6A Playoff Race Heats Up: Week 8 Could Shake Up Conference Standings
With just two weeks remaining in the regular season, Idaho's 6A programs are fighting for nine automatic playoff berths, three at-large selections, and four first-round byes.
The road to the 2026 Idaho 6A State Football Playoffs is heating up, and Week 8 could play a major role in determining which teams make the 12-team postseason field.
According to the official IHSAA playoff bracket, the West receives five automatic bids, while the North and East each receive two. Three additional teams will qualify through at-large selections.
The top four seeds will receive first-round byes, with those positions reserved for the North's top qualifier, the East's top qualifier, and the West's top two qualifiers. Those four teams will be seeded according to their final MaxPreps rankings.
With Eagle already clinching the SIC River Division title, several other conference races remain undecided.
Here's a look at the biggest Week 8 matchups and what's at stake. Keep in mind that rankings below teams are according to Idaho Recruit Hub, and not MaxPreps.
No. 5 Boise (7-1) at No. 2 Rocky Mountain (6-1)
Friday, October 16 | 7 PM
Boise: SIC River | Rocky Mountain: SIC Foothills
Idaho Recruit Hub's Game of the Week features two top-five programs in a major Treasure Valley showdown.
Rocky Mountain leads the Foothills Division at 4-0, while Boise sits second in the River Division at 3-1.
A victory for Rocky Mountain would strengthen its position atop the Foothills standings. Boise, meanwhile, looks to improve its postseason résumé and compete for one of the West's top two qualifying positions, which come with first-round byes.
MAXPREPS RANKINGS: Boise No 10 | Rocky Mountain No 2
No. 4 Eagle (5-2) at No. 7 Meridian (5-2)
Friday, October 16 | 7 PM
Eagle: SIC River | Meridian: SIC Foothills
Eagle has already clinched the SIC River Division championship, but the Mustangs still have plenty to play for.
With the West's top two qualifiers receiving first-round byes, Eagle will look to strengthen its postseason positioning.
Meridian sits at 2-2 in the Foothills Division and is looking for a major victory to improve its chances of securing one of the West's five automatic playoff berths.
MAXPREPS RANKINGS: Eagle No 5 | Meridian No 8
No. 3 Rigby (6-1) at No. 13 Highland (3-4)
Friday, October 16 | 7 PM
Both teams: High Country Conference
The defending 6A state champions travel to Highland in a matchup with major playoff implications.
Rigby enters at 1-0 in conference play, tied with Madison atop the standings. Highland sits at 0-1 and needs a victory to get back into the race.
With the East receiving only two automatic playoff berths, every conference game carries significant weight. The East's top qualifier will also receive a first-round bye.
MAXPREPS RANKINGS: Rigby No 3 | Highland No 7
No. 6 Madison (6-1) at No. 9 Thunder Ridge (4-3)
Friday, October 16 | 7 PM
Both teams: High Country Conference
Madison enters tied with Rigby atop the High Country standings at 1-0, while Thunder Ridge sits at 0-1.
A Madison victory would keep the Bobcats in position to compete for the East's top automatic berth and a first-round bye.
Thunder Ridge, meanwhile, has an opportunity to shake up the standings and strengthen its postseason chances.
With only two automatic bids available among four East teams, Friday's results could significantly change the playoff picture.
MAXPREPS RANKINGS: Madison No 6 | Thunder Ridge No 14
No. 10 Lake City (5-2) at No. 1 Coeur d'Alene (7-0)
Friday, October 16 | 7 PM
Both teams: Inland Empire League
One of northern Idaho's biggest rivalries takes center stage as undefeated Coeur d'Alene hosts Lake City.
The Vikings enter at 7-0 and hold the No. 1 spot in the IRH 6A power rankings.
Lake City currently leads the Inland Empire League standings at 1-0, while Coeur d'Alene has yet to play a conference game.
With the North receiving two automatic playoff berths among three teams, Friday's matchup could play a major role in determining the region's top qualifier.
The North's No. 1 qualifier will receive one of the four first-round byes, making this matchup even more important.
MAXPREPS RANKINGS: Lake City No 15 | Coeur d'Alene No 1
No. 8 Mountain View (5-2) vs. No. 11 Owyhee (3-4)
Friday, October 16 | 7 PM
Mountain View: SIC Foothills | Owyhee: SIC River
Mountain View sits second in the Foothills Division at 3-1, trailing Rocky Mountain.
The Mavericks will look to remain in the division title race while strengthening their position among the West's five automatic qualifiers.
Owyhee enters at 1-2 in River Division play and is looking for an important victory to improve its playoff outlook.
MAXPREPS RANKINGS: Mountain View No 4| Owyhee No 11
Other Games to Watch
No. 14 Kuna (3-4) vs. No. 16 Borah (1-6): Kuna sits at 2-2 in the SIC Foothills Division, while Borah is 0-3 in the SIC River Division. Both teams are looking to improve their postseason chances.
No. 12 Capital (3-4) at No. 15 Middleton (1-6): Capital enters at 1-3 in the SIC Foothills Division, while Middleton sits at 1-2 in the SIC River Division. Both programs need a strong finish to improve their playoff outlook.
Understanding the 2026 6A Playoff Format
The official IHSAA bracket features 12 teams, with nine automatic qualifiers and three at-large selections.
Automatic playoff berths:
West (SIC): 5 automatic bids from 11 teams
North (Inland Empire): 2 automatic bids from 3 teams
East (High Country): 2 automatic bids from 4 teams
At-Large: 3 additional teams
Seeds 1–4: North No. 1, East No. 1, West No. 1, and West No. 2 will receive first-round byes. These four teams will be ranked using the final Idaho MaxPreps rankings.
Seeds 5–12: The remaining five automatic qualifiers and three at-large selections will be seeded according to their final MaxPreps rankings.
The higher seed will host each matchup through the semifinals.
The opening round begins October 30–31, with the state championship scheduled for November 20–21.
The Road to the Playoffs
With the regular season winding down, several important questions remain.
Eagle has already secured the SIC River Division championship, while Rocky Mountain looks to finish atop the Foothills Division.
In eastern Idaho, Rigby and Madison are battling for the High Country title, while Coeur d'Alene and Lake City prepare for a major Inland Empire League showdown.
With only nine guaranteed regional berths and three at-large spots available, Week 8 could go a long way toward determining which teams advance and which are left fighting for a postseason opportunity.
Follow Idaho Recruit Hub for scores, updated standings, power rankings, and complete playoff coverage.
View the latest standings: https://idahorecruithub.com/standings