From a Kentuckian living in Tennessee: How does the TN playoff format compare to the KY format? Would this be better for KY?

Just thought I would throw this out there for folks in Kentucky (my home state) discussing the KY playoff format. In Tennessee, the system is somewhat different. I’ll leave it the reader to determine if this system is better or not! :lol: The school I am associated with is a medium-sized Class 5A football school (1,300 total enrollment) and AAA in all other sports.

 

First of all, in Division I (public and non-scholarship granting private schools) there are 6 football classes just like KY. All other sports are divided into three classes: A (comprised of class A and 2A football schools), AA (3A and 4A) and AAA (5A and 6A). There are 16 districts in AAA or AA. Therefore in football, basketball, softball, etc. we compete with 7 other teams in District 9-AAA composed of both 5A (one with an enrollment of 1,000 students) and 6A (enrollments of 1,800 thru 2,100) football schools. In all sports except football, there are three playoff brackets. Example: three men’s basketball State Champs, three softball State Champs, etc. I will leave the Division II (private, scholarship-granting schools) out of this conversation.

 

This year in our District 9-AAA, there were five 5A teams and three 6A teams (next year with realignment two of those 5A schools will be re-classified to 6A enrollment levels). Think placing 4A teams (Highlands, CovCath, Holmes, Harrison Co., Pendleton Co.) together with 3A teams with enrollment figures like Mason Co., Lewis Co. and Bourbon Co. in the same district and the games count toward making the playoffs. I realize there are more teams competing in TN (59 teams in Class 5A) but you can see the overall picture even though the geographical and enrollment totals fit in KY would be somewhat more difficult. We had to play these 6A football programs as a district contest even though at the end of the year we go into two separate playoff brackets (if you make the playoffs). In some AAA districts there are all 6A teams and in some districts there are only one or two 5A teams to compete with four or five 6A teams. We were fortunate to win our district and receive an automatic bid to the playoffs in the 5A bracket. If you were unlucky enough to be a Class 5A team competing in one of these districts with all 6A teams, best wishes on getting to the post-season.

 

However, when it comes time to fill out the 32-team 5A playoff bracket (four “Quads” of 8 teams) the “at-large” (not 1st or 2nd in district standings) teams are ranked per a 16-layer tie-breaker format (see below). This filling out of the brackets it also accomplished with geography in mind. Teams are seeded from #1 thru #8. Our Quad (similar to Region in KY) consisted of Class 5A teams from 4 different Districts.

From the TSSAA website:

Teams are listed by playoff criteria. The top 24 teams in 1A and 2A and top 32 teams in 3A, 4A, 5A and 6A on this list will be in the playoffs unless a school is not listed in the top 24 (1A, 2A) or top 32 (3A, 4A, 5A, 6A) finishes 1st or 2nd in their district. If this happens, a team or teams finishing 1st or 2nd in the district will replace the lowest ranked schools(s) on the list.

1-Overall Victories

2-Teams on schedule that won 50% or more of their games

3-Victories over teams winning 50% or more of their games

4-Victories by opponents

5-Fewest defeats by opponents

6- Victories of defeated opponents

etc., etc. (you get the picture, my head is swimming!)

We just won the Class 5A State Football Championship so it worked for us this year. As I said earlier, if you are a Class 5A team placed in a District with several good Class 6A teams (or a Class 3A team in with several good 4A teams) good luck making the playoffs. Each playoff system from different states has pros and cons, but I would stack Tennessee’s with anyone in “degree of difficulty understanding.” Possibly right up there with the BCS.

 

Keep up the great work. BGP is awesome and keeps this Kentucky boy connected with “Home.”

 

 

…. Maroon Beech

Just thought I would throw this out there for folks in Kentucky (my home state) discussing the KY playoff format. In Tennessee, the system is somewhat different. I’ll leave it the reader to determine if this system is better or not! :lol: The school I am associated with is a medium-sized Class 5A football school (1,300 total enrollment) and AAA in all other sports.

