With the regular season over and the final RPI ratings locked into place, high school football teams have a clearer view of their road to a state championship. Here’s a look at how the playoffs work, plus what the road looks like for all four local teams.
HOW THE PLAYOFFS WORK
For the first two rounds of the playoffs, teams play against their district opponents. In the first round, the 1-seed hosts the 4-seed and the 2-seed hosts the 3-seed. The winners advance, with the highest remaining seed hosting round two.
For the third round (eight teams remaining), teams from Regions 1-4 will be ranked top to bottom based on RPI with the 1-seed hosting the 4-seed and the 2-seed hosting the 3-seed. The same process will be done for Regions 5-8.
For the fourth round (four teams remaining), all four teams will be ranked again top to bottom based on RPI, with the top two seeds hosting the bottom two seeds.
The state championships will be played Dec. 6-8 at the University of Kentucky’s Kroger Field in Lexington.
The RPI was introduced for the first time this season and is a calculation of winning percentage (35%), opponents’ winning percentage (35%) and opponents’ opponents’ winning percentage (30%).
The RPI for every team was finalized after their last games will not change during the postseason.
OWENSBORO (.66276 RPI — 4th in Class 5A)
The Red Devils could play at home until the championship game, but they’d need a little help if they make it to the fourth round.
As winners of District 1, they’ll host Muhlenberg County this week. With a win, they’d host the winner of Graves County vs. Grayson County in week two.
Owensboro has the highest RPI of any team in Regions 1-4, meaning they’d be locked in to the 1-seed and a home game for the third round.
If the Red Devils advance to the semifinals, only two teams (Covington Catholic, winner of Frederick Douglass/Scott County) would remain with a higher RPI. If either of those two lose before the third round, Owensboro would move up to the 2-seed.
OWENSBORO CATHOLIC (.64483 RPI — 6th in Class 2A)
The Aces will host their first two playoff games, but they’ll most likely have to hit the road for round three. However, they have a small chance to return home if they advance to the semifinals.
As winners of District 2, they’ll host Todd County Central this week. With a win, they’d host the winner of Hancock County vs. McLean County in week two.
Though they’ve got the sixth-best RPI in Class 2A, the Aces are fifth among teams in Regions 1-4. At least three of those four teams (Lexington Christian, Mayfield, Somerset, Caldwell County) would have to lose in the first two rounds for Catholic to stay home in week three.
If the Aces advance to the semifinals, they would be at least the 3-seed. The most likely chance to move up to the 2-seed would be if Breathitt County lost in the third round or earlier.
DAVIESS COUNTY (.51272 RPI — 15th in Class 6A)
APOLLO (.46724 RPI — 21st in Class 6A)
A potential second-round game with the Panthers hosting the Eagles isn’t out of the question, as the District 1 teams have proven to all be relatively evenly matched.
Though Daviess County finished in a three-way tie for first, they fell to the 3-seed based on tiebreakers and will play at 2-seed Henderson County this week. As the 4-seed, Apollo will play at 1-seed McCracken County.
The only way the Panthers can host week two is if Apollo wins. Otherwise, DC will play at McCracken County. Apollo travels to the winner of Henderson County and DC.
If either the Panthers or Eagles advance to the third round, they’d likely be the 4-seed based on their RPI barring a big number of upsets.
Similarly, they’d be the 4-seed in the semifinals unless several higher-ranked teams lose before then.
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