2025-2026 Football Realignment

[theguru]

Since the KHSAA opted to do a two year realignment what will 2025 and 2026 look like?  Will there be another realignment?  Will that also be a two year realignment?  Or will it end up being 2025-2028?  Something else?

[gchs_uk9]

All good questions. Since the KHSAA began aligning football in classes in 1959, it is almost always been a four year cycle. There were, I believe, two 2-year cycles in the late-1990s. Many coaches complained that the quick turnaround made scheduling difficult and complicated developing rivalries for schools who were jumping back and forth between classes. Over the last three alignments there has been a mid-course adjustment after two years that bumped up or down schools that had disproportionate enrollment fluctuations. I'm curious if this will be just a cleaned up version of what's they've always done.

[gchs_uk9]

The problem is, and will remain, a game of cat-and-mouse for schools trying to skirt opponents and avoid playoff complications so long as the current system is in place. I proposed something on BGP several years back that would have made districts local (using a system not unlike the basketball alignment with some obvious modifications) and helped make scheduling easier and better geographically, while using a computer points system and the current year enrollment to determine playoff positions (it was modeled almost completely after the Illinois High School Association method). Several folks on the coaches committee, including @ChiefSmoke, presented it to coaches, administrators and the KHSAA. I received several comments and questions from different folks around the state expressing interest, but it didn't gain much traction at the top. However, I think it is becoming more and more obvious that manipulation is the key to the current format; I'm curious when or if those in charge might be interested in a change.

[ThrowItDeep]

Three things that could eliminate most of these realignment issues we see every single time it happens.

1. No moving up or down in class. Where you land is where you land.  

2. Eliminating mandatory games vs. opponents... If there were no regular season districts, this would almost eliminate all of the moving and manipulation that goes on. 

3. If the RPI is the magic solution ( it needs work), then use it. Figure out a number you want in the playoffs (16) and play it. Let everyone else have the option of ending the season or playing either a bowl game or a small playoff for the silver cup... If we are about providing opportunities for kids, this would give it to them.

 

95%+ of the state want to have competitive games, have a winning record, etc. Less than 5% of the state have a realistic chance of winning a state championship. By eliminating games people don't want to play, allowing them to have success, achieve a winning record, win a few playoff games (even against inferior teams) can help build programs for the future. 

 

[theguru]

4. No recruiting comments or allegations of KHSAA rules violations by any school, coach, player or booster are allowed. No comments about where any player lives, has lived, or where they are from in a recruiting context. This is not the place to report KHSAA violations. Feel free to contact Kentucky High School Athletic Association | KHSAA – Student-athletes of Today, Leaders of Tomorrow to report such violations, but do not discuss violations here.

[Ram]

It's all a chess match for some programs.  The truth is, there is no reason to do a total re-alignment, ever.  The enrollment numbers are readily available and accessible, if you are close to the top or the bottom of the class, then those numbers should be looked at, for the vast majority of the schools, it is very unlikely that their numbers could fluctuate enough in two years, four years, or 10 years to move them out of a class.  Just plug and play if someone at the top or bottom does change enough to move.  Put them in the geographical district that makes sense, no matter the number of teams in that district, they do that now.   Why shake up every school in the state to move a handful?  

And, no moving up, down, over or around. 

[LoneRanger]

If I understood the proposal correctly, this 2 year decision is simply a course correction because of the way numbers were calculated with the Covid situation. 
The thought process was 2 years from now they should have 4 years worth of data to look at and then go back to the “normal” 4 year alignment with the mid point adjustment if needed. 

[ChiefSmoke]

1 hour ago, Ram said:

It's all a chess match for some programs.  The truth is, there is no reason to do a total re-alignment, ever.  The enrollment numbers are readily available and accessible, if you are close to the top or the bottom of the class, then those numbers should be looked at, for the vast majority of the schools, it is very unlikely that their numbers could fluctuate enough in two years, four years, or 10 years to move them out of a class.  Just plug and play if someone at the top or bottom does change enough to move.  Put them in the geographical district that makes sense, no matter the number of teams in that district, they do that now.   Why shake up every school in the state to move a handful?  

