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Playoff Bracket · Football Division 7 OFFICIAL

WIAA official bracket, released October 17, 2026Next: Level 1, Fri, Oct 23 · 7 PMEwert’s picks: week 9 ratings, 10/22/26, 5:39 AM CentralField table · How it works

Bracket and table computed Thu, Oct 22 · 6:07 PM CDT

  • Final Finished, with the score
  • Upcoming Both teams set; day and site on the card
  • Ewert’s pick A guess, not a set matchup
Cochrane-Fountain City vs Hillsboro · Friday, October 23, 7:00 PM · at Cochrane-Fountain CityES pick: Cochrane-Fountain City, 99.2% win chance. Ratings calculated 2026-10-22T10:39:07.507Z; assumed venue: higher-seed home.1 Cochra…ES 99%8 HillsboroFri 7 PM · @ Cochrane-Fountain CityFri 7 PM · @ Cochrane-Fo…Cadott vs Royall · Friday, October 23, 7:00 PM · at CadottES pick: Cadott, 96.2% win chance. Ratings calculated 2026-10-22T10:39:07.507Z; assumed venue: higher-seed home.4 CadottES 96%5 RoyallFri 7 PM · @ CadottFri 7 PM · @ CadottSpring Valley vs Whitehall · Friday, October 23, 7:00 PM · at Spring ValleyES pick: Spring Valley, 61.4% win chance. Ratings calculated 2026-10-22T10:39:07.507Z; assumed venue: higher-seed home.3 Spring…ES 61%6 WhitehallFri 7 PM · @ Spring ValleyFri 7 PM · @ Spring Vall…River Ridge vs Elmwood/Plum City · Friday, October 23, 7:00 PM · at River RidgeES pick: River Ridge, 98.9% win chance. Ratings calculated 2026-10-22T10:39:07.507Z; assumed venue: higher-seed home.2 River…ES 99%7 Elmwood/Plum…Fri 7 PM · @ River RidgeFri 7 PM · @ River RidgeES pick: Cochrane-Fountain City, 81.8% win chance. Ratings calculated 2026-10-22T10:39:07.507Z; assumed venue: higher-seed home.1 Cochra…ES 82%4 CadottEWERT’S PICK · Fri 10/30EWERT’S PICK · Fri 10/303 Spring ValleyES pick: River Ridge, 89.1% win chance. Ratings calculated 2026-10-22T10:39:07.507Z; assumed venue: higher-seed home.2 River…ES 89%EWERT’S PICK · Fri 10/30EWERT’S PICK · Fri 10/30ES pick: Cochrane-Fountain City, 58.0% win chance. Ratings calculated 2026-10-22T10:39:07.507Z; assumed venue: higher-seed home.1 Cochra…ES 58%2 River RidgeEWERT’S PICK · Fri 11/6EWERT’S PICK · Fri 11/6Glenwood City vs Brookwood · Friday, October 23, 7:00 PM · at Glenwood CityES pick: Glenwood City, 97.6% win chance. Ratings calculated 2026-10-22T10:39:07.507Z; assumed venue: higher-seed home.1 Glenwo…ES 98%8 BrookwoodFri 7 PM · @ Glenwood CityFri 7 PM · @ Glenwood Ci…Webster vs Melrose-Mindoro · Friday, October 23, 7:00 PM · at WebsterES pick: Webster, 53.9% win chance. Ratings calculated 2026-10-22T10:39:07.507Z; assumed venue: higher-seed home.4 WebsterES 54%5 