Playoffs · Maine HS football

The road to the title.

Name: Maine high school football playoff picture 2026
Creator: niftisports

Who's in, who's out, and each team's chance to win its region and the state.

Updated Wed Nov 4, 2026 · results through Sat Oct 31

Maine high school football playoffs 2026. Brackets are set in 11 of 11 divisions: Class A North, Class A South, Class B North, Class B South, Class C, Class D North, Class D South, 8-Man Large North, 8-Man Large South, 8-Man Small North and 8-Man Small South. 8-Man state finals are November 14 and Class A-D finals are November 21, 2026.

Full playoff bracket, every class · How the Crabtree Index works

Follow your team. It's free.

Your team on top of every page, plus its proven playoff paths. Want every team's paths? Plus from US$7/mo, 7 days free.

Follow free See Plus

Class A North

4 of 7 make the playoffsStandings →

#TeamW-LMake playoffsWin region est.Win state est.

1 Oxford Hills 7-1 Clinched 70% 25%

2 Portland 7-2 Clinched 21% 3%

3 Windham 6-3 Clinched 5% <1%

4 Bangor 4-4 Clinched 4% <1%

Playoff cut · top 4

5 Edward Little 4-4 Eliminated – –

6 Deering 1-8 Eliminated – –

7 Lewiston 0-8 Eliminated – –

First round (regional semifinal): #1 Oxford Hills v #4 Bangor · #2 Portland v #3 Windham

Class A South

4 of 7 make the playoffsStandings →

#TeamW-LMake playoffsWin region est.Win state est.

1 Thornton 9-0 Clinched 75% 55%

2 Bonny Eagle 8-1 Clinched 23% 15%

3 Massabesic 6-3 Clinched 1% <1%

4 South Portland 4-5 Clinched <1% <1%

Playoff cut · top 4

5 Noble 4-5 Eliminated – –

6 Sanford 1-8 Eliminated – –

7 Scarborough 0-9 Eliminated – –

First round (regional semifinal): #1 Thornton v #4 South Portland · #2 Bonny Eagle v #3 Massabesic

Class B North

6 of 8 make the playoffsStandings →

#TeamW-LMake playoffsByeWin region est.Win state est.

1 Lawrence 8-0 Clinched BYE 65% 55%

2 Cony 7-1 Clinched BYE 27% 21%

3 Skowhegan 5-3 Clinched – 5% 2%

4 Fryeburg 4-4 Clinched – 4% 2%

5 Messalonskee 4-4 Clinched – Out –

Messalonskee: Out (lost the regional quarterfinal to Fryeburg)

6 Brunswick 2-6 Clinched – Out –

Brunswick: Out (lost the regional quarterfinal to Skowhegan)

Playoff cut · top 6

7 Mt. Blue 2-6 Eliminated – – –

8 Camden Hills 1-7 Eliminated – – –

First round (regional quarterfinal): #3 Skowhegan v #6 Brunswick · #4 Fryeburg v #5 Messalonskee · #1 Lawrence bye · #2 Cony bye

Class B South

6 of 7 make the playoffsStandings →

#TeamW-LMake playoffsByeWin region est.Win state est.

1 Marshwood 7-1 Clinched BYE 61% 15%

2 Kennebunk 6-2 Clinched BYE 19% 3%

3 Biddeford 5-3 Clinched – 12% 1%

4 Falmouth 3-5 Clinched – 8% <1%

5 Westbrook 3-5 Clinched – Out –

Westbrook: Out (lost the regional quarterfinal to Falmouth)

6 Cheverus 3-5 Clinched – Out –

Cheverus: Out (lost the regional quarterfinal to Biddeford)

Playoff cut · top 6

7 Gorham 2-6 Eliminated – – –

First round (regional quarterfinal): #3 Biddeford v #6 Cheverus · #4 Falmouth v #5 Westbrook · #1 Marshwood bye · #2 Kennebunk bye

Class C

8 of 12 make the playoffsStandings →

#TeamW-LMake playoffsWin region est.Win state est.

