8-Man Football Playoff Projections (9/22)
This year to reach the playoffs is simple. Either win your league title or be inside the top 16 of the CHSAA Rankings. After they select the 16 teams that make the playoffs, they use the CHSAA Rankings to seed the playoffs. We will have two projections listed. First is who I think makes the playoffs and the second is if the season ended today.
Playoff Projections & Predictions
8-Man Playoff Predictions (Who I think make the playoffs)
This is who I think makes the playoffs and who wins the leagues. In 8-Man League champions are guaranteed a berth. The rest will be selected by CHSAA Rankings. Seeding is determined by CHSAA Rankings. I am picking my 9 At-Large teams via non-league schedules, remaining schedules, and how I think teams will do. Expect changes week to week, making these projections/predictions so early. League Champions are posted first then the At-Large Teams.
https://chsaanow.com/sports/football/rankings/8-MAN
League Champion Predictions
Ark Valley: McClave
Big 6 Southern: Center
Black Forest: Simla
Central: Front Range Christian
Mountain: Mancos
Plains: Sedgwick County
Western Slope: West Grand
At Large Teams
Hayden (Western Slope)
Norwood (Mountain)
Las Animas (Ark Valley)
Dolores (Mountain)
Fowler (Ark Valley)
Crowley County (Black Forest)
Stratton (Plains)
Vail Christian (Western Slope)
Akron (Plains)
Playoff Hunt for Final Spots & Bubble Breakdown
Del Norte, Sargent/Sangre, Clear Creek, Plateau Valley, Sierra Grand, Lyons, Sanford, Estes Park, Haxtun
With still six weeks remaining and not completely understanding the new MaxPreps Rankings we are taking an early shot at the playoff teams. I used the strength of schedule as a big factor. Every game seems to change the rankings.
Seeded Playoff Bracket using my predictions and the CHSAA Seeding Index (9/22)
#1 Simla vs #16 Akron
#8 Dolores vs #9 Vail Christian
#4 Norwood vs #13 Front Range Christian
#5 McClave vs #12 Fowler
#2 Hayden vs #15 Stratton
#7 Las Animas vs #10 Center
#3 West Grand vs #14 Crowley County
#6 Mancos vs #11 Sedgwick County
8-Man Playoff Projections (IF the Season Ended Today)
This is if the season ended today 9/22/2026. Using the CHSAA Rankings I will come up with the Playoff field. League Champions selected with my Predictions. I will seed & select the bracket with the CHSAA Rankings. Remember this is still early and things will change. The league champions I selected are at the top with the at-large berths following.
https://chsaanow.com/sports/football/rankings/8-MAN
League Champion Predictions ()=CHSAA Seeding Index
Ark Valley: McClave (6)
Big 6 Southern: Center (11)
Black Forest: Simla (1)
Central: Front Range Christian (16)
Mountain: Mancos (7)
Plains: Sedgwick County (14)
Western Slope: West Grand (3)
At Large Teams (Selected using Final Seeding Index)
#8 Hayden (2)
#9 Norwood (4)
#10 Del Norte (5)
#11 Las Animas (8)
#12 Dolores (9)
#13 Vail Christian (10)
#14 Sargent/Sangre (12)
#15 Clear Creek (13)
#16 Fowler (15)
First Four Out
Crowley County (17), Stratton (18), Plateau Valley (19), Akron (20)
Playoff Bracket Seeded using Seeding Index
#1 Simla vs #16 Front Range Christian
#8 Las Animas vs #9 Dolores
#4 Norwood vs #13 Clear Creek
#5 Del Norte vs #12 Sargent/Sangre
#2 Hayden vs #15 Fowler
#7 Mancos vs #10 Vail Christian
#3 West Grand vs #14 Sedgwick County
#6 McClave vs #11 Center