final · back to 2026 · North · Group 5 · 24 schools
Playoff picture
Through Week 5·1 clinched, 23 in the hunt, 0 out·This week's clinchesOSI within ~0.5 of official · why
Taking the season as ending after Week 5, with every later game still to be played. "Clinched" and "eliminated" are printed only when every combination of the remaining results says so; "virtually" means all but certain, not yet proven. Tap any status to see the work.
This week's clinch watch 0 This week's clinch watchTeams that clinch a playoff spot with a win this week, or with a win plus one other result. Found by fixing the win and searching this week's other games for the smallest set that proves the spot.Show the work →
This week's clinch watch
Teams that clinch a playoff spot with a win this week, or with a win plus one other result. Found by fixing the win and searching this week's other games for the smallest set that proves the spot.Show the work →Nobody clinches with a win alone, or a win plus one other result, this week.
Clinched 1 Clinched a playoff spotNo combination of the remaining results can leave the team outside the top 16. "Clinched" is printed only when that is proved; "virtually clinched" means every simulated season and a search for a counterexample agree, but it is not yet proved.Show the work →
Clinched a playoff spot
No combination of the remaining results can leave the team outside the top 16. "Clinched" is printed only when that is proved; "virtually clinched" means every simulated season and a search for a counterexample agree, but it is not yet proved.Show the work →- 1Bridgewater-RaritanBridgewater-Raritan has virtually clinched a playoff spot (>99.9%). 20,000 of 20,000 simulated seasons keep them there and a 500-try search found no scenario that does not; not yet proved.
On the bubble 9 Chance of a playoff spotShare of 20,000 simulated finishes to the season in which the team lands in the top 16. Each remaining game is drawn from the Strength Index line, so this is an estimate, never a proof.Show the work →
Chance of a playoff spot
Share of 20,000 simulated finishes to the season in which the team lands in the top 16. Each remaining game is drawn from the Strength Index line, so this is an estimate, never a proof.Show the work →- 12BayonneBayonne is in the hunt for a playoff spot (98%). Can finish anywhere from 1st to 24th.
- 13ColumbiaColumbia is in the hunt for a playoff spot (51%). Can finish anywhere from 1st to 24th.
- 14MorristownMorristown is in the hunt for a playoff spot (90%). Can finish anywhere from 1st to 24th.
- 15PassaicPassaic is in the hunt for a playoff spot (77%). Can finish anywhere from 1st to 24th.
- 16LindenLinden is in the hunt for a playoff spot (60%). Could still finish as high as 1st, or ineligible with fewer than two wins vs NJSIAA members.
- 17PlainfieldPlainfield is in the hunt for a playoff spot (83%). Can finish anywhere from 1st to 24th.
- 18MontclairMontclair is in the hunt for a playoff spot (5%). Could still finish as high as 1st, or ineligible with fewer than two wins vs NJSIAA members.
- 19Paterson EastsidePaterson Eastside is in the hunt for a playoff spot (11%). Could still finish as high as 1st, or ineligible with fewer than two wins vs NJSIAA members.
- 20UnionUnion is in the hunt for a playoff spot (25%). Could still finish as high as 1st, or ineligible with fewer than two wins vs NJSIAA members.
Bayonne
Morristown
Passaic
Linden
Plainfield
Montclair
UnionEliminated 0 Eliminated from the playoffsNo combination of the remaining results can put the team in the top 16, or it cannot reach two wins against NJSIAA members. "Virtually eliminated" means no simulated season and no search found a way in, but it is not yet proved.Show the work →
Eliminated from the playoffs
No combination of the remaining results can put the team in the top 16, or it cannot reach two wins against NJSIAA members. "Virtually eliminated" means no simulated season and no search found a way in, but it is not yet proved.Show the work →Nobody is out yet.
Still in the hunt 14 Chance of a playoff spotShare of 20,000 simulated finishes to the season in which the team lands in the top 16. Each remaining game is drawn from the Strength Index line, so this is an estimate, never a proof.Show the work →
Chance of a playoff spot
Share of 20,000 simulated finishes to the season in which the team lands in the top 16. Each remaining game is drawn from the Strength Index line, so this is an estimate, never a proof.Show the work →- 2PiscatawayPiscataway is in the hunt for a playoff spot (>99.9%). Can finish anywhere from 1st to 24th.
