Football Football Declaration List (Updated 11/14)

Husker7562

Redshirt
Aug 3, 2021
33
5
8
I believe D1 will have closer to 38-40 teams in it, 32 eligible teams plus the additional teams that choose to opt down and are ineligible.
That is also about the number I had figured up. Depending on the amount of teams that drop to 8-Man. I thought about 36 to 38 teams in D-2 and D-3.
 

Rascal01

Redshirt
Sep 29, 2025
7
3
3
I *think* the following is true.
Class A will have 36 (Existing 32 + Elkhorn North, Bennington, Standing Bear, and Lincoln Northwest).
Class B will have 23 (Existing 25 - Elkhorn North, Bennington, Standing Bear, and Lincoln Northwest, then + Aurora and Gross)
Class A doesn’t need that high of numbers in my opinion, they should be capped at 24 honestly
 
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Alum-Ni

Heisman
Aug 29, 2004
44,227
39,505
113

Some tidbits from Stu Pospisil at the OWH. None of it is new news I don't believe

2026-27

CLASS A

Three-grade enrollment of 425 and higher

CLASS B
Three-grade enrollment between 160 and 424

CLASS C1-C2
Maximum three-grade enrollment of 159. Eligible schools are divided into two classes with approximately equal number of schools in each class. If there is an odd number, the extra team will be added to Class C2

CLASS D1-D2-D3
Maximum three-grade enrollment for playoff eligibility is 55. The 32 largest schools will be in Class D1, the remaining schools are divided equally into Class D2 and Class D3. If there is an odd number, the extra school will be placed into Class D3.

CLASS D6
Maximum three-grade enrollment for playoff eligibility is 27.

======================

Saturday, November 1 is the last day schools can apply for a football cooperative for this scheduling cycle. November 30 is the deadline to declare 11-man, 8-man or 6-man.

======================

The following schools have received competitive equity waivers in football, meaning they will allowed to be playoff eligible even through their three-grade enrollment exceeds the cap for the class they wish to play in:

21 schools applied for the waiver, nine received one.

Alliance (C1)
Schuyler (C2)
Tekamah-Herman (D1)
Wakefield (D1)
Madison (D2)
Humboldt-Table Rock-Steinauer (D3)
Omaha Nation (D3)
Southern Valley (D3)
Morrill (D6)
 

Alum-Ni

Heisman
Aug 29, 2004
44,227
39,505
113
I just looked at the doc, they're listed at 6. I know things have flip flopped for some schools (Leyton, H&H, among others), but as of 1:05 pm on 10/28, they're listed as 6.
They are listed with a "6" in the 8-man column. So I'm assuming yes, they will remain 6-man
 

just_average32

Sophomore
Jan 12, 2010
305
151
27

Some tidbits from Stu Pospisil at the OWH. None of it is new news I don't believe

2026-27

CLASS A

Three-grade enrollment of 425 and higher

CLASS B
Three-grade enrollment between 160 and 424

CLASS C1-C2
Maximum three-grade enrollment of 159. Eligible schools are divided into two classes with approximately equal number of schools in each class. If there is an odd number, the extra team will be added to Class C2

CLASS D1-D2-D3
Maximum three-grade enrollment for playoff eligibility is 55. The 32 largest schools will be in Class D1, the remaining schools are divided equally into Class D2 and Class D3. If there is an odd number, the extra school will be placed into Class D3.

CLASS D6
Maximum three-grade enrollment for playoff eligibility is 27.

======================

Saturday, November 1 is the last day schools can apply for a football cooperative for this scheduling cycle. November 30 is the deadline to declare 11-man, 8-man or 6-man.

======================

The following schools have received competitive equity waivers in football, meaning they will allowed to be playoff eligible even through their three-grade enrollment exceeds the cap for the class they wish to play in:

21 schools applied for the waiver, nine received one.

