Week 9 Preview — Part 1
Silver Eagles sit fifth in the Division 2 playoff rankings, with Friday's results determining their postseason path.
Coming Tomorrow — Part 2: Monona Grove vs. DeForest Game Preview
With one week remaining in the Wisconsin high school football regular season, Monona Grove finds itself in an interesting position.
The Silver Eagles are 7–1, ranked No. 4 in the Division 2 Coaches Poll and No. 5 in the Division 2 WIAA Playoff Point Matrix. Despite last week's narrow loss to Waunakee, MG remains in contention for one of the four No. 1 seeds in the Division 2 playoffs.
The most likely outcome is a No. 2 seed, but Friday's results across Wisconsin could change that.
MG controls part of its own future when it hosts DeForest on Friday night. The rest will depend on what happens in several other games, including some involving teams Monona Grove defeated earlier this season.
And for DeForest, Friday carries even greater urgency. The Norskies currently occupy the 32nd and final projected Division 2 playoff qualifying position, putting their postseason hopes directly on the line.
How Wisconsin's Playoff Point System Works
Wisconsin uses a playoff point system that rewards teams for winning games and for defeating opponents that also win games.
Simply put, winning matters, but who you beat matters too.
The system calculates a Playoff Qualifying Score (PQS) using two primary components.
Tier 1 — Points for Victories
Teams receive points for each victory based on the division of the opponent they defeat. Beating a larger-division opponent earns slightly more points than beating a smaller-division opponent.
For example, a victory over a Division 1 school is worth 6.5 Tier 1 points, while defeating a Division 2 school earns 6.0 points. Those points are averaged across the team's games played.
Tier 2 — Strength of Victory
This is where things get interesting.
A team also earns credit based on the victories accumulated by opponents it has already defeated. Beat a team that goes on to win seven games, and that victory becomes more valuable than beating a team that finishes 1–8.
That means Monona Grove can improve its playoff rating Friday not only by defeating DeForest, but also when teams MG beat earlier in the year win their final games.
The system rewards teams for both their own success and the strength of their schedule.
For full rankings and details, visit the 2026 Division 2 Playoff Matrix maintained by Andy LaVoy.
Where Monona Grove Stands Entering Week 9
According to Andy LaVoy's unofficial Division 2 Playoff Matrix, updated following Week 8, these are the top eight teams entering the final regular-season games:
Rank | Team | Record | Playoff Points |
1 | Notre Dame | 8–0 | 31.94 |
2 | New Richmond | 8–0 | 31.56 |
3 | Union Grove | 8–0 | 30.35 |
4 | Elkhorn | 7–1 | 26.37 |
5 | Monona Grove | 7–1 | 23.71 |
6 | Holmen | 7–1 | 23.16 |
7 | Beaver Dam | 7–1 | 22.81 |
8 | Homestead | 7–1 | 21.99 |
Rankings reflect the unofficial Week 8 matrix as of October 12. Final ratings and seeds will be established after Week 9.
MG currently sits fifth, just ahead of Holmen, Beaver Dam and Homestead.
The important distinction is that the four highest-rated teams in each division receive No. 1 seeds, while teams ranked fifth through eighth receive No. 2 seeds.
So although MG currently projects as one of the top No. 2 seeds, the Silver Eagles remain close enough to the top four to make Friday's results especially interesting.
How Division 2 Playoff Seeding Works
The WIAA's Division 2 tournament includes 32 qualifying teams divided into four eight-team regions.
The statewide point rankings determine each team's seed:
Ranks 1–4: Four No. 1 seeds
Ranks 5–8: Four No. 2 seeds
Ranks 9–12: Four No. 3 seeds
The remaining teams fill the No. 4 through No. 8 seeds.
The No. 1 seeds are placed into separate regions, with the highest-ranked and fourth-ranked No. 1 seeds on one side of the state semifinal bracket, and the second- and third-ranked No. 1 seeds on the other.
If all four No. 1 seeds advance through their regions, the state semifinals would feature the overall No. 1 against No. 4 and No. 2 against No. 3.
The other interesting feature is how No. 2 seeds are assigned to regions.
Rather than simply pairing the fifth-ranked team with the fourth-ranked team, the WIAA evaluates travel distances between the four No. 1 seeds and the four No. 2 seeds.
The goal is to find the regional pairings that minimize cumulative travel. The four No. 2 seeds are distributed among the four No. 1 seeds using geographic considerations.
Those teams would be positioned to meet in the third round, the sectional championship, should both advance. The No. 1 seed would host that matchup.
This means MG's ultimate playoff region could change considerably depending on which teams finish in the top four.
Three No. 1 Seeds Appear Secure. Who Gets the Fourth?
According to projections from Badger Bracketology, three of the four Division 2 No. 1 seeds appear firmly established entering Week 9:
New Richmond, Notre Dame and Union Grove.
New Richmond faces a talented Marshfield team in Week 9. A victory would put New Richmond in a strong position to claim the top overall No. 1 seed.
