Class D3 football playoff bracket

2026 · Playoffs in progress · Source Oct. 30

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Class D3 bracket

Read bracket as a list
Team path & bracket guide

Higher seed listed first. Select a game for details; unassigned matchups link to team schedules.

Connected bracket · Swipe across rounds or use the round buttons. Choose Round cards for a larger game-by-game view.

G1 ↗Final · Fri., Oct. 30 · 6:00 PM CT · Host by seed rule: Lawrence-NelsonFinal1Lawrence-Nelson#1 Lawrence-Nelson ✓9-0 · 46.444216St. Mary's#16 St. Mary's5-4 · 40.5626Game center →Open Game Center →
G2 ↗Final · Fri., Oct. 30 · 6:00 PM CT · Host by seed rule: BurwellFinal8Burwell#8 Burwell7-2 · 43.22129Wynot#9 Wynot ✓7-2 · 42.8924Game center →Open Game Center →
G3 ↗Final · Fri., Oct. 30 · 6:00 PM CT · Wausa Athletic ComplexFinal5Wausa#5 Wausa8-1 · 44.003012Anselmo-Merna#12 Anselmo-Merna ✓7-2 · 42.5636Game center →Open Game Center →
G4 ↗Final · Fri., Oct. 30 · 6:00 PM CT · Host by seed rule: PleasantonFinal4Pleasanton#4 Pleasanton8-1 · 44.00813Guardian Angels Central Catholic#13 Guardian Angels Central Catholic ✓7-2 · 42.2250Game center →Open Game Center →
G5 ↗Final · Fri., Oct. 30 · 3:00 PM CT · HumphreyFinal3Archangels Catholic#3 Archangels Catholic ✓8-1 · 45.116014Cambridge#14 Cambridge7-2 · 41.5612Game center →Open Game Center →
G6 ↗Final · Fri., Oct. 30 · 6:00 PM MT · Host by seed rule: Dundy County StrattonFinal6Dundy County Stratton#6 Dundy County Stratton ✓6-2 · 43.504611Brady#11 Brady8-1 · 42.7842Game center →Open Game Center →
G7 ↗Final · Fri., Oct. 30 · 6:00 PM CT · Host by seed rule: Twin LoupFinal7Twin Loup#7 Twin Loup ✓8-1 · 43.444110Deshler#10 Deshler7-2 · 42.7828Game center →Open Game Center →
G8 ↗Final · Fri., Oct. 30 · 5:00 PM CT · WolbachFinal2Central Valley#2 Central Valley ✓8-1 · 45.444415Falls City Sacred Heart#15 Falls City Sacred Heart6-3 · 41.448Game center →Open Game Center →
1Lawrence-Nelson#1 Lawrence-Nelson9Wynot#9 WynotGame center →Open Game Center →
From these games:Game 1: #1 Lawrence-Nelson / #16 St. Mary'sGame 2: #8 Burwell / #9 WynotWinners advance; no result is assumed.
12Anselmo-Merna#12 Anselmo-Merna13Guardian Angels Central Catholic#13 Guardian Angels Central CatholicGame center →Open Game Center →
From these games:Game 3: #5 Wausa / #12 Anselmo-MernaGame 4: #4 Pleasanton / #13 Guardian Angels Central CatholicWinners advance; no result is assumed.
3Archangels Catholic#3 Archangels Catholic6Dundy County Stratton#6 Dundy County StrattonGame center →Open Game Center →
From these games:Game 5: #3 Archangels Catholic / #14 CambridgeGame 6: #6 Dundy County Stratton / #11 BradyWinners advance; no result is assumed.
7Twin Loup#7 Twin Loup2Central Valley#2 Central ValleyGame center →Open Game Center →
From these games:Game 7: #7 Twin Loup / #10 DeshlerGame 8: #2 Central Valley / #15 Falls City Sacred HeartWinners advance; no result is assumed.
Winner of quarterfinal 1Winner of quarterfinal 1
Winner of quarterfinal 2Winner of quarterfinal 2
From these games:Quarterfinal 1: #1 Lawrence-Nelson / #9 WynotQuarterfinal 2: #12 Anselmo-Merna / #13 Guardian Angels Central CatholicWinners advance; no result is assumed.
Winner of quarterfinal 3Winner of quarterfinal 3
Winner of quarterfinal 4Winner of quarterfinal 4
From these games:Quarterfinal 3: #3 Archangels Catholic / #6 Dundy County StrattonQuarterfinal 4: #7 Twin Loup / #2 Central ValleyWinners advance; no result is assumed.
G15Time TBA · Venue not confirmed
Winner of semifinal 1Winner of semifinal 1
Winner of semifinal 2Winner of semifinal 2
From these games:Semifinal 1Semifinal 2Winners advance; no result is assumed.
State championFinal winner
Read bracket round by round

Reported matchups and verified results. This list includes every round, even when a different round is selected above.