Melrose-Mind…Fri 7 PM · @ WebsterFri 7 PM · @ WebsterBoyceville vs McDonell Central Catholic · Friday, October 23, 7:00 PM · at BoycevilleES pick: Boyceville, 89.2% win chance. Ratings calculated 2026-10-22T10:39:07.507Z; assumed venue: higher-seed home.3 Boycev…ES 89%6 McDonell Cen…Fri 7 PM · @ BoycevilleFri 7 PM · @ BoycevilleShiocton vs Osseo-Fairchild · Friday, October 23, 7:00 PM · at ShioctonES pick: Shiocton, 89.5% win chance. Ratings calculated 2026-10-22T10:39:07.507Z; assumed venue: higher-seed home.2 Shioct…ES 90%7 Osseo-Fairch…Fri 7 PM · @ ShioctonFri 7 PM · @ ShioctonES pick: Glenwood City, 79.9% win chance. Ratings calculated 2026-10-22T10:39:07.507Z; assumed venue: higher-seed home.1 Glenwo…ES 80%4 WebsterEWERT’S PICK · Fri 10/30EWERT’S PICK · Fri 10/30ES pick: Boyceville, 55.1% win chance. Ratings calculated 2026-10-22T10:39:07.507Z; assumed venue: higher-seed home.3 Boycev…ES 55%2 ShioctonEWERT’S PICK · Fri 10/30EWERT’S PICK · Fri 10/30ES pick: Glenwood City, 60.1% win chance. Ratings calculated 2026-10-22T10:39:07.507Z; assumed venue: higher-seed home.1 Glenwo…ES 60%3 BoycevilleEWERT’S PICK · Fri 11/6EWERT’S PICK · Fri 11/6Ithaca/Weston vs Waterloo · Friday, October 23, 7:00 PM · at Ithaca/WestonES pick: Ithaca/Weston, 93.3% win chance. Ratings calculated 2026-10-22T10:39:07.507Z; assumed venue: higher-seed home.1 Ithaca…ES 93%8 WaterlooFri 7 PM · @ Ithaca/WestonFri 7 PM · @ Ithaca/West…Cashton vs Black Hawk/Warren, IL · Friday, October 23, 7:00 PM · at Cashton4 CashtonES pick: Black Hawk/Warren, IL, 63.5% win chance. Ratings calculated 2026-10-22T10:39:07.507Z; assumed venue: higher-seed home.5 Black…ES 64%Fri 7 PM · @ CashtonFri 7 PM · @ CashtonPepin/Alma vs Bangor · Friday, October 23, 7:00 PM · at Pepin/AlmaES pick: Pepin/Alma, 93.0% win chance. Ratings calculated 2026-10-22T10:39:07.507Z; assumed venue: higher-seed home.3 Pepin/…ES 93%6 BangorFri 7 PM · @ Pepin/AlmaFri 7 PM · @ Pepin/AlmaIowa-Grant vs Riverdale · Friday, October 23, 7:00 PM · at Iowa-GrantES pick: Iowa-Grant, 97.3% win chance. Ratings calculated 2026-10-22T10:39:07.507Z; assumed venue: higher-seed home.2 Iowa-G…ES 97%7 RiverdaleFri 7 PM · @ Iowa-GrantFri 7 PM · @ Iowa-Grant1 Ithaca/WestonES pick: Black Hawk/Warren, IL, 61.3% win chance. Ratings calculated 2026-10-22T10:39:07.507Z; assumed venue: higher-seed home.5 Black…ES 61%EWERT’S PICK · Fri 10/30EWERT’S PICK · Fri 10/303 Pepin/AlmaES pick: Iowa-Grant, 51.4% win chance. Ratings calculated 2026-10-22T10:39:07.507Z; assumed venue: higher-seed home.2 Iowa-G…ES 51%EWERT’S PICK · Fri 10/30EWERT’S PICK · Fri 10/305 Black