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Football · Wildcard Watch · Week 8

Wildcard Watch: Nebraska high school football playoff projections before Week 8

Projected 16-team brackets for every class from NSAA's Oct. 12 wildcard standings, plus the bubble teams and the Week 8 games that swing them. Projection, not official.

By Updated Oct 13, 2026, 1:10 AM CTFootball
NEBPrepsLive editorial artwork

The Nebraska high school football playoff race has two regular-season weeks left. This first weekly Wildcard Watch projects every class's 16-team bracket from NSAA's own point averages and district standings (pulled Oct. 12, 10:42 p.m.). Every bracket is a projection, not official; kickoff times are TBA because NSAA does not publish them. Points stop counting after Week 9, whose games are Oct. 22-23 (NSAA Football Manual, Wild Card Criteria #6, p. 36).

How the projection works: in Class A and D6, the 16 best point averages qualify. In Class B, the projection uses districts B-1 through B-3 sending their top three and B-4 its champion, plus six at-large teams. Class B qualifying rule unconfirmed (NSAA manual pp. 45 and 49). In C1, C2 and D2, six district champions qualify automatically; in D1 and D3, seven do. The best non-champion averages fill the rest of the 16. District champions are guaranteed a spot but are not seeded first: all 16 qualifiers are seeded together by point average (1 v 16, 8 v 9 and so on). We don't break ties with a rule of our own: tied district leads are tagged co-leader, tied (proj.), tied averages are tagged tied (projected), and † marks a record that includes a result NEB Preps is still verifying.

What to watch: games that settle ties

Remaining games that decide tied district races
DateDistrictGame
Oct 15B-1Ralston at Elkhorn Tied (projected)
Oct 16D1-3Nebraska Christian at Cross County Co-leader, tied (proj.)
Oct 16D1-5Crofton at Hartington-Newcastle Co-leader, tied (proj.)
Oct 16D3-2Archangels Catholic at Leigh Co-leader, tied (proj.)
Oct 16D3-5Pleasanton at Cambridge Co-leader, tied (proj.)
Oct 16D3-6Brady at Anselmo-Merna Co-leader, tied (proj.)
Oct 22C1-1Omaha Roncalli Catholic at Boys Town Co-leader, tied (proj.)
Oct 22B-1Ralston at Omaha Gross Catholic Tied (projected)
Gross Catholic is first out now but qualifies if it finishes 3rd in B-1.
Oct 23B-1Gretna East at Omaha Skutt Catholic Co-leader, tied (proj.)
Both qualify either way; the winner takes the B-1 title.
Oct 23B-4Crete at Blair Leader (proj.)
Decided by Crete at Blair, Oct 23. Blair (2-0) must win the district: B-4 teams can't be wildcards (manual p. 49).
Oct 23C2-1Bergan Catholic at Yutan Co-leader, tied (proj.)
Oct 23C2-2Fillmore Central at Malcolm Co-leader, tied (proj.)
Oct 23D1-6Ravenna at Sandy Creek Co-leader, tied (proj.)
Oct 23D1-7Amherst at Alma Co-leader, tied (proj.)
Oct 23D2-2Howells-Dodge at Laurel-Concord-Coleridge Co-leader, tied (proj.)
Oct 23D3-7Hyannis at Dundy County Stratton Co-leader, tied (proj.)

Home and away as listed in the NSAA schedule export. Times TBA.

Class A

Millard South (7-0) holds the projected No. 1 seed with a 46.5714 average. The last teams in on points are Creighton Preparatory School (39.0000), Lincoln North Star (39.2857). The first teams out are Lincoln Southeast (38.8571, 4-3), Bellevue West (38.5714, 3-4). Since the Oct. 7 pull, Kearney climbed from No. 15 to No. 6; Lincoln North Star slid from No. 10 to No. 14 in the class standings. Week 8 games that swing it: Creighton Preparatory School at Kearney (Fri. Oct. 16); Grand Island at Lincoln North Star (Fri. Oct. 16).

