I took the Big 3, plus 3 others, and compared them the last 4 years (post COVID shortened year of 2020)  Overall record followed by how they finished during the playoffs. Reminder…. Not all regular season strength of schedules are the same. Judge for yourselves.

-Male: 43 wins, 11 losses. Two state runner ups, one round 3, one round 2. 
 

-St. Xavier: 39 wins, 12 losses. One state champ, three round 2’s. 
 

-Trinity: 39 wins, 18 losses. Two state champs, one state semis, one round 3. 
 

-Frederick Douglass (only two years in 6A): 17 wins, 10 losses. Two state semis. 
 

-Manual: 36 wins, 12 losses. Four round 2’s. 
 

-Ryle: 35 wins, 18 losses. One state runner up. Two round 3’s. One round 2. 

-Bullitt East: 37 wins, 13 losses. One state champs, two round 2 and one round 1.  

5 minutes ago, BEChargers said:

-Bullitt East: 37 wins, 13 losses. One state champs, two round 2 and one round 1.  

The BE team that won the state championship was great. That was a very fun season to follow.

6 minutes ago, BEChargers said:

-Bullitt East: 37 wins, 13 losses. One state champs, two round 2 and one round 1.  

The BE team that won the state championship was great. That was a very fun season to follow.

1 hour ago, MBKT said:

I took the Big 3, plus 3 others, and compared them the last 4 years (post COVID shortened year of 2020)  Overall record followed by how they finished during the playoffs. Reminder…. Not all regular season strength of schedules are the same. Judge for yourselves.

-Male: 43 wins, 11 losses. Two state runner ups, one round 3, one round 2. 
 

-St. Xavier: 39 wins, 12 losses. One state champ, three round 2’s. 
 

-Trinity: 39 wins, 18 losses. Two state champs, one state semis, one round 3. 
 

-Frederick Douglass (only two years in 6A): 17 wins, 10 losses. Two state semis. 
 

-Manual: 36 wins, 12 losses. Four round 2’s. 
 

-Ryle: 35 wins, 18 losses. One state runner up. Two round 3’s. One round 2. 

In those same 4 years Bryan Station 38-15. Two State Semi Finals, State Runner-Up. 2 round 2’s

St. X three round two losses were to Male, Trinity, and Ryle. Male and Ryle were 6A runner up and Trinity state champ. If you beat St. X in the playoffs good chance you will be in the championship game. 

1 hour ago, Tigerpride94 said:

St. X three round two losses were to Male, Trinity, and Ryle. Male and Ryle were 6A runner up and Trinity state champ. If you beat St. X in the playoffs good chance you will be in the championship game. 

The Tiger round 2 losses to Ryle and Trinity were blowouts. I doubt the St. X faithful enjoy the idea they are propelling other schools toward the championship game. 

12 minutes ago, MBKT said:

The Tiger round 2 losses to Ryle and Trinity were blowouts. I doubt the St. X faithful enjoy the idea they are propelling other schools toward the championship game. 

I'm sure not, me included, but if going lose would rather lose to great team.

Obviously the programs out of Louisville are really good, as are others. Trinity beat Ryle impressively on Saturday, but I’m not sure if that goes along with the Big 3 as a whole. I don’t think the gap is as far between Louisville and everyone else though in terms of better teams/programs. Even in losing to Trinity, Ryle did put a running clock win on St. X and I think that speaks relevant change. Overall, Lexington football isn’t what it was 10 or less years ago and obviously Bullitt East was great the year they won state, which one of the most impressive 6A runs that any team had for a season in KY in my opinion. Louisville clearly has its share but I think the gap has narrowed compared to what it used to be.

Obviously 6A has been dominated by Louisville in terms of Championships and Trinity has been on top more times than not. The other usual suspects of Male and St. Xavier have hoisted the trophy in the past and are in the mix every year as well.

I do, however, agree with @hrcarrier's post about the gap closing. We have certainly seen some programs get better and improve in 6A. That Ryle team was really good and had all of us Trinity faithful scared entering into Saturday and through the third quarter for sure. Hats off to them as well as the likes of Bryan Station and Fredrick Douglass. Have been very good teams.