Alliance (C1)
Schuyler (C2)
Tekamah-Herman (D1)
Wakefield (D1)
Madison (D2)
Humboldt-Table Rock-Steinauer (D3)
Omaha Nation (D3)
Southern Valley (D3)
Morrill (D6)
What’s the playoff situation look like in Class D1, D2, D3? Everyone playing 8 games and having 32 team playoffs? Or are they all going to 9 game schedules and have 16 teams make the playoffs?
 

bigredguy23

Redshirt
Aug 23, 2022
34
12
8
What’s the playoff situation look like in Class D1, D2, D3? Everyone playing 8 games and having 32 team playoffs? Or are they all going to 9 game schedules and have 16 teams make the playoffs?
9 game regular seasons, with 16 teams qualifying for the playoffs. So they'll be in line with the rest of the state.

With the addition of another class, it'll be very interesting to see what they do with that additional state championship game. Do they play them all at Memorial? Do they move the 8 man games to Kearney? Do they move them somewhere else? Has anyone heard anything as to what the plan is for the state championships starting next year?
 

LooseCannon

Heisman
Jan 8, 2008
154,760
18,701
113
9 game regular seasons, with 16 teams qualifying for the playoffs. So they'll be in line with the rest of the state.

With the addition of another class, it'll be very interesting to see what they do with that additional state championship game. Do they play them all at Memorial? Do they move the 8 man games to Kearney? Do they move them somewhere else? Has anyone heard anything as to what the plan is for the state championships starting next year?
I don’t think they’ll be able to get Memorial Stadium for three days. Not sure if you can add a fourth game to the Monday or not. Would be a long day. Right now the schedule is 10:15, 2:45, 7:15
 

LooseCannon

Heisman
Jan 8, 2008
154,760
18,701
113
I think part of the sell of adding a class for some was that D3 will not be scheduled with D1 unless by request of both schools. Might see it, but if you do you'll know it was on their request list.
I would just like to see more cross class matches.
 

Husker7562

Redshirt
Aug 3, 2021
33
5
8
Have an enrollment question for the group. Are the numbers taken for the new cycle from this years 9th-11th or are they taken from the upcoming 9th-llth which would be this years 8th-10th?
 

Alum-Ni

Heisman
Aug 29, 2004
44,227
39,505
113
List was updated on Oct. 30 with the following additions:

11-Man
Aurora
Crete
North Platte
Omaha South
Wahoo Neumann
West Point-Beemer

8-Man
Arcadia/Loup City
Atkinson West Holt
Omaha Nation
Wakefield
Wisner-Pilger

6-Man
Scribner-Snyder
Sioux County
 

SpaghettiSlayer

Redshirt
Jul 3, 2025
26
11
3
With Omaha Nation being added to the list, does this mean they are leaving the All-Nations league and playing NSAA?
 

Alum-Ni

Heisman
Aug 29, 2004
44,227
39,505
113
Updated on October 31 with the following additions

11-Man
Boone Central
Plainview/Osmond
Summerland
Yutan

8-Man
Bloomfield

6-Man
Crawford
 

SpaghettiSlayer

Redshirt
Jul 3, 2025
26
11
3
TeamClassification Change
Bridgeport8-Man to 11-Man
Summerland8-Man to 11-Man
Plainview/Osmond11-Man (new co-op)
Heartland/Hampton (H&H)11-Man (new co-op)
Conestoga11-Man to 8-Man
Centura11-Man to 8-Man
Tekamah-Herman11-Man to 8-Man
Ponca11-Man to 8-Man
Cross County11-Man to 8-Man
Aquinas Catholic11-Man to 8-Man
Oakland-Craig11-Man to 8-Man
Omaha NationNon-NSAA to 8-Man?
Walthill8-Man to Non-NSAA?
Morrill8-Man to 6-Man
McCool Junction8-Man to 6-Man
Riverside/Spalding Ac.8-Man to 6-Man
Scribner/Snyder6-Man (independent from Logan View)
 

jonh142881

Redshirt
Oct 10, 2025
7
4
3
Are the enrollment numbers posted on the NSAA site? If these schools are jumping from 8 man to 11 man, C2 will have more smaller enrollment schools coming in, which will push the halfway point higher and push larger C2 schools up, correct?
 

hailvictors2

Senior
Jul 31, 2009
1,152
720
113
Are the enrollment numbers posted on the NSAA site? If these schools are jumping from 8 man to 11 man, C2 will have more smaller enrollment schools coming in, which will push the halfway point higher and push larger C2 schools up, correct?
I think it will be the opposite of this. There will be less 11-man teams. More teams moving from 11 to 8 than 8 to 11. And I think Aurora and Gross are moving to B, which means 2 less teams in C1/C2 to begin with.
 

