Madison at Creighton preview: what's at stake in Week 8

Madison (0-7) travels to No. 9 Creighton (5-2) on Friday in a Week 8 D2 Nebraska high school football game with a ranked Creighton team trying to protect its spot in the Hurrdat Sports coaches poll and wildcard points that count toward NSAA playoff qualifying and seeding on the line. Records are from NSAA's wildcard standings, pulled Oct. 12 at 10:42 p.m. This one matters because Madison gets a shot at a ranked opponent.

Madison is 0-7 in NSAA results. Madison has lost seven straight in our synced finals. Most recently, it lost to Niobrara-Verdigre 58-20, lost to Bloomfield 52-8 and lost to Neligh-Oakdale 70-6. Across its 7 games with verified finals, Madison averages 13.4 points and allows 56.3.

Creighton sits No. 9 in D2 in the latest Hurrdat Sports coaches poll (2026-10-11). Creighton is 5-2 in NSAA results. Creighton has won four straight in our synced finals. Most recently, it beat Neligh-Oakdale 60-44, beat Ainsworth 64-7 and beat Bloomfield 20-6. Across its 7 games with verified finals, Creighton averages 40 points and allows 21.3.

What's at stake

Madison carries a 29.8571 NSAA wildcard points average, 36th of 36 teams in D2 by average; its path to the playoffs is a district title or an at-large spot (projection, not official). Creighton carries a 40.7143 NSAA wildcard points average, tied at No. 9 of 36 teams in D2 by average; its path to the playoffs is a district title or an at-large spot (projection, not official). In D2, the 6 district champions qualify automatically, and the 10 best averages among non-champions fill the rest of the 16-team field. 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 Creighton's defense, which has allowed 21.3 points per game, against a Madison offense that scores 13.4. Both have played Bloomfield: Madison lost to Bloomfield 52-8, and Creighton beat Bloomfield 20-6. Both have played Neligh-Oakdale: Madison lost to Neligh-Oakdale 70-6, and Creighton beat Neligh-Oakdale 60-44. Both have played Tri County Northeast: Madison lost to Tri County Northeast 54-8, and Creighton beat Tri County Northeast 44-6.

Our pick

Our NEB Preps Power Index favors Creighton, giving it a 99% chance to win (71.2 to 6.2 on the index, with a small home-field edge for Creighton). This is NEB Preps' own computer pick from verified finals, not a poll or a betting line.