1 Leavitt 9-0 Clinched 64% 64%

2 Greely 8-1 Clinched 18% 18%

3 Hermon 7-2 Clinched 14% 14%

4 Foxcroft 7-2 Clinched 3% 3%

5 Wells 6-3 Clinched <1% <1%

6 Nokomis 4-5 Clinched <1% <1%

7 Oceanside 5-4 Clinched <1% <1%

8 Gardiner 3-6 Clinched <1% <1%

Playoff cut · top 8

9 Medomak ValleyTB 3-6 Eliminated – –

10 YorkTB 3-6 Eliminated – –

11 Brewer 1-8 Eliminated – –

12 Hampden 0-9 Eliminated – –

First round (quarterfinal): #1 Leavitt v #8 Gardiner · #2 Greely v #7 Oceanside · #3 Hermon v #6 Nokomis · #4 Foxcroft v #5 Wells

Class D North

6 of 7 make the playoffsStandings →

#TeamW-LMake playoffsByeWin region est.Win state est.

1 Winslow 7-1 Clinched BYE 93% 65%

2 MCI 6-2 Clinched BYE 3% <1%

3 John Bapst 4-4 Clinched – 3% <1%

4 Mattanawcook 3-5 Clinched – Out –

Mattanawcook: Out (lost the regional quarterfinal to Madison)

5 Madison 2-6 Clinched – <1% <1%

6 Oak Hill 1-7 Clinched – Out –

Oak Hill: Out (lost the regional quarterfinal to John Bapst)

Playoff cut · top 6

7 Belfast 2-6 Eliminated – – –

First round (regional quarterfinal): #3 John Bapst v #6 Oak Hill · #4 Mattanawcook v #5 Madison · #1 Winslow bye · #2 MCI bye

Class D South

6 of 7 make the playoffsStandings →

#TeamW-LMake playoffsByeWin region est.Win state est.

1 Freeport 6-2 Clinched BYE 62% 23%

2 Winthrop 7-1 Clinched BYE 29% 9%

3 Morse 5-3 Clinched – 7% 1%

4 Lisbon 5-3 Clinched – Out –

Lisbon: Out (lost the regional quarterfinal to Dirigo)

5 Dirigo 2-6 Clinched – 2% <1%

6 Mountain Valley 2-6 Clinched – Out –

Mountain Valley: Out (lost the regional quarterfinal to Morse)

Playoff cut · top 6

7 Poland 1-7 Eliminated – – –

First round (regional quarterfinal): #3 Morse v #6 Mountain Valley · #4 Lisbon v #5 Dirigo · #1 Freeport bye · #2 Winthrop bye

8-Man Large North

4 of 5 make the playoffsStandings →

#TeamW-LMake playoffsWin region est.Win state est.

1 Old Town 7-1 Clinched 89% 30%

2 MDI 5-3 Clinched 11% <1%

3 Ellsworth 4-4 Clinched Out –

Ellsworth: Out (lost the regional semifinal to MDI)

4 Houlton 1-7 Clinched Out –

Houlton: Out (lost the regional semifinal to Old Town)

Playoff cut · top 4

5 Waterville 1-7 Eliminated – –

First round (regional semifinal): #1 Old Town v #4 Houlton · #2 MDI v #3 Ellsworth

8-Man Large South

4 of 6 make the playoffsStandings →

#TeamW-LMake playoffsWin region est.Win state est.

1 Yarmouth 8-0 Clinched 90% 66%

2 Spruce MountainTB 6-2 Clinched 10% 3%

3 Cape ElizabethTB 6-2 Clinched Out –

Cape Elizabeth: Out (lost the regional semifinal to Spruce Mountain)

4 Gray-NG 5-2 Clinched Out –

Gray-NG: Out (lost the regional semifinal to Yarmouth)

Playoff cut · top 4

5 Lake Region 2-6 Eliminated – –

6 Mt. Ararat 0-8 Eliminated – –

First round (regional semifinal): #1 Yarmouth v #4 Gray-NG · #2 Spruce Mountain v #3 Cape Elizabeth

8-Man Small North

4 of 5 make the playoffsStandings →

#TeamW-LMake playoffsWin region est.Win state est.

1 Stearns 8-0 Clinched 80% 53%

2 Orono 3-4 Clinched 20% 9%

3 Washington Academy 5-2 Clinched Out –

Washington Academy: Out (lost the regional semifinal to Orono)

4 Bucksport 3-4 Clinched Out –

Bucksport: Out (lost the regional semifinal to Stearns)

Playoff cut · top 4

5 Dexter 2-5 Eliminated – –

First round (regional semifinal): #1 Stearns v #4 Bucksport · #2 Orono v #3 Washington Academy

8-Man Small South

4 of 7 make the playoffsStandings →

#TeamW-LMake playoffsWin region est.Win state est.