Hawk/W…ES pick: Iowa-Grant, 70.6% win chance. Ratings calculated 2026-10-22T10:39:07.507Z; assumed venue: higher-seed home.2 Iowa-G…ES 71%EWERT’S PICK · Fri 11/6EWERT’S PICK · Fri 11/6Coleman vs Manawa · Friday, October 23, 7:00 PM · at ColemanES pick: Coleman, 97.3% win chance. Ratings calculated 2026-10-22T10:39:07.507Z; assumed venue: higher-seed home.1 ColemanES 97%8 ManawaFri 7 PM · @ ColemanFri 7 PM · @ ColemanCrivitz vs Pacelli · Friday, October 23, 7:00 PM · at CrivitzES pick: Crivitz, 87.4% win chance. Ratings calculated 2026-10-22T10:39:07.507Z; assumed venue: higher-seed home.4 CrivitzES 87%5 PacelliFri 7 PM · @ CrivitzFri 7 PM · @ CrivitzHilbert vs Abbotsford · Friday, October 23, 7:00 PM · at HilbertES pick: Hilbert, 90.8% win chance. Ratings calculated 2026-10-22T10:39:07.507Z; assumed venue: higher-seed home.3 HilbertES 91%6 AbbotsfordFri 7 PM · @ HilbertFri 7 PM · @ HilbertLourdes Academy vs Pecatonica/Argyle · Friday, October 23, 7:00 PM · at Lourdes AcademyES pick: Lourdes Academy, 87.2% win chance. Ratings calculated 2026-10-22T10:39:07.507Z; assumed venue: higher-seed home.2 Lourde…ES 87%7 Pecatonica/A…Fri 7 PM · @ Lourdes AcademyFri 7 PM · @ Lourdes Aca…ES pick: Coleman, 80.4% win chance. Ratings calculated 2026-10-22T10:39:07.507Z; assumed venue: higher-seed home.1 ColemanES 80%4 CrivitzEWERT’S PICK · Fri 10/30EWERT’S PICK · Fri 10/30ES pick: Hilbert, 62.9% win chance. Ratings calculated 2026-10-22T10:39:07.507Z; assumed venue: higher-seed home.3 HilbertES 63%2 Lourdes Acad.EWERT’S PICK · Fri 10/30EWERT’S PICK · Fri 10/30ES pick: Coleman, 74.8% win chance. Ratings calculated 2026-10-22T10:39:07.507Z; assumed venue: higher-seed home.1 ColemanES 75%3 HilbertEWERT’S PICK · Fri 11/6EWERT’S PICK · Fri 11/6ES pick: Cochrane-Fountain City, 74.2% win chance. Ratings calculated 2026-10-22T10:39:07.507Z; assumed venue: neutral.1 Cochra…ES 74%1 Glenwood CityEWERT’S PICK · Fri 11/13EWERT’S PICK · Fri 11/13State semifinal2 Iowa-GrantES pick: Coleman, 58.9% win chance. Ratings calculated 2026-10-22T10:39:07.507Z; assumed venue: neutral.1 ColemanES 59%EWERT’S PICK · Fri 11/13EWERT’S PICK · Fri 11/13State semifinalES pick: Cochrane-Fountain City, 57.2% win chance. Ratings calculated 2026-10-22T10:39:07.507Z; assumed venue: neutral.1 Cochra…ES 57%1 ColemanEWERT’S PICKEWERT’S PICKState final · ES pick: Cochrane-Fountain CityLevel 1Fri, Oct 23 · 7 PMLevel 1Fri, Oct 23 · 7 PMLevel 2Fri, Oct 30 · 7 PMLevel 2Fri, Oct 30 · 7 PMLevel 3Fri, Nov 6 · 7 PMLevel 3Fri, Nov 6 · 7 PMLevel 4Fri, Nov 13 · 7 PMLevel 4Fri, Nov 13 · 7 PMRegion ARegion BRegion CRegion D