- 3West OrangeWest Orange is in the hunt for a playoff spot (>99.9%). Can finish anywhere from 1st to 24th.
- 4East Orange CampusEast Orange Campus is in the hunt for a playoff spot (>99.9%). Can finish anywhere from 1st to 24th.
- 5Passaic County TechPassaic County Tech is in the hunt for a playoff spot (>99.9%). Can finish anywhere from 1st to 24th.
- 6Union CityUnion City is in the hunt for a playoff spot (>99.9%). Can finish anywhere from 1st to 24th.
- 7LivingstonLivingston is in the hunt for a playoff spot (99.8%). Can finish anywhere from 1st to 24th.
- 8ElizabethElizabeth is in the hunt for a playoff spot (99.8%). Can finish anywhere from 1st to 24th.
- 9IrvingtonIrvington is in the hunt for a playoff spot (>99.9%). Can finish anywhere from 1st to 24th.
- 10BloomfieldBloomfield is in the hunt for a playoff spot (99%). Can finish anywhere from 1st to 24th.
- 11RidgewoodRidgewood is in the hunt for a playoff spot (>99.9%). Can finish anywhere from 1st to 24th.
- 21J.P. StevensJ.P. Stevens is in the hunt for a playoff spot (0.3%). Could still finish as high as 1st, or ineligible with fewer than two wins vs NJSIAA members.
- 22BarringerBarringer is in the hunt for a playoff spot (0.5%). Could still finish as high as 1st, or ineligible with fewer than two wins vs NJSIAA members.
- 23Paterson KennedyPaterson Kennedy is in the hunt for a playoff spot (0.1%). Could still finish as high as 1st, or ineligible with fewer than two wins vs NJSIAA members.
- 24CliftonClifton is in the hunt for a playoff spot (0.8%). Could still finish as high as 1st, or ineligible with fewer than two wins vs NJSIAA members.
West Orange
Union City
Livingston
Elizabeth
Irvington
Bloomfield
Ridgewood
CliftonSeeding 20 Seeding locksUnder the 2026 snake, overall 1–8 are the section seeds 1–4 (a first-round home game) and overall 1–2 are the two #1 seeds. A lock is printed only when every combination of the remaining results keeps the team above that line; "virtually" means simulation or the SI margin cap, not a proof.Show the work →
Seeding locks
Under the 2026 snake, overall 1–8 are the section seeds 1–4 (a first-round home game) and overall 1–2 are the two #1 seeds. A lock is printed only when every combination of the remaining results keeps the team above that line; "virtually" means simulation or the SI margin cap, not a proof.Show the work →2025 geographic split: the top 16 split into North 1 and North 2 by Northing, so seeds are ranges and no section is locked from rank. View under 2026 snake seeding.
Locked overall #1 0 Section lockOverall #1's traditional section takes overall 1, 4, 5, 8, 9, 12, 13 and 16; the other section takes the rest. A team's section is locked only when every rank it can still finish at is on one side of the snake and the eventual #1's section is settled. Fans expect geography; the snake does not use it.Show the work →
Section lock
Overall #1's traditional section takes overall 1, 4, 5, 8, 9, 12, 13 and 16; the other section takes the rest. A team's section is locked only when every rank it can still finish at is on one side of the snake and the eventual #1's section is settled. Fans expect geography; the snake does not use it.Show the work →Nobody has locked overall #1.
Locked #1 seed 0 Section lockOverall #1's traditional section takes overall 1, 4, 5, 8, 9, 12, 13 and 16; the other section takes the rest. A team's section is locked only when every rank it can still finish at is on one side of the snake and the eventual #1's section is settled. Fans expect geography; the snake does not use it.Show the work →
Section lock
Overall #1's traditional section takes overall 1, 4, 5, 8, 9, 12, 13 and 16; the other section takes the rest. A team's section is locked only when every rank it can still finish at is on one side of the snake and the eventual #1's section is settled. Fans expect geography; the snake does not use it.Show the work →Nobody has locked a #1 seed.