1 OOB 8-0 Clinched 91% 37%

2 Boothbay 5-2 Clinched 9% <1%

3 Telstar 3-5 Clinched Out –

Telstar: Out (lost the regional semifinal to Boothbay)

4 Maranacook 3-4 Clinched Out –

Maranacook: Out (lost the regional semifinal to OOB)

Playoff cut · top 4

5 Sacopee Valley 2-6 Eliminated – –

6 Traip 1-7 Eliminated – –

7 Mount View 0-7 Eliminated – –

First round (regional semifinal): #1 OOB v #4 Maranacook · #2 Boothbay v #3 Telstar

Tap a team for every place it can finish. Clinched and Eliminated are proven; % are estimates. TB placed by tiebreak Your team

Why?

Make playoffs, Win region and Win state are how often the team did it in 1,500 played-out seasons (our power rating + the official Crabtree math, brackets and home fields included): estimates, and they can be wrong. CLINCHED, ELIMINATED, 'in with a win' and Bye are proven: we check every combination of the remaining results. Bye: in 6-team brackets (B and D) the top 2 seeds skip the first round.

How the playoff picture works exact · simulated

In each of Maine's 11 high school football divisions, the top 4, 6 or 8 teams by Crabtree Index make the regional playoffs. Regional champions meet for the state title: 8-Man finals are November 14 and Class A-D finals are November 21, 2026. Below is where every division stands after games through Oct 31.

How many teams make it

Division	Teams	Make the playoffs
Class A North	7	top 4
Class A South	7	top 4
Class B North	8	top 6
Class B South	7	top 6
Class C	12	top 8
Class D North	7	top 6
Class D South	7	top 6
8-Man Large North	5	top 4
8-Man Large South	6	top 4
8-Man Small North	5	top 4
8-Man Small South	7	top 4

Qualifier counts as labeled by the MPA.

Every division at a glance

How seeding works

Seeds go by Crabtree Index, not win-loss record alone. Ties are broken by head-to-head, then division record, then overall record, then Heal points. Crabtree explained

Where our numbers come from

Results are public, from the Maine Principals' Association and Maine newspapers. We recompute the Crabtree Index from the same results with the same method and check it against the MPA's numbers every week. Official standings are the MPA's.

What "projected" means

A playoff chance is a projection from the data, and it can be wrong. "Clinched" and "Eliminated" only appear when the math proves it.

What's the Crabtree Index?

The Crabtree Index is how Maine seeds high school football. It adds a team's own winning percentage to its opponents' combined winning percentage and multiplies by 100. A higher index means a better seed.

Worked example (a made-up team):

Team A is 3-1, so its winning percentage is .750.
Its opponents have won 7 of their 16 games combined, so their winning percentage is .4375.
Crabtree Index = (.750 + .4375) × 100 = 118.750.

Three things that surprise people

Your index can move when you don't play. Your opponents' results count, so their wins and losses change your number every week.
Opponents' records are pooled, not averaged. We add up all their wins over all their games, the way the MPA does.
Out-of-state and non-classified opponents count in your own record but as 0-0 in the opponents' pool.

Only completed games count. Heal points don't decide football seeds; they're only the fourth tiebreaker, after head-to-head, division record and overall record.

How the Crabtree Index works, step by step · See every division's standings live · Official standings are kept by the Maine Principals' Association.

The full playoff picture

Where each team stands for a tournament spot, and where the season is projected to finish. Clinched, eliminated and each team's highest and lowest possible seed are exact: every possible combination of the games still to play is checked. Everything else is a projection from simulating the rest of the season: each team's expected final record, its projected seed, its chance to make the field, and its chance to win the title.

Same Crabtree method as the standings; qualifier counts are the MPA's. Status (clinched / eliminated / in the hunt) is exact math. The projected columns: final record, projected final seed, playoff chance and title chances: come from simulating the rest of the season about 1500 times from the power ratings and re-seeding by Crabtree each run. Title is the chance to win the division (for Class C, statewide, that's the state title). Teams play different numbers of games, usually 8, sometimes 9, and out-of-state opponents count in a team's record but not in the Crabtree strength-of-schedule pool, so projected records aren't all out of the same total; seeding is by the Crabtree rate (win% + schedule), not total wins. The projected seeds feed the projected bracket below; play out your own scenarios in the simulator.

We add results as soon as we have them. The MPA updates its official table on its own schedule, so ours can be a step ahead for a day or two.

