Class 2A Football Playoff Projections & Bubble Watch Week 8

October 16, 2026

4–7 minutes

Class 2A Football Playoff Projections & Bubble Watch Week 8

This year to reach the playoffs is simple. Either win your league title or be inside the top 24 of the CHSAA Rankings. After they select the 24 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.

Remember Class 2A regular season end one week earlier. They only have three weeks remaining.

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Class 2A Playoff Predictions (Who I think make the playoffs)

This is who I think makes the playoffs and who wins the leagues. In Class 2A League champions are guaranteed a berth. The rest will be selected by CHSAA Rankings. Seeding is determined by CHSAA Rankings. I am picking my 19 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/2A

League Champion Predictions

Crossroads: Weld Central

Metro: Elizabeth

Patriot: Wellington

Tri-Peaks: La Junta

Western Slope: Delta

At Large Teams

Classical Academy (Metro)

Eaton (Patriot)

Brush (Patriot)

Alamosa (Tri-Peaks)

Strasburg (Patriot)

Lamar (Tri-Peaks)

Forge Christian (Metro)

Banning Lewis (Tri-Peaks)

University (Patriot)

Aspen (Western Slope)

Basalt (Western Slope)

Resurrection Christian (Patriot)

Coal Ridge (Western Slope)

Pagosa Springs (Western Slope)

Denver West (Metro)

Florence (Tri-Peaks)

Fort Lupton (Crossroads)

D’Evelyn (Metro)

Englewood (Crossroads)

Playoff Hunt for Final Spots

Prospect Ridge, Sterling, Woodland Park, Montezuma-Cortez, Bayfield, Gunnison

I really think things are going to come down to teams ranked #20 thru #30. We will take a look at each team with just two weeks left. In reality the race is going to come down to a few key games and if any upsets happen.

#20 Denver West-Forge Christian & D’Evelyn. The game to watch or Denver West will be next weekends game against D’Evelyn. D’Evelyn sits at #23 and a loss to them could make things very dicey down the stretch.

#21 Florence-Lamar & Manitou Springs. The game to watch for Florence will be against Manitou Springs next week. That is a must win game if Florence loses to Manitou Springs no way they make the playoffs. If they can beat Lamar this week, they probably clinch their playoff spot but if not it will come down to next week game.

#22 Fort Lupton-Manual. Fort Lupton took a huge step forward to making the playoffs with their win over The Academy last night. A win over Manual next week and Fort Lupton will punch their ticket. A loss to Manual and not sure they will be able to stay in the top 24.

#23 D’Evelyn-Denver West. One game remains for D’Evelyn. It could be win or go home in that game for the Jaguars. D’Evelyn has lost 5 straight games so far and probably need to defeat Denver West to get in or they will be hoping teams behind them lose.

#24 Prospect Ridge-Englewood. Their final game is a must win game. They face Englewood who sits at #25 right behind them. Winner probably gets in with the loser needing a ton of help to stay in the top 24. Gotta love a game that truly means something the final week of the season.

#25 Englewood-Prospect Ridge. Englewood got the win last night over Manual to step up a huge matchup against Prospect Ridge next week. As mentioned above win and you give yourself a huge change at the playoffs but lose and not sure you can get in.

#26 Sterling-Eaton & University. For Sterling to get into the playoffs they will need to upset either Eaton or University. Not sure they can get in without a win in one of their final two games.

#27 Woodland Park-La Junta. Woodland Park must upset La Junta to get into the playoffs. Not sure a loss will be enough to jump into the top 24.

#28 Montezuma-Cortez-Basalt & Delta. Montezuma-Cortez will need an upset in one of their final games against Delta or Basalt.

#29 Bayfield-Buena Vista & Ignacio. Bayfield has a decent shot at making a run for the playoffs. They need to upset Buena Vista and should defeat Ignacio in their final game. If they lose to Buena Vista and they can move up to #27 then a win over Ignacio could still be enough.

#30 Gunnison-Pagosa Springs. Must upset Pagosa Springs to get into the playoffs.

Seeded Playoff Bracket using my predictions and the CHSAA Seeding Index (10/16)

#16 Resurrection Christian vs #17 Coal Ridge, Winner plays #1 Classical Academy

#9 Strasburg vs #24 Englewood, Winner plays #8 Alamosa

#13 University vs #20 Pagosa Springs, Winner plays #4 Wellington

#12 Banning Lewis vs #21 Fort Lupton, Winner plays #5 Eaton

#15 Basalt vs #18 Weld Central, Winner plays #2 Elizabeth

#10 Lamar vs #23 D’Evelyn, Winner plays #7 Brush

#14 Aspen vs #19 Denver West, Winner plays #3 Delta

#11 Forge Christian vs #22 Florence, Winner plays #6 La Junta

Class 2A Playoff Projections (IF the Season Ended Today)

This is if the season ended today 10/16/2026. 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/2A

League Champion Predictions ()=CHSAA Seeding Index

(Not in Order)

Crossroads: Weld Central (18)

Metro: Elizabeth (1)

Patriot: Wellington (4)

Tri-Peaks: Banning Lewis (6)

Western Slope: Delta (3)