Division 7 · Week 9 field and cut line

Table-only view →

Since week 8: in Brookwood (38 → 29), Waterloo (36 → 32) · out Colfax (31 → 33), Reedsville (32 → 35). Biggest climbs: Brookwood ▲9, Lourdes Academy ▲5, Coleman ▲4. Biggest drops: Webster ▼5, Crivitz ▼4, Iowa-Grant ▼3.

The seed column is WIAA’s. Rank, totals and the cut line are still our unofficial numbers, so a team can sit on the other side of our line from WIAA’s field.

Rank+/−TeamCityW-LTotalTier 1 AVGTier 2 AVGTier 2 WinsWIAA Seed
1▲1Cochrane-Fountain City checkFountain City17.061-A
2▼1Ithaca/Weston check16.811-C
3▲4Coleman checkColeman15.671-D
4▼1Glenwood City checkGlenwood City15.221-B
5▲5Lourdes Academy checkOshkosh14.892-D
6▼2Shiocton checkShiocton14.672-B
7▼1River Ridge checkPatch Grove14.422-A
8▼3Iowa-Grant checkLivingston13.352-C
9▼1Pepin/Alma check12.613-C
10▲4Hilbert checkHilbert12.393-D
11▲1Spring Valley checkSpring Valley11.893-A
12▲1Boyceville checkBoyceville11.833-B
13▼4Crivitz checkCrivitz11.444-D
14▲2Cashton checkCashton10.864-C
15–Cadott checkCadott10.724-A
16▼5Webster checkWebster10.064-B
17–Melrose-Mindoro checkMelrose9.065-B
18–Royall checkElroy6.845-A
19–Black Hawk/Warren, IL check6.565-C
20▲1Pacelli checkStevens Point6.445-D
21▼1Abbotsford checkAbbotsford5.676-D
22▲3McDonell Central Catholic checkChippewa Falls5.446-B
23▼1Whitehall checkWhitehall5.226-A
24▼1Bangor checkBangor5.216-C
25▼1Riverdale checkMuscoda5.147-C
26–Elmwood/Plum City check4.287-A
27–Osseo-Fairchild checkOsseo4.067-B
28▲1Pecatonica/Argyle check3.757-D
29▲9Brookwood checkOntario3.708-B in
30–Hillsboro checkHillsboro3.648-A
31▼3Manawa checkManawa3.618-D
32▲4Waterloo checkWaterloo3.178-C in
Our unofficial cut line · top 32 by our numbers
33▼2Colfax checkBelow cut lineColfax2.72Not in WIAA field dropped
34▼1Augusta checkBelow cut lineAugusta2.33Not in WIAA field
35▼3Reedsville checkBelow cut lineReedsville1.78Not in WIAA field dropped
36▲1Necedah checkBelow cut lineNecedah1.68Not in WIAA field
37▼3Roncalli checkBelow cut lineManitowoc1.56Not in WIAA field
38▼3Johnson Creek checkBelow cut lineJohnson Creek1.56Not in WIAA field
39–Eleva-Strum checkBelow cut lineStrum1.17Not in WIAA field
40–New Lisbon checkBelow cut lineNew Lisbon0.78Not in WIAA field
41▲4Crandon checkBelow cut lineCrandon0.50Not in WIAA field
42▼1Wauzeka-Steuben/Seneca checkBelow cut line0.44Not in WIAA field
43T▼1Blair-Taylor checkBelow cut lineBlair0.39Not in WIAA field
43T▼1Deerfield checkBelow cut lineDeerfield0.39Not in WIAA field
43T▼1Pittsville checkBelow cut linePittsville0.39Not in WIAA field
46T▼1Boscobel checkBelow cut lineBoscobel0.00Not in WIAA field
46T▼1Dodgeland checkBelow cut lineJuneau0.00Not in WIAA field
46T▼1Independence/Gilmanton checkBelow cut line0.00Not in WIAA field
—Catholic Central checkBurlington0.00Excluded
—Iola-Scandinavia checkIola0.00Excluded
—Kenosha Christian Life checkKenosha0.00Excluded
—Northwood/Solon Springs checkProgram eligibility not verified0-0————Unverified
—Winter/Birchwood checkProgram eligibility not verified0-0————Unverified

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

When the games are played. Level 1: Friday, October 23, 7:00 PM · Level 2: Friday, October 30, 7:00 PM · Level 3: Friday, November 6, 7:00 PM · Level 4: Friday, November 13, 7:00 PM. Days and times are WIAA’s as of October 17 (Central time); WIAA’s bracket page has any change.

This is WIAA’s bracket, released October 17, 2026 (WIAA’s bracket page). The region letters A to D are ours, in the order of WIAA’s page; WIAA prints none. See our own projection through week 9 →

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.

Official bracket, unofficial table. The bracket above and the seeds are WIAA’s, as published October 17, 2026. Everything else on this page (rank, totals, the cut line, the weekly movement and the worked example) is still our own calculation, described below.

How our projection was made. Seeds come from the unofficial playoff matrix above (WIAA’s formula on the results we hold, 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: WIAA's official bracket where stored, projected elsewhere. 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 48 in the field.

How WIAA builds the bracket, and how to check a team

  1. 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).
  2. 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.”
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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: Hilbert (rank 10, seed 3)

DateOpponentResultOpponent’s valueTier 1 earnedOpp. Tier 1 pointsOpp. gamesCounts?
2026-08-21Saint Mary CatholicW4 (D6)4.0030.009yes
2026-08-28Randolph/Cambria-FrieslandL4 (D6)0.00—9yes
2026-09-04Howards GroveW4 (D6)4.008.009yes
2026-09-11Cedar Grove-BelgiumL4 (D6)0.00—9yes
2026-09-18MishicotW4 (D6)4.000.009yes
2026-09-25ReedsvilleW3.5 (D7)3.508.009yes
2026-10-01Manitowoc LutheranL4 (D6)0.00—9yes
2026-10-09OostburgW4.5 (D5)4.5021.009yes
2026-10-16Ozaukee/Random LakeW4.5 (D5)4.5020.009yes

Tier 1 AVG = 24.50 ÷ 9 = 2.722. Tier 2 points = 30.00 + 8.00 + 0.00 + 8.00 + 21.00 + 20.00 = 87.00; opponents’ games = 9 + 9 + 9 + 9 + 9 + 9 + 9 + 9 + 9 = 81; Tier 2 AVG = 87.00 ÷ 81 = 1.074. Total = 2.722 + 9 × 1.074 = 12.39 (Tier 3 tie-break 4.38).

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.

WIAA Football Playoff Brackets: Official and Projected | Ewert Sports | Ewert Sports