Same six classes. Eleven game regular season. No districts. More Freedom

 

This model keeps the current six-class alignment (A through 6A), but eliminates districts entirely. Teams would schedule an 11-game regular season however they choose — giving flexibility for rivalries, gate-driven matchups, and more "control". Playoffs would still seed 16 teams per class based on  hsratings.com, not district finish. It’s the “as-is” model with more freedom and cleaner seeding. Teams 17-32 would/could even be granted a 12th game, "Bowl" of sorts for 1- 'playoff' type feel, but just as meaningful (haven't paired those up yet). 

 

Sign me up. Love this! 

Shouldn't the first round be:   

Upper Bracket

1 vs 16

8 vs 9

5 vs 12

4 vs 13

Lower Bracket

6 vs 11

3 vs 14

7 vs 10 

2 vs 15

2 hours ago, Carl Spackler said:

Shouldn't the first round be:   

Upper Bracket

1 vs 16

8 vs 9

5 vs 12

4 vs 13

Lower Bracket

6 vs 11

3 vs 14

7 vs 10 

2 vs 15

It could be! But this ‘snake quadrant’ / cross group type approach also ensures that the “best” don’t meet before they should, all while earlier rounds being better games.  
 

Two birds, one stone.

I don't know which of these blueprints is the answer, but something like one of them definitely needs to be done. That or a whole shift in how classes are formed. Boys in the school can no longer be the only primary thing that dictates the class. You have schools like Southern showing up with 18 kids on the team total to a playoff game vs St. X with 100+... just because the enrollment says one thing does not mean they are even remotely on the same level of participation. Whether it is doing something like this or re-classing by team enrollment averages over X years, something needs to be done. 

32 minutes ago, JimmieJoeXO said:

I don't know which of these blueprints is the answer, but something like one of them definitely needs to be done. That or a whole shift in how classes are formed. Boys in the school can no longer be the only primary thing that dictates the class. You have schools like Southern showing up with 18 kids on the team total to a playoff game vs St. X with 100+... just because the enrollment says one thing does not mean they are even remotely on the same level of participation. Whether it is doing something like this or re-classing by team enrollment averages over X years, something needs to be done. 

That's how it's done, average enrollment numbers determine class.

@Calico Jack in your plan it looks like classes would be determined after the season based on where teams fell in the hsratings. Is that correct?

NCC definitely don't want to be traveling down to Raceland in week one. That's a lot better trip in round 3 or 4 after picking up a couple W's.

Mayfield coming up to Ft. Mitchell in round 1. Phew...

4 hours ago, Honey Badger said:

Mayfield coming up to Ft. Mitchell in round 1. Phew...

Tilghman coming to Park Hills in Round 1 too. Get a deal on some charter buses and accommodations - get a sticker that says, "Future talk show host 'slept' here." Eat at Skyline. A complete NKY experience.

On 11/8/2025 at 5:36 PM, Jumper_Dad said:

@Calico Jack in your plan it looks like classes would be determined after the season based on where teams fell in the hsratings. Is that correct?

In this one it's still classes, but those going to the playoffs would be determined off power rankings via hsratings.com.

However, in one of the other scenarios (and, I just threw it out there initially for fun ?)? Correct.  Six, "open" divisions. Teams ranked 1-96 following the end of the regular season (perfect world, 11 game- no districts- play who you want, conferences or not. Conferences would be totally subjective. Essentially, play who you want). Top 16 Division 1, bottom 16 Division 6.

In the "2x3=6" model? Class A would be current classes A-3A, Class 2A classes 4-6, but still 6 Divisions for playoffs. Using their power rating.

Ex: Top 16 in (current class A-3A)? Class A D1. Middle 16? Class A D2. Bottom 16? Class A D3. 

On 11/8/2025 at 5:40 PM, Honey Badger said:

NCC definitely don't want to be traveling down to Raceland in week one. That's a lot better trip in round 3 or 4 after picking up a couple W's.

Never know! For good programs/teams like both of those are? Things have funny way of working out that 2nd time around in the season, especially in the playoffs!! ??

On 11/8/2025 at 5:30 PM, Jumper_Dad said:

That's how it's done, average enrollment numbers determine class.

Team enrollment, not via the boys in school. Southern has the boys in school enrollment to be 5A but they normally field 16-30ish players. They just finished this season with 18. That is why I specified TEAM enrollment - as in how many are on the roster. 

2 hours ago, JimmieJoeXO said:

team enrollment, not via the boys in school. Southern has the boys in school enrollment to be 5A but they normally field 16-30ish players. They just finished this season with 18. That is why I specified TEAM enrollment - as in how many are on the roster. 

"Team enrollment" seems to be a ripe opportunity for manipulation. Monitoring it would be a nightmare. A noble thought though.

I would say “Good Luck” with this format because it will never happen.