Football · Preview · Class D1
Cross County at Cedar Bluffs: playoff stakes for Cross County
Cross County (5-3) at Cedar Bluffs (1-7), Friday, Oct. 23. Playoff picture, season stats, charts and history before the Week 9 game.
Game-day information: Kickoff reported by the Game Center: 7 p.m. Central. This article’s schedules and statistics are dated reporting, not live score updates.
Scores are NSAA finals. Points and ranks are NSAA wildcard standings, checked Oct. 21, 2026. Projections are not official seeds.
For Cross County, Week 9 is about the playoff line. It sits 14th in Class D1's NSAA point standings, and this is its last chance to move. Both play in District D1-3: Cross County is 4-0 in district games and Cedar Bluffs is 0-4.
Friday, Oct. 23, at Cedar Bluffs, 7 p.m.
The playoff picture
In Class D1, the seven district champions and the nine best remaining averages qualify.
Cross County is 14th in Class D1's NSAA point standings at 40.250. It is 4-0 in District D1-3 games.
Cedar Bluffs is 39th in Class D1's NSAA point standings at 31.000. It is 0-4 in District D1-3 games.
Projections are not official seeds. NSAA sets the field after Week 9.
How they got here
Cross County (5-3) opened with a 42-18 win at Thayer Central (4-4). All three of its losses came against teams with winning records: Sutton (6-2), 36-12; at Stanton (8-0), 63-18; Ravenna (8-0), 56-14. Its best win by opponent record was a 34-12 win over Nebraska Christian (5-3). It comes in on a 4-game winning streak, most recently a 34-12 win over Nebraska Christian (5-3).
Cedar Bluffs (1-7) opened with a 30-16 loss at Wakefield (1-7). Its losses: at Wakefield (1-7), 30-16; Pender (4-4), 68-0; Tri County (6-2), 73-14; David City (1-7), 26-0; at Nebraska Christian (5-3), 47-14; Tekamah-Herman (3-5), 78-6; at Twin River (1-7), 52-8. Its best win by opponent record was a 56-12 win at Madison (0-8). It comes in on a 4-game losing streak, most recently a 52-8 loss at Twin River (1-7).
By the numbers
| Cross County | Cedar Bluffs | |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 5-3 | 1-7 |
| Class and NSAA rank | D1, 14th (40.250) | D1, 39th (31.000) |
| Coaches poll (Oct. 18) | Not ranked | Not ranked |
| Points scored per game | 32.8 | 14.2 |
| Points allowed per game | 25.6 | 48.2 |
| Average margin | +7.1 | -34.0 |
| Current streak | Won 4 | Lost 4 |
Shared opponents
These two have played four of the same teams. It's a rough guide, since the games came in different weeks and places.
| Opponent | Cross County | Cedar Bluffs |
|---|---|---|
| David City | W 54-0 | L 0-26 |
| Nebraska Christian | W 34-12 | L 14-47 |
| Tekamah-Herman | W 14-6 | L 6-78 |
| Twin River | W 74-14 | L 8-52 |
Editorial update, Oct. 21: Program-history claims from the supplied school-history mapping are withheld pending school-identity verification. This does not change the current-season results, records or statistics above.
What to watch
- Cross County's offense. It averages 32.8 points. Cedar Bluffs allows 48.2.
- Cross County's streak. 4 straight wins.
- Cedar Bluffs's streak. 4 straight losses.
Game center: live score, matchup and both teams →
Game Center: Cross County at Cedar Bluffs →
Cross County team center → · Cedar Bluffs team center →
Nebraska football scores and schedules → · Football playoff tracker →