Lincoln East at Millard South preview: what's at stake in Week 8

Lincoln East (0-7) travels to No. 2 Millard South (7-0) on Thursday in a Week 8 Class A Nebraska high school football game with a ranked Millard South team trying to protect its spot in the Hurrdat Sports coaches poll and wildcard points that matter for Millard South's playoff position on the line. Records are from NSAA's wildcard standings, pulled Oct. 12 at 10:42 p.m. This one matters because Millard South puts an unbeaten record on the line and Lincoln East gets a shot at a ranked opponent.

Lincoln East is 0-7 in NSAA results. Lincoln East has lost seven straight in our synced finals. Most recently, it lost to Lincoln Southwest 27-7, lost to Bellevue West 29-26 and lost to Kearney 20-10. Across its 7 games with verified finals, Lincoln East averages 14.7 points and allows 25.6.

Millard South sits No. 2 in Class A in the latest Hurrdat Sports coaches poll (2026-10-11). Millard South is 7-0 in NSAA results. Millard South has won seven straight in our synced finals. Most recently, it beat Omaha Westview 63-7, beat Millard West 59-0 and beat Omaha North 49-47. Across its 7 games with verified finals, Millard South averages 47.7 points and allows 22.7.

What's at stake

Lincoln East carries a 33.8571 NSAA wildcard points average, 32nd of 36 teams in Class A, which projects outside the top 16 that make the playoff field (projection, not official). Millard South carries a 46.5714 NSAA wildcard points average, 1st of 36 teams in Class A, which projects inside the top 16 that make the playoff field (projection, not official). Wildcard points decide who qualifies and how the field is seeded; see the Nebraska high school football wildcard standings and the playoff format.

Matchup to watch

The matchup to watch is Millard South's defense, which has allowed 22.7 points per game, against a Lincoln East offense that scores 14.7. Both have played Omaha North: Lincoln East lost to Omaha North 34-28, and Millard South beat Omaha North 49-47.

Our pick

Our NEB Preps Power Index favors Millard South, giving it a 99% chance to win (93.1 to 22.5 on the index, with a small home-field edge for Millard South). This is NEB Preps' own computer pick from verified finals, not a poll or a betting line.