First round

  1. First round, game 1: No. 1 Lawrence-Nelson versus No. 16 St. Mary's. Friday, Oct. 30. 6:00 PM CT. Host by seed rule: Lawrence-Nelson. Final: Lawrence-Nelson 42, St. Mary's 26. Winner: Lawrence-Nelson.

    Game center →

  2. First round, game 2: No. 8 Burwell versus No. 9 Wynot. Friday, Oct. 30. 6:00 PM CT. Host by seed rule: Burwell. Final: Burwell 12, Wynot 24. Winner: Wynot.

    Game center →

  3. First round, game 3: No. 5 Wausa versus No. 12 Anselmo-Merna. Friday, Oct. 30. 6:00 PM CT. Venue: Wausa Athletic Complex. Final: Wausa 30, Anselmo-Merna 36. Winner: Anselmo-Merna.

    Game center →

  4. First round, game 4: No. 4 Pleasanton versus No. 13 Guardian Angels Central Catholic. Friday, Oct. 30. 6:00 PM CT. Host by seed rule: Pleasanton. Final: Pleasanton 8, Guardian Angels Central Catholic 50. Winner: Guardian Angels Central Catholic.

    Game center →

  5. First round, game 5: No. 3 Archangels Catholic versus No. 14 Cambridge. Friday, Oct. 30. 3:00 PM CT. Venue: Humphrey. Final: Archangels Catholic 60, Cambridge 12. Winner: Archangels Catholic.

    Game center →

  6. First round, game 6: No. 6 Dundy County Stratton versus No. 11 Brady. Friday, Oct. 30. 6:00 PM MT. Host by seed rule: Dundy County Stratton. Final: Dundy County Stratton 46, Brady 42. Winner: Dundy County Stratton.

    Game center →

  7. First round, game 7: No. 7 Twin Loup versus No. 10 Deshler. Friday, Oct. 30. 6:00 PM CT. Host by seed rule: Twin Loup. Final: Twin Loup 41, Deshler 28. Winner: Twin Loup.

    Game center →

  8. First round, game 8: No. 2 Central Valley versus No. 15 Falls City Sacred Heart. Friday, Oct. 30. 5:00 PM CT. Venue: Wolbach. Final: Central Valley 44, Falls City Sacred Heart 8. Winner: Central Valley.

    Game center →

Quarterfinals

  1. Quarterfinals, game 1: No. 1 Lawrence-Nelson versus No. 9 Wynot. Fri. Nov. 6. Time TBA. Venue not confirmed.

    Game center →

  2. Quarterfinals, game 2: No. 12 Anselmo-Merna versus No. 13 Guardian Angels Central Catholic. Fri. Nov. 6. Time TBA. Venue not confirmed.

    Game center →

  3. Quarterfinals, game 3: No. 3 Archangels Catholic versus No. 6 Dundy County Stratton. Fri. Nov. 6. Time TBA. Venue not confirmed.

    Game center →

  4. Quarterfinals, game 4: No. 7 Twin Loup versus No. 2 Central Valley. Fri. Nov. 6. Time TBA. Venue not confirmed.

    Game center →

Semifinals

  1. Semifinals, game 1: winner of quarterfinal 1 versus winner of quarterfinal 2. Fri. Nov. 13. Time TBA. Venue not confirmed.

  2. Semifinals, game 2: winner of quarterfinal 3 versus winner of quarterfinal 4. Fri. Nov. 13. Time TBA. Venue not confirmed.

State final

  1. State final, game 1: winner of semifinal 1 versus winner of semifinal 2. Fri. Nov. 20. Time TBA. Venue not confirmed.

Team paths and matchup details

Find your team in the bracket

Select a school to highlight its possible path. No winner is assumed.

This round · Quarterfinals

Reported games from the official field · Fri., Nov. 6

  1. Game 9

    #1
    Lawrence-Nelson9-0 · 46.44 pts avg.
    #9
    Wynot7-2 · 42.89 pts avg.

    Fri., Nov. 6 · Host by seed rule: Lawrence-Nelson · Time TBA

    Game center →

  2. Game 10

    #12
    Anselmo-Merna7-2 · 42.56 pts avg.
    #13

    Fri., Nov. 6 · Host by seed rule: Anselmo-Merna · Time TBA

    Game center →

  3. Game 11

    #3
    Archangels Catholic8-1 · 45.11 pts avg.
    #6
    Dundy County Stratton6-2 · 43.50 pts avg.

