Mount Michael at Roncalli preview: what's at stake in Week 8

Mount Michael (3-4) travels to No. 7 Roncalli (6-1) on Friday in a Week 8 C1 Nebraska high school football game with a ranked Roncalli 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 Mount Michael gets a shot at a ranked opponent.

Mount Michael is 3-4 in NSAA results. In its last three games with a final in our synced scores, newest first, Mount Michael beat Fort Calhoun 23-9, lost to Boys Town 21-14 and lost to Blair 31-0. Across its 7 games with verified finals, Mount Michael averages 22.4 points and allows 15.3.

Roncalli sits No. 7 in C1 in the latest Hurrdat Sports coaches poll (2026-10-11). Roncalli is 6-1 in NSAA results. Roncalli has won four straight in our synced finals. Most recently, it beat Concordia Omaha 16-15, beat Cozad 49-27 and beat Fort Calhoun 28-14. Across its 7 games with verified finals, Roncalli averages 35 points and allows 18.3.

What's at stake

Mount Michael carries a 37.5714 NSAA wildcard points average, 17th of 30 teams in C1 by average; its path to the playoffs is a district title or an at-large spot (projection, not official). Roncalli carries a 41.5714 NSAA wildcard points average, tied at No. 7 of 30 teams in C1 by average; its path to the playoffs is a district title or an at-large spot (projection, not official). In C1, 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 Mount Michael's defense, which has allowed 15.3 points per game, against a Roncalli offense that scores 35. Both have played Fort Calhoun: Mount Michael beat Fort Calhoun 23-9, and Roncalli beat Fort Calhoun 28-14. Both have played Nebraska City: Mount Michael beat Nebraska City 56-7, and Roncalli beat Nebraska City 60-14.

Our pick

Our NEB Preps Power Index favors Roncalli, giving it a 84% chance to win (74.9 to 50.7 on the index, with a small home-field edge for Roncalli). This is NEB Preps' own computer pick from verified finals, not a poll or a betting line.