One game remains in the 2026 Wyoming high school football season, and the playoff picture is beginning to take shape for teams across North‑Central Wyoming. Sheridan and Big Horn have secured their places in the postseason and have already locked in their seeds. Buffalo remains in the field and could improve its position, while Tongue River has been eliminated.
Class 4A Seed Outlook
The top three seeds in Class 4A are set: Natrona County holds the #1 seed, Sheridan is #2 and Cheyenne East is #3. Those seeds are locked regardless of the outcome of the final week of play. Natrona County’s game against Rock Springs is essentially a formality for the playoffs because Natrona will remain the top seed and Rock Springs has already been eliminated.
Beyond the locked seeds, the battle for seeds four through eight involves Cheyenne Central, Laramie, Kelly Walsh, Thunder Basin and Campbell County. The tie‑breaker rules and head‑to‑head results will determine the final order. Below are the most likely scenarios, assuming Thunder Basin does not lose to Cheyenne South:
- Sheridan, East, Thunder Basin and Laramie win: Laramie earns the #4 seed and will host the Indians in the first round. Thunder Basin takes #6 and travels to East. Campbell County receives #7 and travels to Sheridan, while Kelly Walsh visits Natrona County.
- Sheridan, East, Thunder Basin and Kelly Walsh win: Cheyenne Central secures the #4 seed. Kelly Walsh wins a three‑way tie for #5 and will visit the Indians. Thunder Basin becomes #6 and travels to East. Laramie heads to Sheridan and Campbell County visits Natrona County.
- Sheridan, Campbell County, Thunder Basin and Laramie win: Laramie captures the #4 seed and hosts the Indians. Thunder Basin is #6 and travels to East. The Bolts go to East, while the Camels travel to Sheridan. Kelly Walsh visits Natrona County.
- Sheridan, Campbell County, Thunder Basin and Kelly Walsh win: Cheyenne Central holds the #4 seed. A four‑way tie puts Kelly Walsh at #5 (visiting Central) and Thunder Basin at #6 (visiting East). Laramie lands #7 and travels to Sheridan; Campbell County goes to Natrona County.
- Central, East, Thunder Basin and Laramie win: Central claims the #4 seed. Laramie is #5 and visits Central. Thunder Basin is #6 and travels to East. Campbell County, as #7, visits Sheridan while Natrona County hosts the Trojans.
- Central, East, Thunder Basin and Kelly Walsh win: Central remains #4. Kelly Walsh wins the three‑way tie for #5 and travels to Central. Thunder Basin is #6 and goes to East. Campbell County, as #7, visits Sheridan; Natrona County hosts the Plainsmen.
- Central, Campbell County, Thunder Basin and Laramie win: Central is #4 and Laramie #5; the two meet at Central. Thunder Basin takes #6 and travels to East, while Campbell County heads to Sheridan. Kelly Walsh plays at Natrona County.
- Central, Campbell County, Thunder Basin and Kelly Walsh win: Central stays #4. Kelly Walsh and Thunder Basin split the #5 and #6 spots based on head‑to‑head records, with Kelly Walsh visiting Central and Thunder Basin heading to East. Laramie lands #7 and travels to Sheridan; Campbell County goes to Natrona County.
Class 3A and 2A Updates
In Class 3A, Riverton and Lander have locked the East #1 and #2 seeds. Buffalo’s game at Rawlins will decide the East #3 and #4 seeds. On the West side, Star Valley, Cody and Jackson are poised to fill the top three spots, though point‑differential tie‑breakers could still come into play.
Class 2A sees Big Horn and Cokeville locked as the #1 seeds for East and West, respectively. Thermopolis and Mountain View hold West #2 and #3. Lovell leads the West conference. Burns and Torrington are already in the playoffs, with seeding to be determined after the final week.
What This Means for Fans
Local supporters can look forward to a clear playoff bracket for the top‑seeded teams while the remaining clubs fight for positioning that could affect travel distances and home‑field advantage. The tie‑breaker rules—head‑to‑head results and point differentials—will be crucial in the final calculations.
Families and community members are encouraged to attend the remaining regular‑season games and then rally behind their schools during the postseason. The excitement of high‑school football remains a cornerstone of community life in Sheridan, Johnson County and the surrounding areas.
Original reporting: Sheridan Media (Sheridan WY) — read the source article.
