With six l playoff C, the margin between reaching the postseason and being not noted will be razor skinny.
Generally, that margin begins with the schedule.
Over time, we've seen superb groups draw tough slates, end round .500 and wind up on the skin of the CIAC playoffs. We've additionally seen groups profit from extra manageable schedules that present a better margin for error.
That doesn't imply a playoff berth is handed to anybody. It simply means some roads are significantly harder than others.
Not all schedules are created equally, so GametimeCT's Will Aldam and Pete Paguaga took a take a look at 5 groups that could possibly be damage by tough schedules and 5 that ought to profit from extra favorable ones.
5 groups who could possibly be damage by schedule
Cheshire
- 2025 Report: 9-4
- Ought to win:
Guilford - May win:
West Haven, Glastonbury, Notre Dame-West Haven, Staples, Jonathan Legislation, Sheehan - Toss-up:
Hand, Fairfield Prep, Southington
e reached the CIAC Class L championship sport and fell to New Canaan 34-13. The Rams return various starters from final yr's run, however graduated All-State QB/LB Aiden Gregorich and now face probably the most . Its opponents had a mixed document of 80-36 (.690) final yr, and the group contains two defending state champions, a runner-up and a semifinalist. 9 of Cheshire's 10 opponents reached the playoffs final yr.
Enfield
- 2025 Report: 6-4
- Ought to win:
Manchester, South Windsor - May win:
Corridor, Maloney - Toss-up:
Fairfield Ludlowe, Glastonbury, New Britain, Southington, Berlin, Windsor
d completed simply 25 energy factors out of a 2025 Class L playoff berth at 6-4. Now the Eagles transfer as much as Tier 1 of the CCC this yr, which suggests a harder schedule that features six opponents who reached the CIAC playoffs final yr, together with two defending state champions and a runner-up. Enfield is about up effectively with its 11 returning starters, together with All-Convention quarterback Sawyer Pequita and two-time All-State lineman Joel Budd. Enfield's 2026 season will definitely be one to comply with.
Glastonbury
- 2025 Report: 7-4
- Ought to win:
Manchester, Conard, Simsbury - May win:
Maloney, Enfield - Toss-up:
Cheshire, St. Joseph, New Britain, Southington, Windsor
y reached the CIAC Class LL quarterfinals final yr earlier than falling to Southington 35-30. Glastonbury returns star operating again Dante Casdia, however graduated a number of different starters. The Guardians have one of many e this yr. 5 opponents reached the postseason final yr, a gaggle that features a defending state champion, two runners-up and a semifinalist.
For a group changing important expertise, that's not precisely a delicate runway again to the playoffs.
West Haven
- 2025 Report: 5-5
- Ought to win:
Norwalk, Guilford - May win: Jonathan Legislation, Ludlowe, North Haven
- Toss-up:Cheshire, Sheehan, Hand, Fairfield Prep, New Britain
n narrowly missed out on the Class LL match final yr after reaching back-to-back state finals. A tough schedule received't make it any simpler. The Blue Devils' 2026 opponents went a mixed 84-31 final season, a .730 successful share. Eight reached the postseason, together with two defending state champions, a state runner-up and a semifinalist. West Haven additionally has to switch important manufacturing at quarterback and operating again as coach Tom Unger enters his second season.
Wilton
- 2025 Report:
10-2 - Ought to win:
Norwalk, Westhill, Stamford - May win:
Staples, Ridgefield - Toss-up:
Berlin, Southington, St. Joseph, Greenwich, New Canaan
n is coming off a terrific season that ended within the CIAC Class MM semifinals. The Warriors graduated quarterback Charlie Calabrese and three of his high receivers, however star operating again Dennis Dustin returns. The larger concern could also be a schedule that will get progressively tougher. Seven opponents reached the postseason final yr, and early November brings back-to-back video games in opposition to four-time defending Class L champion New Canaan and two-time defending Class LL champion Greenwich. Then once more, Wilton has crushed Greenwich in every of the previous two seasons.