    Fri., Nov. 6 · Host by seed rule: Archangels Catholic · Time TBA

    Game center →

  4. Game 12

    #7
    Twin Loup8-1 · 43.44 pts avg.
    #2
    Central Valley8-1 · 45.44 pts avg.

    Fri., Nov. 6 · Host by seed rule: Central Valley · Time TBA

    Game center →

Higher seed hosts through the semifinals. Times and any announced venues appear when verified.

Playoffs in progress

Source snapshot Oct. 30 · 11:20 p.m. CT

Follow reported results and the next round. An empty score is not a final.

#1 seed: Lawrence-Nelson (9-0)

Current / next round: Quarterfinals · Fri., Nov. 6

Official seeds, records and points

Official seeds

Field in seed order, then eligible outsiders by NSAA points. Source timestamp above.

SeedSchoolRecordPts avg.Qualification / gap
1Lawrence-Nelson9-046.44Official seed
2Central Valley8-145.44Official seed
3Archangels Catholic8-145.11Official seed
4Pleasanton8-144.00Official seed
5Wausa8-144.00Official seed
6Dundy County Stratton6-243.50Official seed
7Twin Loup8-143.44Official seed
8Burwell7-243.22Official seed
9Wynot7-242.89Official seed
10Deshler7-242.78Official seed
11Brady8-142.78Official seed
12Anselmo-Merna7-242.56Official seed
13Guardian Angels Central Catholic7-242.22Official seed
14Cambridge7-241.56Official seed
15Falls City Sacred Heart6-341.44Official seed
16St. Mary's5-440.56Official seed

Seeds come from the entered official field. Complete NSAA points list →

Fan predictions

Your bracket · picks locked

The playoffs have started. See how fans' brackets are doing below.

Scoring: 10 pts per first-round winner, 20 per quarterfinal, 40 per semifinal, 80 for the champion.

Key dates · qualifying · sources
Key dates
  • Wildcard cutoffWeek 9 · Oct. 22–24
  • Bracket statusOfficial NSAA bracket
  • First roundFri. Oct. 30
  • QuarterfinalsFri. Nov. 6
  • SemifinalsFri. Nov. 13
  • State finalFri. Nov. 20 · 1:00 PM CT · Kearney

Venue TBA: NSAA's current bracket names UNK–Memorial Stadium; the earlier NSAA-based schedule names Cope Stadium. Date and time are confirmed on the current bracket; await venue clarification.

Higher seed hosts through the semifinals. NSAA wildcard points cover regular-season games Fri. Aug. 21 through Fri. Oct. 23, 2026 (Week 9).

How Class D3 qualifies

The 7 district champions and the 9 teams with the highest regular-season point average that did not finish as district champions = 16.

Official sources: NSAA Class D3 bracket · NSAA wildcard points · NSAA district leaders · NSAA football

How NSAA wildcard points and seeding work

Every Nebraska football playoff bracket has 16 teams, and wildcard points decide who fills the at-large spots and where every qualifier is seeded.

Each regular-season game earns points based on the opponent's record. In a nine-game season, a win over a first-division team (7-2 or better) is worth 50 points. Second division (6-3, 5-4) is worth 47, third (4-5, 3-6) 44, and fourth (2-7 or worse) 41. Losses still earn 36, 33, 30 or 27. Playing a school one, two or three classes higher adds 2, 3 or 4 bonus points; playing down costs nothing. The score doesn't matter: a 7-6 win counts the same as 50-0.

Divide total points by games played to get the point average. Only the first meeting with an opponent counts, points stop at the end of the regular season, and out-of-state opponents are converted to a Nebraska class by enrollment.

Qualifying depends on the class:

  • Class A and six-man D6 take the top 16 by points.
  • Class B takes the top three from each of its three geographic districts, the emerging-district champion and six wildcards.
  • C1, C2 and D2 take six district champions plus 10 wildcards.
  • D1 and D3 take seven district champions plus nine wildcards.

All 16 are seeded by point average (1 vs. 16, 8 vs. 9, and so on). In every class except D6, the higher seed hosts through the semifinals. Ties in point average go to head-to-head if two tied teams met, then strength-of-schedule steps, then a coin flip.

NEBPrepsLive · https://nebprepslive.com/playoffs/class-d3

Official field; only verified results advance teams. Higher seed hosts through the semifinals. Times and announced venues require confirmation before travel.

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