Depending upon what you think the motives are of the people in charge, but some rationales for 4 teams out of each district making the playoffs include....

 

....more reason to play / interest in playing the later regular season games. Players - whether they should or not - will lose interest if they are mathematically eliminated from the district championship (and therefore, the playoffs) in the first few games. The drama was still pretty big around this area in week 9, and the stands were full when Oldham County played their 9th game and North Oldham played their 10th. Both would have made the playoffs with a victory in those games.

 

....speaking of blowouts, how many of the games I mention above would have been blowouts if they hadn't mattered?

 

....more reason to watch the regular season games. While many fans will attend regardless, many fans also are motivated to attend late-season games when their classmates are excited and motivated due to the chance to claim a playoff berth. And one thing I'm sure of - Athletic Directors like that as football revenues help support many non-revenue sports! That made be the "jaded" reason - but at the end of the day, cross-country, tennis, baseball, track, bass-fishing, wrestling, volleyball, ad infinitum, are grateful.

 

....speaking of additional revenues....what Athletic Director is willing to sacrifice the extra gate generated by an extra game? (maybe some, but I'm betting the answer is "not many")

 

...it allows for late-bloomers. Good coaches develop teams over the season....and if the idea is to truly reward the best teams at the end of the season, then it make sense. Although we all know 3 and 4 seeds statistically do not do as well - there have been, and will be, exceptions. And that makes it exciting. And it does this without cheapening those early games, because those teams taking care of business in the first half of the season get advantages, like staying home and playing a lesser seed early in the tournament.

 

...What's the harm in letting more teams participate? There's certainly precedent at all levels. As one writer has already mentioned, this is similar to other HS sports tournaments in KY....and you can make a similar argument at the college and pro ranks. All KY HS basketball teams make the playoffs and about half make their region tournaments. 5-7 college football teams making bowls? (OK, I can't and won't defend that silliness, but it exists!) And half the NBA makes the playoffs every year. Should the NCAA basketball tournament eliminate play-in games and the #16 seed altogether? (No 16 seed has ever won a game) Maybe you don't agree with those situations, anyway, but the bottom-line is that football is certainly not unique.

 

...it gives stellar individuals more opportunities to showcase their abilities for the college coaches. That extra game might expose the kid to that special college coach that just might make a significant difference in scholarship $$.

 

All in all, while I understand all the arguments, I like the current setup. I think it allows the best teams at the end of the season to rise to the top, and I think it keeps the interest level going longer.

 

So what if there are blowouts in round 1? There will also always be surprises....

Wasn't SK or Ryle a 4 seed when they went to the title game a few years back?

 

SK in '08.

SK in '08.

 

Cooper made it in '12 as a 3 seed. I know that isn't a 4 but it is possible for lower seeds to make a run. With that being said, they were a 9-1 3 seed due to tiebreaker

I will be watching the Bullitt East/Madison Southern game. While I do not believe BE can pull off the upset I will be interested to see how the BE offense does vs MS defense. BE can score a lot but they give up a lot too.

Keep an eye on the Lincoln (4)/Whitley County (1) game. Lincoln County is 1-9, but they have lost five games by a TD or less. Two of those close losses came to district champions (East Jess 4A & Madison Southern 5A). They have two common opponents in South Laurel and North Laurel. Both beat North Laurel, and Lincoln lost to south by yet another TD or less game 42-35 & Whitley beat South 34-25.

I will be watching the Bullitt East/Madison Southern game. While I do not believe BE can pull off the upset I will be interested to see how the BE offense does vs MS defense. BE can score a lot but they give up a lot too.

 

I agree this one could be a very interesting game. BE has proven they can score a lot of points. They have not proven that they can stop anyone. If this game gets into the 40s we could see an upset, if not then Madison Southern should come out on top. MS has a really strong defense, and could be a team that can slow down the BE offense.

McCracken Co will not get a running clock on PRP, in fact I think PRP can pull that upset. Also think that both Ryle and Lafayette get running clocks on their respective opponents.

 

That Ryle/HC game is going to be closer than people think IMO. Ryle did not put a running clock on HC the first time they played and I do not expect it to happen this time either. Its unlikely,, but I would not be surprised to see HC speed give Ryle some trouble,, and pull out an upset

There is a lot chatter about everyone making the playoffs, but while it does make for some high margin of victories earlier on, I'm ok with it.

 

Every other sport allows every team into the playoffs, so why should football be any different?

 

The district pairings seem a bit odd though. What's the thought process behind having a Louisville district paired with a W. KY district?

So what is the real reason so many teams make the playoffs? Is it money, i.e. another week of that many teams with gates? Is it so Jr. can say his team made the playoffs? Is there a legitimate reason I'm overlooking? I just don't see the rationale for a weekend when only a handful of games will not end with running clocks. For those in favor of the current format, what is the basis of their arguement?

 

Title IX

How does a team like Shawnee get into the playoffs? They are 0-9 and have only scored 50 points the entire season.

 

Because there are too many classes for the amount of teams that KY has. This make a lot of districts have only 4 teams! That means everybody in that district goes to the playoffs, even if they're 0-10!! IMO there only needs to be 4 or 5 classes and at least 6 teams in each district! That only makes it fair for everybody, because we are telling teams that go 0-10 that its ok, we are still going to the postseason!!

Unless Bourbon gets a lot better...not sure they'll put Rowan on a running clock. Both teams are pretty bad honestly

Because there are too many classes for the amount of teams that KY has. This make a lot of districts have only 4 teams! That means everybody in that district goes to the playoffs, even if they're 0-10!! IMO there only needs to be 4 or 5 classes and at least 6 teams in each district! That only makes it fair for everybody, because we are telling teams that go 0-10 that its ok, we are still going to the postseason!!

 

Agree with this 100%. I strongly believe in 4 classes across the board for all sports in Kentucky!

Agree with this 100%. I strongly believe in 4 classes across the board for all sports in Kentucky!

 

I agree with the general sentiment that there are probably too many football classes....shoot, each class only has about 40 teams.

 

But one classification system across all sports simply isn't reasonable. Not all schools have teams in all sports....and still other sports don't feature "1:1" matchups (i.e., cross-country), so the state championship is decided on one day - there's no sense in even four classes. Three cross country classes is perfect. And - in a state that reveres the concept of one basketball champion, I doubt we will ever see basketball classes.

And - in a state that reveres the concept of one basketball champion, I doubt we will ever see basketball classes.

 

And that my friend is a damn shame!

In 2015, there were 15 upsets in round 1 (games won by a 3 or 4 seed).

 

In 2014, there were 14 upsets in round 1.

 

In 2013, there were 12 upsets in round 1.

 

In 2012, there were 16 upsets in round 1.

 

In 2011, there were 19 upsets in round 1.

 

I don't know how many winners were 4 seeds and how many were 3 seeds.

 

On average, 15 teams who would be excluded from many people's proposed revised playoffs win playoff games in round 1.