– Will Aldam
5 Groups Helped by Schedule
Lyman Corridor
- 2025 Report:7-3
- Ought to win: Ledyard, New Milford, Hillhouse, East Haven
- May win: Branford, Hamden
- Toss-up: Sheehan
l carries lots of reminiscences from final season. The Trojans simply missed out on a state playoff berth and it wasn't as a result of they didn't win sufficient video games. They received seven. However their schedule didn't assist their level complete they usually have been confronted with a win-and-in state of affairs on Thanksgiving morning, a sport they misplaced to Sheehan. As soon as once more, the Trojans schedule doesn't look daunting to begin, with simply two playoff groups (Ledyard and Guilford) within the first seven video games. All seven of these video games might/ought to be received by the Trojans, who convey again a bunch of expertise led by quarterback Ryan Casey. There’s a very actual path to a different seven-win season earlier than the schedule will get difficult, with video games in opposition to Hand, Legislation and Sheehan, groups they’re a mixed 10-31 in opposition to since 2004. They are going to possible have to beat considered one of them to get in. Good luck Trojans.
Newtown
- 2025 Report:8-3
- Ought to win:
New Fairfield, Pomperaug, Notre Dame-Prep, Joel Barlow, New Milford, Brookfield, Masuk - May win: Southington
- Toss-up:Bunnell
n, Newtown, Newtown the Alliance can't do the entire give you the results you want. This isn’t meant as a knock on the SWC in any respect, however you need to marvel if Newtown has outgrown the remainder of the league. Over the past 5 seasons, Newtown has misplaced 13 video games, solely two of these have come to an SWC group, each Masuk. With eight SWC video games on the schedule and Alliance video games in opposition to Southington and Greenwich, there’s a reasonable path to eight wins, doubtlessly 9.
Rocky Hill
- 2025 Report:5-5
- Ought to win:
Tolland, Cheney/Windham Tech, RHAM, Lewis Mills/Wolcott Tech, East Catholic, Avon/St. Paul - May win:Middletown, Northwest Catholic, Plainville
- Toss-up: Cromwell/Portland
s took huge strides final yr to get to 5-5 with a younger group and look to take a step ahead this season. With a schedule like theirs, a step ahead could be very reasonable. Over the previous 5 seasons, Rocky Hill has shedding information in opposition to Northwest Catholic (2-3), Plainville (0-2), RHAM (0-1) and Cromwell/Portland (0-5). The Terriers have successful information in opposition to 5 different groups on this yr's schedule and haven’t confronted Cheney/Windham Tech throughout that span. Led by Tyshawn Dominique and quarterback Mason Margiotta, Rocky Hill has a legit probability to pile up wins earlier than the annual Shunpike Showdown in opposition to Cromwell/Portland.
Trumbull
- 2025 Report:3-7
- Ought to win:
Crosby, Norwalk, Danbury, McMahon, Warde - May win:Shelton, Ridgefield
- Toss-up:Ludlowe
are pumped for this season and after their schedule, they need to be excited. Solely two of the FCIAC's conventional heavyweights, New Canaan and St. Joseph, seem on the slate, and people video games bookend Trumbull's season. Their Alliance video games are in opposition to Crosby of the NVL and Shelton of the SCC. The Gaels have additionally fallen on robust instances. Towards its six FCIAC opponents not named New Canaan or St. Joseph, Trumbull has gone a mixed 14-1 over the previous 5 seasons. That determine doesn’t embody Norwalk, which the Golden Eagles haven't confronted since 2019. Trumbull has lots to repair after a 3-7 season, however after its opener in opposition to New Canaan, the Eagles ought to be in cruise management till November after they get Fairfield Ludlowe and St. Joseph in two of the ultimate three video games.
Torrington
- 2025 Report: 7-4
- Ought to win:
Kennedy, Crosby, Oxford, Wilby, Wolcott, Watertown - May win: Fitch, GNH
- Toss-up:Naugatuck
The Naugatuck Valley League lastly joined the Alliance to assist their groups higher put together for the state playoffs, however nonetheless the league scheduling nonetheless doesn't make sense. The league adopted an influence scheduling mannequin and a few groups reap the advantages. Nearly yearly, n appears to be considered one of them. Simply two of its opponents had successful information final yr: NVL energy Ansonia, which is 13-0 in opposition to Torrington since 2004, and Fitch of the Japanese Connecticut Convention. Towards eight of its different 2026 opponents final season, Torrington went 7-1 and outscored them 334-115. The Raiders scored no less than 39 factors in every of these seven victories. Their lone loss in that group was a 20-16 sport in opposition to Naugatuck. Torrington is eight to 9 wins this season.
– Pete Paguaga
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