 

First of all, in Division I (public and non-scholarship granting private schools) there are 6 football classes just like KY. All other sports are divided into three classes: A (comprised of class A and 2A football schools), AA (3A and 4A) and AAA (5A and 6A). There are 16 districts in AAA or AA. Therefore in football, basketball, softball, etc. we compete with 7 other teams in District 9-AAA composed of both 5A (one with an enrollment of 1,000 students) and 6A (enrollments of 1,800 thru 2,100) football schools. In all sports except football, there are three playoff brackets. Example: three men’s basketball State Champs, three softball State Champs, etc. I will leave the Division II (private, scholarship-granting schools) out of this conversation.

 

This year in our District 9-AAA, there were five 5A teams and three 6A teams (next year with realignment two of those 5A schools will be re-classified to 6A enrollment levels). Think placing 4A teams (Highlands, CovCath, Holmes, Harrison Co., Pendleton Co.) together with 3A teams with enrollment figures like Mason Co., Lewis Co. and Bourbon Co. in the same district and the games count toward making the playoffs. I realize there are more teams competing in TN (59 teams in Class 5A) but you can see the overall picture even though the geographical and enrollment totals fit in KY would be somewhat more difficult. We had to play these 6A football programs as a district contest even though at the end of the year we go into two separate playoff brackets (if you make the playoffs). In some AAA districts there are all 6A teams and in some districts there are only one or two 5A teams to compete with four or five 6A teams. We were fortunate to win our district and receive an automatic bid to the playoffs in the 5A bracket. If you were unlucky enough to be a Class 5A team competing in one of these districts with all 6A teams, best wishes on getting to the post-season.

 

However, when it comes time to fill out the 32-team 5A playoff bracket (four “Quads” of 8 teams) the “at-large” (not 1st or 2nd in district standings) teams are ranked per a 16-layer tie-breaker format (see below). This filling out of the brackets it also accomplished with geography in mind. Teams are seeded from #1 thru #8. Our Quad (similar to Region in KY) consisted of Class 5A teams from 4 different Districts.

From the TSSAA website:

Teams are listed by playoff criteria. The top 24 teams in 1A and 2A and top 32 teams in 3A, 4A, 5A and 6A on this list will be in the playoffs unless a school is not listed in the top 24 (1A, 2A) or top 32 (3A, 4A, 5A, 6A) finishes 1st or 2nd in their district. If this happens, a team or teams finishing 1st or 2nd in the district will replace the lowest ranked schools(s) on the list.

1-Overall Victories

2-Teams on schedule that won 50% or more of their games

3-Victories over teams winning 50% or more of their games

4-Victories by opponents

5-Fewest defeats by opponents

6- Victories of defeated opponents

etc., etc. (you get the picture, my head is swimming!)

We just won the Class 5A State Football Championship so it worked for us this year. As I said earlier, if you are a Class 5A team placed in a District with several good Class 6A teams (or a Class 3A team in with several good 4A teams) good luck making the playoffs. Each playoff system from different states has pros and cons, but I would stack Tennessee’s with anyone in “degree of difficulty understanding.” Possibly right up there with the BCS.

 

Keep up the great work. BGP is awesome and keeps this Kentucky boy connected with “Home.”

 

 

…. Maroon Beech

 

I read an article in a newspaper out of Sevier County this summer and if I remember correctly the coaches in that area did not like the Tennessee format and seemed surprised that it was not changed.

Chief;

 

I have heard the same rumors from football coaches. Maybe the reason is has not been changed is that it keeps the basketball, softball, etc. "in sync" and cuts down on travel distances for district games in those sports. However, it sure does make it tough for the Class 1A, 3A & 5A football programs having to compete against larger programs in their district. Before they changed from 5 to 6 football classes in 2009, we had one set of schools for district opponents in basketball, softball, baseball ,etc. and then some different schools in our "Football District." One positive is that you now play the same schools as district opponents in all sports. And yes, it does reduce travel. I guess you can't have it all!