CLASS A · PROJECTED

PROJECTED · projection, not official · NSAA wildcard standings pulled 12 Oct 2026 10:41:55 pm CDT

R11 v 16
1Millard South7-0 · 46.5714At-large (proj.)
16Creighton Preparatory School3-4 · 39.0000At-large (proj.)
R18 v 9
8Lincoln Northeast6-1 · 41.5714At-large (proj.)Tied (projected)
9Omaha North6-1 · 41.5714At-large (proj.)Tied (projected)
R15 v 12
5Millard North6-1 · 43.2857At-large (proj.)
12Papillion-La Vista5-2 · 40.8571At-large (proj.)Tied (projected)
R14 v 13
4Papillion-La Vista South6-1 · 43.7143At-large (proj.)
13Elkhorn South4-3 · 40.5714At-large (proj.)
R13 v 14
3Omaha Westside7-0 · 44.8571At-large (proj.)Tied (projected)
14Lincoln North Star4-3 · 39.2857At-large (proj.)Tied (projected)
R16 v 11
6Kearney5-2 · 41.7143At-large (proj.)
11Lincoln Southwest5-2 · 40.8571At-large (proj.)Tied (projected)
R17 v 10
7Elkhorn North6-1 · 41.5714At-large (proj.)Tied (projected)
10Millard West4-3 · 41.0000At-large (proj.)
R12 v 15
2Bennington7-0 · 44.8571At-large (proj.)Tied (projected)
15Lincoln Standing Bear4-3 · 39.2857At-large (proj.)Tied (projected)
Class A projected bracket share image
Full Class A projected bracket · NSAA official bracket (when posted)

Class B

Gretna (7-0) holds the projected No. 1 seed with a 44.8571 average. The last teams in on points are Gering (35.0000), Hastings (35.0000). The first teams out are Seward (35.0000, 1-6), Plattsmouth (34.5714, 1-6). Seward is tied on average with the last team in, so the NSAA point system tiebreaker decides that spot. Since the Oct. 7 pull, Crete climbed from No. 15 to No. 11 in the class standings. Week 8 games that swing it: Gering at Aurora (Fri. Oct. 16, district); Hastings at Northwest (Fri. Oct. 16, district).

CLASS B · PROJECTED

PROJECTED · projection, not official · NSAA wildcard standings pulled 12 Oct 2026 10:41:59 pm CDT · Class B qualifying rule unconfirmed (NSAA manual pp. 45 and 49)

R11 v 16
1Gretna7-0 · 44.8571B-2 champ (proj.)
16Hastings1-6 · 35.0000At-large (proj.)Tied (projected)
R18 v 9
8Ralston4-3 · 40.4286B-1 3rd, tied (projected)
9Crete4-3 · 38.7143B-4 Leader (proj.) · decided by Crete at Blair, Oct 23
R15 v 12
5Gretna East6-1 · 42.4286B-1 co-leader, tied (proj.)Tied (projected)
12Elkhorn2-5 · 37.0000At-large (proj.)
R14 v 13
4Aurora6-1 · 42.4286B-3 2nd, tied (projected)Tied (projected)
13York3-4 · 36.4286At-large (proj.)
R13 v 14
3Scottsbluff7-0 · 43.1429B-3 champ (proj.)
14Lincoln Pius X2-5 · 35.2857At-large (proj.)
R16 v 11
6Waverly5-2 · 42.1429B-2 2nd (proj.)
11McCook4-3 · 37.5714At-large (proj.)
R17 v 10
7Northwest5-2 · 40.8571B-3 3rd, tied (projected)
10Norris3-4 · 37.7143B-2 3rd (proj.)
R12 v 15
2Omaha Skutt Catholic6-1 · 43.2857B-1 co-leader, tied (proj.)
15Gering1-6 · 35.0000At-large (proj.)Tied (projected)

B-1: Ralston is tied on district record with Elkhorn, Omaha Gross Catholic; Omaha Gross Catholic is left out of this projection. NSAA's tiebreaker or their game decides it.