Brackets set · regular season over

These divisions have played their last regular-season game. The seeds are final from the official Crabtree math (exact Crabtree ties placed by the MPA tiebreak order, head-to-head first) and no result left can change them. The MPA's official brackets decide; game dates and sites come from the MPA.

Class A North

Regional semifinal

#1 Oxford Hills v #4 Bangor Fri, Nov 6 · 7:00 PM · Gouin Field Preview →

#2 Portland v #3 Windham Fri, Nov 6 · Fitzpatrick Stadium Preview →

Class A South

Regional semifinal

#1 Thornton v #4 South Portland Fri, Nov 6 · 7:00 PM · Thornton Academy Hill Stadium Preview →

#2 Bonny Eagle v #3 Massabesic Fri, Nov 6 · Bonny Eagle High School Preview →

Class B North

Regional quarterfinal

#1 Lawrence · first-round bye

#2 Cony · first-round bye

#3 Skowhegan 35–0 #6 Brunswick Final Recap → Skowhegan next: regional semifinal at #2 Cony · Fri, Nov 6 · 7:00 PM · Fuller Field - Cony HS

#4 Fryeburg 48–6 #5 Messalonskee Final Recap → Fryeburg next: regional semifinal at #1 Lawrence · Fri, Nov 6 · 7:00 PM · Pete Cooper Stadium

Regional semifinal

#1 Lawrence v #4 Fryeburg Fri, Nov 6 · 7:00 PM · Pete Cooper Stadium

#2 Cony v #3 Skowhegan Fri, Nov 6 · 7:00 PM · Fuller Field - Cony HS

Class B South

Regional quarterfinal

#1 Marshwood · first-round bye

#2 Kennebunk · first-round bye

#3 Biddeford 35–20 #6 Cheverus Final Recap → Biddeford next: regional semifinal at #2 Kennebunk · Fri, Nov 6 · 6:00 PM · Kennebunk HS Memorial Field

#4 Falmouth 20–14 #5 Westbrook Final Recap → Falmouth next: regional semifinal at #1 Marshwood · Fri, Nov 6 · 6:00 PM · Marshwood HS

Regional semifinal

#1 Marshwood v #4 Falmouth Fri, Nov 6 · 6:00 PM · Marshwood HS

#2 Kennebunk v #3 Biddeford Fri, Nov 6 · 6:00 PM · Kennebunk HS Memorial Field

Class C

Quarterfinal

#1 Leavitt v #8 Gardiner Fri, Nov 6 · 7:00 PM · Leavitt Area HS or Lewiston HS (weather) Preview →

#4 Foxcroft v #5 Wells Fri, Nov 6 · Foxcroft Academy Preview →

#2 Greely v #7 Oceanside Fri, Nov 6 · 7:00 PM · Greely Preview →

#3 Hermon v #6 Nokomis Fri, Nov 6 · Hermon High School Preview →

Class D North

Regional quarterfinal

#1 Winslow · first-round bye

#2 MCI · first-round bye

#3 John Bapst 43–33 #6 Oak Hill Final Recap → John Bapst next: regional semifinal at #2 MCI · Fri, Nov 6 · 7:00 PM · Maine Central Institute Alumni Athletic Complex

#5 Madison 6–0 #4 Mattanawcook Final Recap → Madison next: regional semifinal at #1 Winslow · Sat, Nov 7 · 1:00 PM · Winslow HS

Regional semifinal

#1 Winslow v #5 Madison Sat, Nov 7 · 1:00 PM · Winslow HS

#2 MCI v #3 John Bapst Fri, Nov 6 · 7:00 PM · Maine Central Institute Alumni Athletic Complex

Class D South

Regional quarterfinal

#1 Freeport · first-round bye

#2 Winthrop · first-round bye

#3 Morse 42–6 #6 Mountain Valley Final Recap → Morse next: regional semifinal at #2 Winthrop · Fri, Nov 6 · Winthrop

#5 Dirigo 44–20 #4 Lisbon Final Recap → Dirigo next: regional semifinal at #1 Freeport · Fri, Nov 6 · 6:00 PM · Freeport HS

Regional semifinal

#1 Freeport v #5 Dirigo Fri, Nov 6 · 6:00 PM · Freeport HS

#2 Winthrop v #3 Morse Fri, Nov 6 · Winthrop

8-Man Large North

Regional semifinal

#1 Old Town 60–2 #4 Houlton Final Recap → Old Town next: regional final vs #2 MDI · Sat, Nov 7 · 1:00 PM · Victory Field - OTHS