And, no moving up, down, over or around. 

Maybe eliminate districts, and do playoffs by region, using the RPI.  Would be no reason to have massive schedule changes going forward. 

With the crazy geography that is the state of Kentucky, might be a good option going forward. Killer long trips in the west. Mountains in the east. A radical change but might be a solid solution. 

 

[ChiefSmoke]

4 hours ago, gchs_uk9 said:

The problem is, and will remain, a game of cat-and-mouse for schools trying to skirt opponents and avoid playoff complications so long as the current system is in place. I proposed something on BGP several years back that would have made districts local (using a system not unlike the basketball alignment with some obvious modifications) and helped make scheduling easier and better geographically, while using a computer points system and the current year enrollment to determine playoff positions (it was modeled almost completely after the Illinois High School Association method). Several folks on the coaches committee, including @ChiefSmoke, presented it to coaches, administrators and the KHSAA. I received several comments and questions from different folks around the state expressing interest, but it didn't gain much traction at the top. However, I think it is becoming more and more obvious that manipulation is the key to the current format; I'm curious when or if those in charge might be interested in a change.

This is an excellent plan!

If you get a chance, please post your plan using the current numbers. Would be great to see it!

[Ram]

1 hour ago, ChiefSmoke said:

Maybe eliminate districts, and do playoffs by region, using the RPI.  Would be no reason to have massive schedule changes going forward. 

With the crazy geography that is the state of Kentucky, might be a good option going forward. Killer long trips in the west. Mountains in the east. A radical change but might be a solid solution. 

 

With the number of schools in each district, or total class, I think this could be a possibility.  Do it by region and use the RPI.  

For Class 1A and 6A, it's a no-brainer, all the 32 teams make the playoffs anyway, just use the RPI to rank the teams for seeding. 

 

[ChiefSmoke]

1 minute ago, Ram said:

With the number of schools in each district, or total class, I think this could be a possibility.  Do it by region and use the RPI.  

For Class 1A and 6A, it's a no-brainer, all the 32 teams make the playoffs anyway, just use the RPI to rank the teams for seeding. 

 

Never thought I would be for such an idea, but I am more open to it than the past. Gives teams alot of flexibility to schedule in a way that fits them the best, in terms of geography & competitiveness. Let the RPI sort it out at the end of the season, go play football. 

[Ram]

1 minute ago, ChiefSmoke said:

Never thought I would be for such an idea, but I am more open to it than the past. Gives teams alot of flexibility to schedule in a way that fits them the best, in terms of geography & competitiveness. Let the RPI sort it out at the end of the season, go play football. 

I know right.  I have given up on less classes, so maybe this is the way to go.  Gives a team more incentive to play decent teams to raise their RPI, but also, makes every game count.  Looking more like Ohio, as it would be. 

[ChiefSmoke]

6 minutes ago, Ram said:

I know right.  I have given up on less classes, so maybe this is the way to go.  Gives a team more incentive to play decent teams to raise their RPI, but also, makes every game count.  Looking more like Ohio, as it would be. 

I like 6 classes from a competition stand point, but hate it in regards to scheduling.  Hopefully, teams would keep very similar schedules, year to year, and eliminate some of the insanity on the listserve, trying to find games. 

[Ram]

1 hour ago, ChiefSmoke said:

I like 6 classes from a competition stand point, but hate it in regards to scheduling.  Hopefully, teams would keep very similar schedules, year to year, and eliminate some of the insanity on the listserve, trying to find games. 

The scheduling, I can't imagine.  I know you all have trouble in that area.  It shouldn't be that difficult.  

[DragonFire]

If only the RPI didn’t suck.

But for real, I could somewhat back this, but they’ve gotta figure out how to properly do out of state games before something so drastic could be undertaken. Taking a flat .500 value for those games is a killer.