Class B projected bracket share image
Full Class B projected bracket · NSAA official bracket (when posted)

C1

Ashland-Greenwood (7-0) holds the projected No. 1 seed with a 44.0000 average. The last teams in on points are Central City (37.7143), Alliance (38.2857). The first teams out are Mount Michael Benedictine (37.5714, 3-4), Columbus Lakeview (36.8571, 3-4). Since the Oct. 7 pull, Fort Calhoun slid from No. 18 to No. 23 in the class standings. Week 8 games that swing it: Sidney at Alliance (Fri. Oct. 16, district); Central City at Columbus Lakeview (Fri. Oct. 16, district).

C1 · PROJECTED

PROJECTED · projection, not official · NSAA wildcard standings pulled 12 Oct 2026 10:42:03 pm CDT

R11 v 16
1Ashland-Greenwood7-0 · 44.0000C1-2 champ (proj.)
16Central City3-4 · 37.7143At-large (proj.)
R18 v 9
8Omaha Roncalli Catholic6-1 · 41.5714At-large (proj.)Tied (projected)
9Syracuse5-2 · 41.2857C1-3 champ (proj.)
R15 v 12
5Pierce7-0 · 42.2857C1-4 champ (proj.)
12Wahoo5-2 · 39.4286At-large (proj.)
R14 v 13
4Boys Town7-0 · 43.1429C1-1 co-leader, tied (proj.)
13Cozad3-4 · 39.0000At-large (proj.)
R13 v 14
3Chadron6-1 · 43.2857At-large (proj.)
14Auburn4-3 · 38.8571At-large (proj.)
R16 v 11
6Adams Central6-1 · 42.0000C1-5 champ (proj.)
11ONeill4-3 · 39.7143At-large (proj.)
R17 v 10
7Minden6-1 · 41.5714At-large (proj.)Tied (projected)
10Lincoln Christian5-2 · 40.4286At-large (proj.)
R12 v 15
2Sidney7-0 · 43.8571C1-6 champ (proj.)
15Alliance4-3 · 38.2857At-large (proj.)
C1 projected bracket share image
Full C1 projected bracket · NSAA official bracket (when posted)

C2

Grand Island Central Catholic (7-0) holds the projected No. 1 seed with a 45.1429 average. The last teams in on points are Hershey (38.7143), West Point-Beemer (38.8571). The first teams out are Chase County (37.4286, 2-5), Norfolk Catholic (37.2857, 2-5). Since the Oct. 7 pull, Chase County climbed from No. 26 to No. 17; Bridgeport slid from No. 20 to No. 27 in the class standings. Week 8 games that swing it: Norfolk Catholic at Summerland (Thu. Oct. 15, district); Chase County at Hershey (Fri. Oct. 16, district).

C2 · PROJECTED

PROJECTED · projection, not official · NSAA wildcard standings pulled 12 Oct 2026 10:42:08 pm CDT

R11 v 16
1Grand Island Central Catholic7-0 · 45.1429At-large (proj.)
16Hershey4-3 · 38.7143At-large (proj.)
R18 v 9
8Fillmore Central6-1 · 41.4286C2-2 co-leader, tied (proj.)
9Bishop Neumann†5-2 · 41.2857At-large (proj.)Tied (projected)
R15 v 12
5Gothenburg6-1 · 43.0000At-large (proj.)
12Scotus Central Catholic4-3 · 40.8571At-large (proj.)
R14 v 13
4Bergan Catholic7-0 · 43.5714At-large (proj.)
13Wilber-Clatonia4-3 · 39.4286At-large (proj.)
R13 v 14
3Yutan†7-0 · 44.4286C2-1 co-leader, tied (proj.)
14Omaha Brownell Talbot4-3 · 39.1429At-large (proj.)
R16 v 11
6Cedar Catholic7-0 · 42.7143C2-4 champ (proj.)
11Mitchell5-2 · 41.1429C2-6 champ (proj.)
R17 v 10
7Boone Central7-0 · 41.8571C2-3 champ (proj.)
10Malcolm†5-2 · 41.2857At-large (proj.)Tied (projected)
R12 v 15
2Ord7-0 · 45.0000C2-5 champ (proj.)
15West Point-Beemer4-3 · 38.8571At-large (proj.)