#2 MDI 22–14 #3 Ellsworth Final Recap → MDI next: regional final at #1 Old Town · Sat, Nov 7 · 1:00 PM · Victory Field - OTHS

Regional final

#1 Old Town v #2 MDI Sat, Nov 7 · 1:00 PM · Victory Field - OTHS

8-Man Large South

Regional semifinal

#1 Yarmouth 52–6 #4 Gray-NG Final Recap → Yarmouth next: regional final vs #2 Spruce Mountain · Fri, Nov 6 · Yarmouth HS Turf

#2 Spruce Mountain 44–16 #3 Cape Elizabeth Final Recap → Spruce Mountain next: regional final at #1 Yarmouth · Fri, Nov 6 · Yarmouth HS Turf

Regional final

#1 Yarmouth v #2 Spruce Mountain Fri, Nov 6 · Yarmouth HS Turf

8-Man Small North

Regional semifinal

#1 Stearns 54–0 #4 Bucksport Final Recap → Stearns next: regional final vs #2 Orono · Fri, Nov 6 · Arthur D. Greenlaw Alumni Field

#2 Orono 64–22 #3 Washington Academy Final Recap → Orono next: regional final at #1 Stearns · Fri, Nov 6 · Arthur D. Greenlaw Alumni Field

Regional final

#1 Stearns v #2 Orono Fri, Nov 6 · Arthur D. Greenlaw Alumni Field

8-Man Small South

Regional semifinal

#1 OOB 42–0 #4 Maranacook Final Recap → OOB next: regional final vs #2 Boothbay · Sat, Nov 7 · 6:00 PM · OOBHS

#2 Boothbay 44–17 #3 Telstar Final Recap → Boothbay next: regional final at #1 OOB · Sat, Nov 7 · 6:00 PM · OOBHS

Regional final

#1 OOB v #2 Boothbay Sat, Nov 7 · 6:00 PM · OOBHS

The projected bracket and playoff chances are part of niftisports Plus

New members get 7 days of Plus free, no card needed. Scores, standings, schedules and predictions stay free for everyone.

Start 7 free days

Already a member? Sign in

Quick answers

How do Maine high school football playoffs work?

Each of Maine's 11 football divisions sends its top 4, 6 or 8 teams by Crabtree Index into a regional playoff. Regional champions meet for the state title: 8-Man finals are November 14 and Class A-D finals are November 21, 2026. Seeding uses the Crabtree Index, not win-loss record alone.

How many teams make the Maine high school football playoffs?

It depends on the division, as labelled by the MPA: 4 in Class A North, Class A South, 8-Man Large North, 8-Man Large South, 8-Man Small North and 8-Man Small South; 6 in Class B North, Class B South, Class D North and Class D South; 8 in Class C.

What is the Crabtree Index?

The Crabtree Index is the MPA's official formula for seeding Maine high school football: your win percentage plus your opponents' pooled win percentage, times 100. Margin and class don't count. Ties are broken at season's end (head-to-head, division record, overall record, Heal points, coin toss).

How are Maine football playoff teams seeded?

By the Crabtree Index, which adds a team's winning percentage to its opponents' combined winning percentage. Ties go to head-to-head, division record, overall record, then Heal points.

When are the playoff seeds final?

When the last regular-season games are final. Until then this page shows each team's best and worst possible seed (exact, from every result still possible) and est. chances from a simulation of the games left. The MPA publishes the official final standings.

When are the Maine high school football state finals in 2026?

8-Man finals are November 14 and Class A-D finals are November 21, 2026 (MPA football bulletin).

The road to the title.

Follow your team. It's free.

Class A North

Class A South

Class B North

Class B South

Class C

Class D North

Class D South

8-Man Large North

8-Man Large South

8-Man Small North

8-Man Small South

How many teams make it

Every division at a glance

How seeding works

Where our numbers come from

What "projected" means

What's the Crabtree Index?

The full playoff picture

Brackets set · regular season over

Watch the what-if:

First round if the season ended now

Quick answers

How do Maine high school football playoffs work?

How many teams make the Maine high school football playoffs?

What is the Crabtree Index?

How are Maine football playoff teams seeded?

When are the playoff seeds final?

When are the Maine high school football state finals in 2026?