Locked home game 0 Section lockOverall #1's traditional section takes overall 1, 4, 5, 8, 9, 12, 13 and 16; the other section takes the rest. A team's section is locked only when every rank it can still finish at is on one side of the snake and the eventual #1's section is settled. Fans expect geography; the snake does not use it.Show the work →
Section lock
Overall #1's traditional section takes overall 1, 4, 5, 8, 9, 12, 13 and 16; the other section takes the rest. A team's section is locked only when every rank it can still finish at is on one side of the snake and the eventual #1's section is settled. Fans expect geography; the snake does not use it.Show the work →Nobody has locked a first-round home game yet.
Locked in, seed open 1 Section-seed rangeThe best and worst section seeds the team can still land on, from its best- and worst-case overall rank through the snake table (1–2 → 1 seed, 3–4 → 2, 5–6 → 3, 7–8 → 4, and so on).Show the work →
Section-seed range
The best and worst section seeds the team can still land on, from its best- and worst-case overall rank through the snake table (1–2 → 1 seed, 3–4 → 2, 5–6 → 3, 7–8 → 4, and so on).Show the work →- 1Bridgewater-RaritanBridgewater-Raritan has virtually locked a playoff spot (>99.9%); not yet proved to finish at or above overall #16 (the cut). Can finish as high as the 1 seed, or miss the field (assuming no 42-point-plus margins move Strength Index). Section: North 1 or North 2 (2025 geographic split: set by Northing once the field is known).
Bubble 19
- 2PiscatawayPiscataway is in the hunt for a playoff spot (>99.9%). Can finish anywhere from 1st to 24th. Can finish as high as the 1 seed, or miss the field (assuming no 42-point-plus margins move Strength Index). Section: North 1 or North 2 (2025 geographic split: set by Northing once the field is known).
- 3West OrangeWest Orange is in the hunt for a playoff spot (>99.9%). Can finish anywhere from 1st to 24th. Can finish as high as the 1 seed, or miss the field (assuming no 42-point-plus margins move Strength Index). Section: North 1 or North 2 (2025 geographic split: set by Northing once the field is known).
- 4East Orange CampusEast Orange Campus is in the hunt for a playoff spot (>99.9%). Can finish anywhere from 1st to 24th. Can finish as high as the 1 seed, or miss the field (assuming no 42-point-plus margins move Strength Index). Section: North 1 or North 2 (2025 geographic split: set by Northing once the field is known).
- 5Passaic County TechPassaic County Tech is in the hunt for a playoff spot (>99.9%). Can finish anywhere from 1st to 24th. Can finish as high as the 1 seed, or miss the field (assuming no 42-point-plus margins move Strength Index). Section: North 1 or North 2 (2025 geographic split: set by Northing once the field is known).
- 6Union CityUnion City is in the hunt for a playoff spot (>99.9%). Can finish anywhere from 1st to 24th. Can finish as high as the 1 seed, or miss the field (assuming no 42-point-plus margins move Strength Index). Section: North 1 or North 2 (2025 geographic split: set by Northing once the field is known).
- 7LivingstonLivingston is in the hunt for a playoff spot (99.8%). Can finish anywhere from 1st to 24th. Can finish as high as the 1 seed, or miss the field (assuming no 42-point-plus margins move Strength Index). Section: North 1 or North 2 (2025 geographic split: set by Northing once the field is known).
- 8ElizabethElizabeth is in the hunt for a playoff spot (99.8%). Can finish anywhere from 1st to 24th. Can finish as high as the 1 seed, or miss the field (assuming no 42-point-plus margins move Strength Index). Section: North 1 or North 2 (2025 geographic split: set by Northing once the field is known).
- 9IrvingtonIrvington is in the hunt for a playoff spot (>99.9%). Can finish anywhere from 1st to 24th. Can finish as high as the 1 seed, or miss the field (assuming no 42-point-plus margins move Strength Index). Section: North 1 or North 2 (2025 geographic split: set by Northing once the field is known).
- 10BloomfieldBloomfield is in the hunt for a playoff spot (99%). Can finish anywhere from 1st to 24th. Can finish as high as the 1 seed, or miss the field (assuming no 42-point-plus margins move Strength Index). Section: North 1 or North 2 (2025 geographic split: set by Northing once the field is known).