† includes a result NEB Preps is still verifying.

C2 projected bracket share image
Full C2 projected bracket · NSAA official bracket (when posted)

D1

Johnson-Brock (7-0) holds the projected No. 1 seed with a 46.5714 average. The last teams in on points are Tri County (40.0000), Ponca (40.1429). The first teams out are Elkhorn Valley (39.7143, 4-3), West Holt (39.1429, 5-2). Since the Oct. 7 pull, Tekamah-Herman climbed from No. 35 to No. 29; Alma slid from No. 6 to No. 12 in the class standings. Week 8 games that swing it: Tri County at Falls City (Fri. Oct. 16, district); Ponca at Homer (Fri. Oct. 16, district).

D1 · PROJECTED

PROJECTED · projection, not official · NSAA wildcard standings pulled 12 Oct 2026 10:42:13 pm CDT

R11 v 16
1Johnson-Brock7-0 · 46.5714D1-1 champ (proj.)
16Nebraska Christian5-2 · 39.5714D1-3 co-leader, tied (proj.)
R18 v 9
8Sutton5-2 · 42.1429At-large (proj.)
9Wisner-Pilger6-1 · 41.5714At-large (proj.)
R15 v 12
5Stanton7-0 · 44.0000D1-4 champ (proj.)
12Alma5-2 · 40.4286At-large (proj.)Tied (projected)
R14 v 13
4Hartington-Newcastle7-0 · 44.8571D1-5 co-leader, tied (proj.)
13Centura5-2 · 40.4286At-large (proj.)Tied (projected)
R13 v 14
3Sandy Creek6-1 · 45.0000At-large (proj.)
14Ponca4-3 · 40.1429At-large (proj.)
R16 v 11
6Crofton6-1 · 43.7143At-large (proj.)
11Elmwood-Murdock4-3 · 41.0000At-large (proj.)
R17 v 10
7Exeter-Milligan-Friend6-1 · 42.8571D1-2 champ (proj.)
10Amherst5-2 · 41.2857D1-7 co-leader, tied (proj.)
R12 v 15
2Ravenna7-0 · 45.2857D1-6 co-leader, tied (proj.)
15Tri County5-2 · 40.0000At-large (proj.)

D1-3: Nebraska Christian is tied on district record with Cross County; Cross County is left out of this projection. NSAA's tiebreaker or their game decides it.

D1 projected bracket share image
Full D1 projected bracket · NSAA official bracket (when posted)

D2

Shelby-Rising City (7-0) holds the projected No. 1 seed with a 45.8571 average. The last teams in on points are South Loup (38.4286), Wilcox-Hildreth (38.8571). The first teams out are Fullerton (37.7143, 3-4), Bloomfield (37.2857, 2-5). Since the Oct. 7 pull, Fullerton climbed from No. 24 to No. 17; Bancroft-Rosalie slid from No. 27 to No. 33 in the class standings. Week 8 games that swing it: Niobrara-Verdigre at Bloomfield (Fri. Oct. 16, district); Shelton at Fullerton (Fri. Oct. 16, district).

