3 hours ago, theguru said:

It sounds like you are describing some type of "Hardship Move Down Waiver" for some schools. How would you determine it, how many classes would you let them move down, should any school be allowed to move down to 1A, lots of potential issues. 

Sure. Lots of issues. Not easy at all. 

I just think people alot smarter than me with AI can figure this out. They can find a better way. 

A huge honor for me this year was getting to speak at the Lewis County Football Banquet. Those folks are fighting to keep their program. I would hate to see those kids lose an opportunity to play HS football. 

I am wrong often. ?

My biggest HOPE that I am WRONG... is if we continue down the path we're on, alot of schools are going to give up their football program.  I would hate to see kids lose that opportunity. 

But... if I am wrong....that would be super. 

10 hours ago, Maroon Beech said:

Here in Tennessee the TSSAA tried the multiplier for Private Schools (1.5 I think) to determine their class. Finally they separated all Private schools into Division 2 with three classes (about 60 schools total).  Division 1 remained with six classes (about 300) of the Public schools. I realize Kentucky doesn’t have that many private schools, but IMO it gave the public schools, especially in the smaller classes, a better chance at making the finals. Of course, Alcoa (a 3A public school) won 10+ straight championships. They finally moved up to 4A in 2025 and won the championship again. My understanding is Alcoa moved up voluntarily. That program is not the normal program but obviously they are doing something right.  

I remember when Tennessee made both changes but I can’t remember why the 2nd change occurred. Did the privates raise a fuss about the multiplier?? 

53 minutes ago, ChiefSmoke said:

Sure. Lots of issues. Not easy at all. 

I just think people alot smarter than me with AI can figure this out. They can find a better way. 

A huge honor for me this year was getting to speak at the Lewis County Football Banquet. Those folks are fighting to keep their program. I would hate to see those kids lose an opportunity to play HS football. 

I am wrong often. ?

My biggest HOPE that I am WRONG... is if we continue down the path we're on, alot of schools are going to give up their football program.  I would hate to see kids lose that opportunity. 

But... if I am wrong....that would be super. 

What is stopping Lewis County from withdrawing from district play and playing a schedule that is right for them?  I have the same question about any other football program considering giving up.

And we certainly don't want to make overarching decisions about Kentucky High School Football based on schools thinking about giving up their football program. 

1 hour ago, Ordell said:

I remember when Tennessee made both changes but I can’t remember why the 2nd change occurred. Did the privates raise a fuss about the multiplier?? 

I believe a representative from a private school made the final proposal that was adopted.

Fuss, idk? Tennessee is built different.

I ask, in all seriousness, has the KHSAA ever gone through realignment and just left it the way it worked out?  No moving up or down a class.  Just play where you are slotted to play.  Maybe they should try that once, just to see how if it actually works as designed?

13 hours ago, Ordell said:

I remember when Tennessee made both changes but I can’t remember why the 2nd change occurred. Did the privates raise a fuss about the multiplier?? 

If I remember correctly some of the Private Schools were attempting to stay in Division 1 by using work study, non-scholarship, etc. The TSSAA used the multiplier to make these schools “play up.”  Finally the TSSAA ruled that all private schools move to D2.

To even thicken the debate further, some of the public schools were wanting school districts with open enrollment having to use the multiplier to “even the playing field.” Now that would have been interesting! ? 

13 hours ago, Runcible Owl said:

I believe a representative from a private school made the final proposal that was adopted.

Fuss, idk? Tennessee is built different.

The D1/D2 split works in Tennessee because of having enough private schools (about 50) to make it work. The largest class 3A has 10 +/- while the two smaller classes have about 20 each. Travel is a factor as the vast majority of the D2 schools are located in Memphis, Nashville, Chattanooga and Knoxville. 

What is the goal? What "problem" are we trying to fix? Let's define that first, then we can start looking for solutions. I don't know what problem we are trying to fix.

11 minutes ago, Voice of Reason said:

What is the goal? What "problem" are we trying to fix? Let's define that first, then we can start looking for solutions. I don't know what problem we are trying to fix.

The problem is a handful of vocal crybabies. 

No way the KHSAA does this... and for one reason: Districting. They already bemoan how hard it is to make districts each realignment. Can you imagine how difficult this would become with biannually moving pieces (those going up, those going down)?