Dynasty Dreaming

Sophomore
Jun 2, 2022
178
187
43
I think it will be the opposite of this. There will be less 11-man teams. More teams moving from 11 to 8 than 8 to 11. And I think Aurora and Gross are moving to B, which means 2 less teams in C1/C2 to begin with.
Looking at the list above, there will be less schools in C to begin with. That would mean the C2 line moves up. I noticed Bergan put in a proposal to have a cap on how big you can be and be in C2, which sort of makes sense.

Any idea what Clarkson and Leigh will be doing, 6 man or 8 man?
If I had to guess, Leigh will be 6, Clarkson may be 8.

If I were to guess, Leigh will be 8 man, and Clarkson won't have a team. That's based on the information read about the number of boys out from each community.
 

Eagle3898

Redshirt
Mar 3, 2015
41
7
8
Looking at the list above, there will be less schools in C to begin with. That would mean the C2 line moves up. I noticed Bergan put in a proposal to have a cap on how big you can be and be in C2, which sort of makes sense.


If I had to guess, Leigh will be 6, Clarkson may be 8.

If I were to guess, Leigh will be 8 man, and Clarkson won't have a team. That's based on the information read about the number of boys out from each community
Clarkson will field a team
 

Bubman86

Freshman
Jul 25, 2016
87
50
18
Looking at the list above, there will be less schools in C to begin with. That would mean the C2 line moves up. I noticed Bergan put in a proposal to have a cap on how big you can be and be in C2, which sort of makes sense.


If I had to guess, Leigh will be 6, Clarkson may be 8.

If I were to guess, Leigh will be 8 man, and Clarkson won't have a team. That's based on the information read about the number of boys out from each community.
Clarkson is playing in D3.
 

ACICOD is BACK

Redshirt
Jul 4, 2025
20
23
3
Here's my best guess of what teams who are UNDECLARED will do:

11-Man
Archbishop Bergan
Auburn
Bennington
Chadron
Fairbury
Falls City
Fillmore Central
Fort Calhoun
Gering
Gibbon
Hershey
Lincoln High
Mt. Michael
Omaha Benson
Omaha Central
Omaha North
Omaha Northwest
Omaha Roncalli
Omaha Westview
Palmyra
Papillion-LaVista
Pierce
Platteview
Wood River
Yutan

8 Man:
Amherst
Archangels Catholic
Blue Hill
Brady
Burwell
Centennial
FCSH
Freeman
Gordon-Rushville
Hastings St. Cecilia
High Plains
HTRS
Leigh
Madison
Mead
Nebraska Lutheran
OBT/CC/QA
OCA/Omaha Street
Shelton
Southwest
St. Ed/Newman Grove
Superior
Wauneta-Palisade
Wilcox-Hildreth

6 Man:
Creek Valley
Giltner
Red Cloud
Sandhills Valley
Sterling
Stuart


NO FOOTBALL:
College View Academy
 

bigredguy23

Redshirt
Aug 23, 2022
34
12
8
Here's my best guess of what teams who are UNDECLARED will do:

11-Man
Archbishop Bergan
Auburn
Bennington
Chadron
Fairbury
Falls City
Fillmore Central
Fort Calhoun
Gering
Gibbon
Hershey
Lincoln High
Mt. Michael
Omaha Benson
Omaha Central
Omaha North
Omaha Northwest
Omaha Roncalli
Omaha Westview
Palmyra
Papillion-LaVista
Pierce
Platteview
Wood River
Yutan

8 Man:
Amherst
Archangels Catholic
Blue Hill
Brady
Burwell
Centennial
FCSH
Freeman
Gordon-Rushville
Hastings St. Cecilia
High Plains
HTRS
Leigh
Madison
Mead
Nebraska Lutheran
OBT/CC/QA
OCA/Omaha Street
Shelton
Southwest
St. Ed/Newman Grove
Superior
Wauneta-Palisade
Wilcox-Hildreth

6 Man:
Creek Valley
Giltner
Red Cloud
Sandhills Valley
Sterling
Stuart


NO FOOTBALL:
College View Academy
I think you're spot on with the 11's coming down to 8, like Amherst, Gordon-Rushville, STC, Superior, etc. Without looking at enrollment numbers, I'm surprised to see a number of 6 man teams moving up in your estimation. Either way, thank you for sharing! Wouldn't be surprised if you're basically exactly right!
 