D2 · PROJECTED

PROJECTED · projection, not official · NSAA wildcard standings pulled 12 Oct 2026 10:42:18 pm CDT

R11 v 16
1Shelby-Rising City7-0 · 45.8571D2-1 champ (proj.)
16South Loup4-3 · 38.4286At-large (proj.)
R18 v 9
8Hemingford5-2 · 41.0000At-large (proj.)
9Creighton5-2 · 40.7143D2-3 champ (proj.)Tied (projected)
R15 v 12
5Lourdes Central Catholic5-2 · 42.7143At-large (proj.)Tied (projected)
12Aquinas Catholic5-2 · 40.0000At-large (proj.)
R14 v 13
4East Butler6-1 · 42.7143At-large (proj.)Tied (projected)
13Neligh-Oakdale5-2 · 39.1429At-large (proj.)
R13 v 14
3Loomis7-0 · 43.1429D2-5 champ (proj.)
14Wilcox-Hildreth4-3 · 38.8571At-large (proj.)
R16 v 11
6Laurel-Concord-Coleridge6-1 · 42.2857D2-2 co-leader, tied (proj.)
11Bertrand5-2 · 40.4286At-large (proj.)
R17 v 10
7Howells-Dodge6-1 · 41.5714At-large (proj.)
10Hitchcock County5-2 · 40.7143At-large (proj.)Tied (projected)
R12 v 15
2North Platte St. Patrick's7-0 · 44.7143D2-6 champ (proj.)
15BDS4-3 · 38.5714D2-4 champ (proj.)
D2 projected bracket share image
Full D2 projected bracket · NSAA official bracket (when posted)

D3

Lawrence-Nelson (7-0) holds the projected No. 1 seed with a 45.8571 average. The last teams in on points are Anselmo-Merna (40.0000), Guardian Angels Central Catholic (40.4286). The first teams out are Southern Valley (39.8571, 4-3), St. Mary's (39.8571, 4-3). Since the Oct. 7 pull, Hyannis climbed from No. 38 to No. 32; Boyd County slid from No. 14 to No. 21 in the class standings. Week 8 games that swing it: Brady at Anselmo-Merna (Fri. Oct. 16, district); Omaha Nation at Guardian Angels Central Catholic (Fri. Oct. 16, district).

D3 · PROJECTED

PROJECTED · projection, not official · NSAA wildcard standings pulled 12 Oct 2026 10:42:23 pm CDT

R11 v 16
1Lawrence-Nelson7-0 · 45.8571D3-1 champ (proj.)
16Anselmo-Merna5-2 · 40.0000At-large (proj.)
R18 v 9
8Cambridge6-1 · 42.4286At-large (proj.)Tied (projected)
9Twin Loup6-1 · 42.4286At-large (proj.)Tied (projected)
R15 v 12
5Brady7-0 · 43.1429D3-6 co-leader, tied (proj.)Tied (projected)
12Wynot5-2 · 41.7143At-large (proj.)
R14 v 13
4Dundy County Stratton4-2 · 43.3333D3-7 co-leader, tied (proj.)
13Wausa6-1 · 41.4286D3-3 champ (proj.)
R13 v 14
3Archangels Catholic6-1 · 44.1429D3-2 co-leader, tied (proj.)
14Guardian Angels Central Catholic5-2 · 40.4286At-large (proj.)Tied (projected)
R16 v 11
6Pleasanton6-1 · 43.1429D3-5 co-leader, tied (proj.)Tied (projected)
11Falls City Sacred Heart5-2 · 41.8571At-large (proj.)
R17 v 10
7Burwell6-1 · 42.4286At-large (proj.)Tied (projected)
10Deshler5-2 · 42.0000At-large (proj.)
R12 v 15
2Central Valley6-1 · 45.0000D3-4 champ (proj.)
15Leigh6-1 · 40.4286At-large (proj.)Tied (projected)

D3-7: Dundy County Stratton is tied on district record with Hyannis; Hyannis is left out of this projection. NSAA's tiebreaker or their game decides it.