Want to specifically point out Great Crossing, which just began as a school in 2019.

The Warhawks are coming off their best season ever, having gone 10-4 and upsetting Manual in the quarterfinals.

Here's a look at what they have done over the past four years

Great Crossing Football 2021-2024

2021: 8-3, first round loss to Scott County. Only losses came to Douglass and their rival Cardinals

2022: 8-3, first round loss to Cov. Cath. Only losses to Scott Co., Douglass, and Cov. Cath

2023: 2-9, first round loss to Male 

2024: 10-4, semifinals loss to Ryle. Only losses to Ryle, Cooper, and Madison Central - upset Manual in quarterfinals (biggest win in program history?)

Overall: 27-19, One state semifinals appearance.

Both of Frederick Douglass semi-final losses were both to eventual state champs Trinity.

12 hours ago, St. Matthews Boy said:

Obviously 6A has been dominated by Louisville in terms of Championships and Trinity has been on top more times than not. The other usual suspects of Male and St. Xavier have hoisted the trophy in the past and are in the mix every year as well.

I do, however, agree with @hrcarrier's post about the gap closing. We have certainly seen some programs get better and improve in 6A. That Ryle team was really good and had all of us Trinity faithful scared entering into Saturday and through the third quarter for sure. Hats off to them as well as the likes of Bryan Station and Fredrick Douglass. Have been very good teams.

Want to specifically point out Great Crossing, which just began as a school in 2019.

The Warhawks are coming off their best season ever, having gone 10-4 and upsetting Manual in the quarterfinals.

Here's a look at what they have done over the past four years

Great Crossing Football 2021-2024

2021: 8-3, first round loss to Scott County. Only losses came to Douglass and their rival Cardinals

2022: 8-3, first round loss to Cov. Cath. Only losses to Scott Co., Douglass, and Cov. Cath

2023: 2-9, first round loss to Male 

2024: 10-4, semifinals loss to Ryle. Only losses to Ryle, Cooper, and Madison Central - upset Manual in quarterfinals (biggest win in program history?)

Overall: 27-19, One state semifinals appearance.

I agree with you about Great Crossing too. What they have done for the short time they have been around is very impressive. Being better than Scott County and winning against them over the past season is interesting too.

How is the health of middle school football in the rest of the state. I was told a few weeks ago that middle school football is suffering in Louisville. At least with the privates. I believe that will certainly close the gap.

15 hours ago, hrcarrier said:

Obviously the programs out of Louisville are really good, as are others. Trinity beat Ryle impressively on Saturday, but I’m not sure if that goes along with the Big 3 as a whole. I don’t think the gap is as far between Louisville and everyone else though in terms of better teams/programs. Even in losing to Trinity, Ryle did put a running clock win on St. X and I think that speaks relevant change. Overall, Lexington football isn’t what it was 10 or less years ago and obviously Bullitt East was great the year they won state, which one of the most impressive 6A runs that any team had for a season in KY in my opinion. Louisville clearly has its share but I think the gap has narrowed compared to what it used to be.

I would argue that Lexington Football is better at the top.  FD and BS have both been contenders the last several years.  Sayre won the 1A Championship, LCA final 4 in 2A and Lex Cath is solid year in and year out.

35 minutes ago, fatsnbul said:

How is the health of middle school football in the rest of the state. I was told a few weeks ago that middle school football is suffering in Louisville. At least with the privates. I believe that will certainly close the gap.

For the LYFL, yes, it's suffering.  I think they had to shut down part of their MS portion of the league due to participation.  The Lyndon Lightning pretty much ran that league and had a bunch of kids, that although could play for JCPS teams, elected not to.  Many of the kids on that team are going to private schools.  JCPS pulled out of the KYMSFA a few years back and I think it's hurt them since.  There were really solid programs like JCTMS & Westport MS, but they can only play other JCPS schools now.  As far as the rest of the state, MS football seems to be doing well for the most part, especially in the I-75 corridor and east.  NKY has a few solid teams in Ryle and Cooper.  Overall, MS football, at least in the KYMSFA, seems to be bigger and more supported in the eastern part of the state.