Husker7562

Redshirt
Aug 3, 2021
33
5
8
Here's my best guess of what teams who are UNDECLARED will do:

11-Man
Archbishop Bergan
Auburn
Bennington
Chadron
Fairbury
Falls City
Fillmore Central
Fort Calhoun
Gering
Gibbon
Hershey
Lincoln High
Mt. Michael
Omaha Benson
Omaha Central
Omaha North
Omaha Northwest
Omaha Roncalli
Omaha Westview
Palmyra
Papillion-LaVista
Pierce
Platteview
Wood River
Yutan

8 Man:
Amherst
Archangels Catholic
Blue Hill
Brady
Burwell
Centennial
FCSH
Freeman
Gordon-Rushville
Hastings St. Cecilia
High Plains
HTRS
Leigh
Madison
Mead
Nebraska Lutheran
OBT/CC/QA
OCA/Omaha Street
Shelton
Southwest
St. Ed/Newman Grove
Superior
Wauneta-Palisade
Wilcox-Hildreth

6 Man:
Creek Valley
Giltner
Red Cloud
Sandhills Valley
Sterling
Stuart


NO FOOTBALL:
College View Academy
Hastings St. Cecilia moving down to 8-man would surprise me a little but not familiar with the schools current situation. Seams crazy to even be discussing them moving down.
 

just_average32

Sophomore
Jan 12, 2010
305
151
27
Hastings St. Cecilia moving down to 8-man would surprise me a little but not familiar with the schools current situation. Seams crazy to even be discussing them moving down.
Their boy number has been in the 30s for a while now and I don't think it will get bigger. Roster size is shrinking under 30 and the last 2 years they went 0-9 and 1-8. Would be more shocked if they didn't drop to 8man. If I am them I talk to North Platte St. Pat's and see how it worked out for them. Lacking numbers and continuing to lose will only drive kids away.
 
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Husker7562

Redshirt
Aug 3, 2021
33
5
8
But why would they drop now? It seems like they have been able to drop for the last couple cycles?
 

Husker7562

Redshirt
Aug 3, 2021
33
5
8
It seems like a majority of the parochial schools are all hanging out at the bottom of their class is that designed or just a sign of the times?
 

bigredguy23

Redshirt
Aug 23, 2022
34
12
8
My guess would be too many holding onto the past in the community and not wanting to make the change. Might take a couple of really down years for them to make the decision. I could see that one going either way.
 

just_average32

Sophomore
Jan 12, 2010
305
151
27
It seems like a majority of the parochial schools are all hanging out at the bottom of their class is that designed or just a sign of the times?
Sign of the times. Private schools usually have more participation numbers but they aren't immune to the problem. The tradition and optics of dropping down to 8-man is always a concern because it would give the perception of an enrollment issue. Other public schools have gone through similar debates within the school/community. It's just now starting to finally hit private schools.
 

Alum-Ni

Heisman
Aug 29, 2004
44,227
39,505
113
Updated on Nov. 4 with the following additions

11-Man
Omaha North
Omaha Roncalli

8-Man
Clarkson
Leigh
Madison
Wilcox-Hildreth
 

Alum-Ni

Heisman
Aug 29, 2004
44,227
39,505
113
Classifications posted on the declaration sheet so far include:

Alliance (C1 - waiver)
Chase County (C2 - opt)
Lincoln Northwest (A - opt)
Lincoln Standing Bear (A - opt)
Madison (D2 - waiver)
Morrill (D6 - waiver)
Nebraska City (C1 - opt)
Omaha Nation (D3 - waiver)
Schuyler (C2 - waiver)
Southern (D3 - opt)
Southern Valley (D3 - waiver)
Tekamah-Herman (D1 - waiver)
Wakefield (D1 - waiver)
Winside (D3 - opt)
 

JAG164

Freshman
May 4, 2025
40
78
18
Clarkson and Leigh both 8-man. Will be district foes in a D3 district one would assume. Interesting..