Class 1A Football Playoff Projections 10/14/2026
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.
Class 1A Playoff Predictions (Who I think make the playoffs)
This is who I think makes the playoffs and who wins the leagues. In Class 1A League champions are guaranteed a berth. The rest will be selected by CHSAA Rankings. Seeding is determined by CHSAA Rankings. I am picking my 11 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/1A
League Champion Predictions
Big Northern: Wiggins
Front Range: Denver Christian
South Central: C.S Christian
Southern: Centauri
Western Slope: Meeker
At Large Teams
North Fork (Western)
Limon (South Central)
Platte Valley (Big Northern)
Flatirons Academy (Front Range)
Monte Vista (Southern)
Burlington (South Central)
Platte Canyon (Front Range)
Yuma (Big Northern)
Rye (Southern)
Dayspring Christian (Big Northern)
Cedaredge (Western)
Playoff Hunt for Final Spots
Buena Vista, Olathe, Pinnacle, Wray
We are starting to see the bubble shrink. I would say currently that if you are inside the top 12 you have to feel really good about making the playoffs. We will look at the remaining schedules for teams #13 thru #21.
#13 Yuma- Wray & Holyoke. Yuma probably needs at least one of two to get into the playoffs but if they get both should be in good shape to challenge for a top 10 spot.
#14 Rye- Centauri, Monte Vista, Buena Vista. Rye has one of the toughest remaining schedules in Class 1A. They are going to need to win at least 1 game. I fully believe Rye vs Buena Vista the final game is to get into the playoffs.
#16 Olathe-Cedaredge & North Fork. Olathe probably must beat Cedaredge to get into the playoffs. A loss to Cedaredge and they will get jumped by Cedaredge.
#17 Buena Vista- Bayfield & Rye. Buena Vista must win out. I don’t think they can get in if they lose to Rye without other teams around them losing.
#18 Dayspring Christian-Platte Valley, Wiggins, Wray. Dayspring Christian must beat Wray and may still need help if they cannot upset PV or Wiggins.
#19 Cedaredge-Olathe, Roaring Fork (FFW), Grand Valley. Cedaredge IMO has one of the best chances of getting into the top 16. They must win out pure and simple but with a key game against Olathe this week we will know their fate.
#20 Pinnacle-Valley & Middle Park. Even if Pinnacle wins out I am not sure if they can jump into the top 16. They are going to need help but to start they need to win out and have a huge game against Valley this week.
#21 Wray-Yuma & Dayspring Christian. Wray may have to win out to jump into the top 16. I do think their game against Dayspring Christian is a huge one to end the year.
Seeded Playoff Bracket using my predictions and the CHSAA Rankings (10/14)
#1 North Fork vs #16 Dayspring Christian
#8 Platte Valley vs #9 Flatirons Academy
#4 C.S Christian vs #13 Yuma
#5 Limon vs #12 Platte Canyon
#2 Denver Christian vs #15 Cedaredge
#7 Centauri vs #10 Burlington
#3 Meeker vs #14 Rye
#6 Wiggins vs #11 Monte Vista
Class 1A Playoff Projections (IF the Season Ended Today)
This is if the season ended today 10/14/2026. 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/1A
League Champion Predictions ()=CHSAA Ranking
(Not in Order)
Big Northern: Wiggins (6)
Front Range: Denver Christian (2)
South Central: C.S Christian (4)
Southern: Centauri (7)
Western Slope: Meeker (3)
At Large Teams
(Not in Order)
#6 North Fork (1)
#7 Limon (5)
#8 Platte Valley (8)
#9 Flatirons Academy (9)
#10 Monte Vista (10)
#11 Burlington (11)
#12 Platte Canyon (12)
#13 Yuma (13)
#14 Rye (14)
#15 Olathe (16)
#16 Buena Vista (17)
First Four Out
Dayspring Christian (18), Cedaredge (19), Pinnacle (20), Wray (21)
Peyton Cannot Qualify for Postseason Play!
Playoff Bracket Seeded using Seeding Index (10/14)
#1 North Fork vs #16 Buena Vista
#8 Platte Valley vs #9 Flatirons Academy
#4 C.S Christian vs #13 Yuma
#5 Limon vs #12 Platte Canyon
#2 Denver Christian vs #15 Olathe
#7 Centauri vs #10 Burlington
#3 Meeker vs #14 Rye
#6 Wiggins vs #11 Monte Vista
Leave a Reply