I actually love the idea of bumping up and bumping down, mainly for programs that have no shot at success in their current class. I'm thinking of Warren Central, which has 5A enrollment but 2A roster numbers. Many of your 6A Louisville schools, PRP, Southern, Fern Creek, and Eastern, would do well to get out of the meat grinder that is 6A, where their player numbers just can't compete. 

So would this mean that 1) playoff format could change, 2) Smaller school teams (Beechwood, NewCath, Lloyd) could end up in 6, possibly.

I think the classes would even out after about the 3rd or 4th change 

I think overall, this is better than what we have now.  

2 hours ago, happ said:

So would this mean that 1) playoff format could change, 2) Smaller school teams (Beechwood, NewCath, Lloyd) could end up in 6, possibly.

I think the classes would even out after about the 3rd or 4th change 

I think overall, this is better than what we have now.  

I have to ask... what is wrong with what we have now?

On 1/18/2026 at 11:15 AM, theguru said:

The problem is a handful of vocal crybabies. 

Living in Tennessee (but a proud Kentuckian) we face similar "situations" here. For example, my school is D1/5A (Public/Class 5A of six). There are 59 schools in D1/5A, which we are about 10th largest and play in a five team Region (TN does not have Districts). Our crosstown and Region rival is in the top 5 in enrollment in 5A. These two schools have won the Region for at least the past ten seasons we've been in Class 5A together (both schools moved up to 6A for a cycle before a new high school opened and re-districting resulted). Two other Region teams are in the bottom five in enrollment in 5A, one moving up from 4A this cycle as they were the largest 4A school last cycle. They finished 2nd in our Region this season. The fifth Region school is a Metro Nashville school and is average enrollment for 5A. They are 1-19 overall and 0-8 in District play the past two seasons. They scored 6 points in four District games this season, while dressing less than 25 players and had four coaches. My question is how do you make that team competitive? Not being harsh, but they could move them down to 2A and still not be "competitive." When we played there this season, there were less than 50 fans on the home side. The other four Region schools have great community support, dress about 50-80 players (Soph. thru Sr.) and average more than 2,000 fans for a home game. IMO, I don't see moving the successful teams up a class (or two) just because they are successful. There are always going to be programs that are more successful thru better coaching, better student-athlete participation, better community support, etc. Just my opinion.

The playing field will never be even. But we should try and keep kids in the field.

I think the focus should be on how to maximize participation knowing every team won’t have a chance to win state or even compete for it. 

I strongly believe kids can get a lot out of football regardless of their team’s record. 
I do think the current system that sends 0-10 or 1-9 teams to the slaughtered in the first round of the playoffs discourages kids from playing the next year. A 6 hour round trip for a guaranteed whooping to end the year can’t help a program. 

I also think schools that consistently dominate their division should want to move up. What does a team or a kid  from never being challenged?

2 hours ago, new fan said:

The playing field will never be even. But we should try and keep kids in the field.

I think the focus should be on how to maximize participation knowing every team won’t have a chance to win state or even compete for it. 

I strongly believe kids can get a lot out of football regardless of their team’s record. 
I do think the current system that sends 0-10 or 1-9 teams to the slaughtered in the first round of the playoffs discourages kids from playing the next year. A 6 hour round trip for a guaranteed whooping to end the year can’t help a program. 

I also think schools that consistently dominate their division should want to move up. What does a team or a kid  from never being challenged?

I agree that is questionable that a 0-10 or 1-9 team needs to be the playoffs facing a District champion in the first game. As others have stated, maybe taking a break from District play and play a schedule that allows the program to compete, get some wins and hopefully increase the numbers of kids wanting to play before returning to District play. Leveling the playing field in never going to happen as some programs are just stronger year in and year out.

In our case, of the six non-Region games, we scheduled three 6A teams (2-1 results), one 5A team that was in the quarterfinals this year, a 4A team that played in the State Championship two years ago and a 2A Metro Nashville school that played in the State Championship two seasons past. We finished 8-1 with one "non-contest" due to weather (tie score when the game was called) and made it to the third round of the playoffs, losing to the eventual 5A State Championship. Even though we didn't have a real close Region game (which is not the usual case) I still consider our schedule tough and got us ready for the playoffs. I'm saying you can schedule tough games even if your Region (District) isn't the best competition.