- 11RidgewoodRidgewood is in the hunt for a playoff spot (>99.9%). Can finish anywhere from 1st to 24th. Can finish as high as the 1 seed, or miss the field (assuming no 42-point-plus margins move Strength Index). Section: North 1 or North 2 (2025 geographic split: set by Northing once the field is known).
- 12BayonneBayonne is in the hunt for a playoff spot (98%). Can finish anywhere from 1st to 24th. Can finish as high as the 1 seed, or miss the field (assuming no 42-point-plus margins move Strength Index). Section: North 1 or North 2 (2025 geographic split: set by Northing once the field is known).
- 13ColumbiaColumbia is in the hunt for a playoff spot (51%). Can finish anywhere from 1st to 24th. Can finish as high as the 1 seed, or miss the field (assuming no 42-point-plus margins move Strength Index). Section: North 1 or North 2 (2025 geographic split: set by Northing once the field is known).
- 14MorristownMorristown is in the hunt for a playoff spot (90%). Can finish anywhere from 1st to 24th. Can finish as high as the 1 seed, or miss the field (assuming no 42-point-plus margins move Strength Index). Section: North 1 or North 2 (2025 geographic split: set by Northing once the field is known).
- 15PassaicPassaic is in the hunt for a playoff spot (77%). Can finish anywhere from 1st to 24th. Can finish as high as the 1 seed, or miss the field (assuming no 42-point-plus margins move Strength Index). Section: North 1 or North 2 (2025 geographic split: set by Northing once the field is known).
- 16LindenLinden is in the hunt for a playoff spot (60%). Could still finish as high as 1st, or ineligible with fewer than two wins vs NJSIAA members. Can finish as high as the 1 seed, or miss the field (assuming no 42-point-plus margins move Strength Index). Section: North 1 or North 2 (2025 geographic split: set by Northing once the field is known).
- 17PlainfieldPlainfield is in the hunt for a playoff spot (83%). Can finish anywhere from 1st to 24th. Can finish as high as the 1 seed, or miss the field (assuming no 42-point-plus margins move Strength Index). Section: North 1 or North 2 (2025 geographic split: set by Northing once the field is known).
- 18MontclairMontclair is in the hunt for a playoff spot (5%). Could still finish as high as 1st, or ineligible with fewer than two wins vs NJSIAA members. Can finish as high as the 1 seed, or miss the field (assuming no 42-point-plus margins move Strength Index). Section: North 1 or North 2 (2025 geographic split: set by Northing once the field is known).
- 19Paterson EastsidePaterson Eastside is in the hunt for a playoff spot (11%). Could still finish as high as 1st, or ineligible with fewer than two wins vs NJSIAA members. Can finish as high as the 1 seed, or miss the field (assuming no 42-point-plus margins move Strength Index). Section: North 1 or North 2 (2025 geographic split: set by Northing once the field is known).
- 20UnionUnion is in the hunt for a playoff spot (25%). Could still finish as high as 1st, or ineligible with fewer than two wins vs NJSIAA members. Can finish as high as the 1 seed, or miss the field (assuming no 42-point-plus margins move Strength Index). Section: North 1 or North 2 (2025 geographic split: set by Northing once the field is known).
Rooting guides 0 This week's rooting guideThe fewest results this week that, with the team's own result, prove the target. Found by fixing the team's win (or any result), adding this week's other games one at a time by how much each lifts the team's worst-case rank until the target is proved, then dropping any game the proof no longer needs. Every listed result must happen; other routes may exist.Show the work →
This week's rooting guide
The fewest results this week that, with the team's own result, prove the target. Found by fixing the team's win (or any result), adding this week's other games one at a time by how much each lifts the team's worst-case rank until the target is proved, then dropping any game the proof no longer needs. Every listed result must happen; other routes may exist.Show the work →No team needs help this week: everything still open is decided by more than one weekend.
x clinched·h home game locked·1 #1 seed locked·e eliminated·* virtually (from simulation, not proved)How qualifying works·NJSIAA Reg. §5