D3 projected bracket share image
Full D3 projected bracket · NSAA official bracket (when posted)

D6

Medicine Valley (6-0) holds the projected No. 1 seed with a 44.5000 average. The last teams in on points are Cody-Kilgore (39.0000), Hay Springs (39.5000). The first teams out are Mead (39.0000, 3-3), Grand Island Lutheran (38.5000, 3-3). Mead is tied on average with the last team in, so the NSAA point system tiebreaker decides that spot. Since the Oct. 7 pull, Hay Springs climbed from No. 20 to No. 14; Silver Lake slid from No. 14 to No. 24 in the class standings. Week 8 games that swing it: Cody-Kilgore at Hay Springs (Thu. Oct. 15); Grand Island Lutheran at Harvard (Fri. Oct. 16).

D6 · PROJECTED

PROJECTED · projection, not official · NSAA wildcard standings pulled 12 Oct 2026 10:42:27 pm CDT

R11 v 16
1Medicine Valley6-0 · 44.5000At-large (proj.)
16Cody-Kilgore3-3 · 39.0000At-large (proj.)Tied (projected)
R18 v 9
8Red Cloud5-1 · 42.6667At-large (proj.)
9McCool Junction6-0 · 42.5000At-large (proj.)
R15 v 12
5Wallace5-1 · 43.1667At-large (proj.)
12Riverside6-1 · 41.1429At-large (proj.)
R14 v 13
4Southwest4-2 · 43.3333At-large (proj.)
13Crawford4-2 · 40.3333At-large (proj.)
R13 v 14
3Arthur County5-1 · 43.6667At-large (proj.)
14Hay Springs3-3 · 39.5000At-large (proj.)Tied (projected)
R16 v 11
6Lewiston6-0 · 43.0000At-large (proj.)Tied (projected)
11Diller-Odell5-1 · 42.1667At-large (proj.)
R17 v 10
7Leyton6-0 · 43.0000At-large (proj.)Tied (projected)
10Garden County6-1 · 42.4286At-large (proj.)
R12 v 15
2Stuart7-0 · 44.4286At-large (proj.)
15Meridian3-3 · 39.5000At-large (proj.)Tied (projected)
D6 projected bracket share image
Full D6 projected bracket · NSAA official bracket (when posted)

Next up Week 8 games are Thursday, Oct. 15, and Friday, Oct. 16 (Time TBA). Full standings are on the Nebraska high school football wildcard standings page, and every class bracket is on Nebraska high school football playoffs.

Sources

  1. NSAA football playoff rules (2026 Football Manual; Wild Card Criteria #6, p. 36: points stop at end of regular season) · 2026-09-01
  2. NSAA district standings · 2026-10-12
  3. NSAA wildcard standings, previous pull (Oct. 7, 1:07 PM CDT) · 2026-10-07
  4. NSAA wildcard point standings, Class A (12 Oct 2026 10:41:55 pm CDT) · 2026-10-12
  5. NSAA schedule export, Class A · 2026-10-12
  6. NSAA wildcard point standings, Class B (12 Oct 2026 10:41:59 pm CDT) · 2026-10-12
  7. NSAA schedule export, Class B · 2026-10-12
  8. NSAA wildcard point standings, C1 (12 Oct 2026 10:42:03 pm CDT) · 2026-10-12
  9. NSAA schedule export, C1 · 2026-10-12
  10. NSAA wildcard point standings, C2 (12 Oct 2026 10:42:08 pm CDT) · 2026-10-12
  11. NSAA schedule export, C2 · 2026-10-12
  12. NSAA wildcard point standings, D1 (12 Oct 2026 10:42:13 pm CDT) · 2026-10-12
  13. NSAA schedule export, D1 · 2026-10-12
  14. NSAA wildcard point standings, D2 (12 Oct 2026 10:42:18 pm CDT) · 2026-10-12
  15. NSAA schedule export, D2 · 2026-10-12
  16. NSAA wildcard point standings, D3 (12 Oct 2026 10:42:23 pm CDT) · 2026-10-12
  17. NSAA schedule export, D3 · 2026-10-12
  18. NSAA wildcard point standings, D6 (12 Oct 2026 10:42:27 pm CDT) · 2026-10-12
  19. NSAA schedule export, D6 · 2026-10-12
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