Notre Dame and Union Grove, both undefeated at 8–0, enter their final regular-season games as heavy favorites.
That leaves the fourth No. 1 seed as the biggest remaining question.
Although Elkhorn currently holds fourth place in the Week 8 point standings, Badger Bracketology projects that Holmen can claim the final No. 1 seed by defeating La Crosse Logan on Friday.
Holmen suffered its first loss against La Crosse Central last week, but its projected final point total with a Week 9 victory would still be enough to claim a top-four position.
If Holmen wins, the picture becomes considerably clearer.
If Holmen loses, things get much more interesting for Monona Grove.
What Would It Take for MG to Earn a No. 1 Seed?
If Holmen loses to La Crosse Logan, the fourth No. 1 seed could come down to Elkhorn, Monona Grove and Homestead, assuming the other relevant results play out as projected.
According to Badger Bracketology, Elkhorn currently has the advantage if the remaining games go according to expectations.
But Monona Grove has another possible path.
Two teams MG defeated earlier this season — Janesville Parker and Madison La Follette — could significantly influence its final rating.
An upset victory by either team would improve MG's Tier 2 strength-of-victory points. Under the projected Week 9 scenarios, that additional credit could be enough to push the Silver Eagles ahead of Elkhorn.
That creates an unusual situation.
Monona Grove fans will naturally be cheering for an MG victory Friday, but they may also find themselves following the results of Janesville Parker and Madison La Follette.
Those games could matter almost as much as the result at John Klement Stadium in determining whether MG finishes as a No. 1 or No. 2 seed.
The bottom line: MG still has a path to a No. 1 seed, but it would require help from other teams.
A No. 2 seed remains the most likely result. There is also a small possibility of slipping into the No. 3 seed group if several results go against the Silver Eagles.
Which Region Could MG Land In?
There is another reason to watch the Holmen game closely.
If Holmen wins and the projected top seeds fall into place, Badger Bracketology anticipates the following likely regional pairings:
Projected No. 1 seed | Projected No. 2 seed |
New Richmond | Monona Grove |
Holmen | Beaver Dam |
Union Grove | Elkhorn |
Notre Dame | Homestead |
These are conditional projections, not official WIAA brackets.
That scenario would place Monona Grove in New Richmond's region, potentially setting up a third-round meeting between the Silver Eagles and one of the state's strongest undefeated teams.
If Holmen loses, the regional alignment could change substantially depending on whether Elkhorn, MG or Homestead claims the fourth No. 1 position.
There are still several moving pieces, and nothing becomes official until the WIAA completes its rankings and regional assignments.
DeForest Is Fighting for the Final Playoff Spot
For Friday's opponent, the stakes are especially high. After eight weeks, DeForest sits 32nd in the Division 2 Playoff Matrix — the final position. A victory over No. 4 Monona Grove would be significant for the Norskies, giving them another win and improving their playoff rating enough to secure a postseason berth under the current projections.
A loss would leave DeForest dependent on results elsewhere.
Badger Bracketology estimates the Norskies would still have roughly a 40% chance of qualifying with a loss, depending on how the remaining games unfold.
That makes Friday a meaningful contest for both programs.
MG is working toward one of the highest seeds in Division 2. DeForest is fighting to make the 32-team field.
The two teams arrive with very different records, but both have plenty riding on the final regular-season game.
Friday Night Results Set Up Saturday's Playoff Reveal
Every Week 9 game in Wisconsin counts toward the final playoff point ratings, including the victories earned by teams that have already played each other earlier in the season.
By late Friday night, the regular season will be complete and the final numbers will determine the 32 qualifying teams and the regional brackets in each division.
Then comes the announcement everyone will be waiting for.
WIAA Football Playoff Bracket Reveal Show
Saturday, October 17, 2026 — 10:00 a.m.
The hourlong program will air on the WIAA Statewide Television Network, including Catchy Comedy (WKOW Channel 27.2) in the Madison area. It will also be livestreamed on the WKOW website.
The show will reveal which teams qualified, their playoff seeds, their regional assignments and their first-round opponents.
For MG, the difference between a No. 1 and No. 2 seed could affect where the Silver Eagles travel, whom they face and their possible route through the postseason.
But first, there's still one game left to play.
Monona Grove has an opportunity to finish the regular season 8–1, earn a fourth consecutive victory over DeForest and strengthen its position before Saturday's bracket announcement.
And although MG is guaranteed to have plenty of interest in Friday's games around Wisconsin, the Silver Eagles' first priority is straightforward.
Finish the regular season with a win. Then see where the playoff points put them.
Coming Tomorrow: Week 9 Preview — Part 2
DeForest Norskies at No. 4 Monona Grove Silver Eagles
Friday, October 16 — 7:00 p.m. | John Klement Stadium
Tomorrow we'll take a closer look at the on-field matchup, including DeForest's recent two-game winning streak, MG's key players and statistical leaders, and the history of a rivalry that has produced everything from defensive shutouts to one of Wisconsin's highest-scoring games.
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