmed matchups in the bracket open game pages; team pages are linked in the field table and on each game page.
