Whoa now.
Polk doesn’t already qualify…there has to be at least 2 teams with the same classification within the conference for an automatic.
The rest of his statement is right.
Gotta feeling Polk might win that conference anyway.
Thanks for the call out. I did read over that part. Since they are the only 1A, I guess they would
have to finish top 3 or with a .500 or better record? If not they would not automatically qualify but would have to have a high enough RPI and be seeded with the at-large teams. They wouldn't have to worry about the leap frog rule since they are the only 1A school in that conference, correct?
This is from the handbook:
4.1.17 Playoff Berths/Qualification
(a) Each conference will be alloted automatic playoff berths based on the number of schools fielding a team in a particular sport in a given classification.
(1) 1-5 teams = 1 Berth (Conference Champion)
(2) 6+ teams = 2 Berths (Conference Champion and Second Place or Conference Tournament Champion)
(b) The highest finishing team from a given classification in a split conference will automatically qualify, regardless of overall conference finish, provided there are at least two schools from each classification in that split confernce.
(c) Any remaining, non-automatic qualifying teams in each region (East/West) will fill the remaining berths based upon their RPI rating. A team cannot qualify for a berth before all teams in their conference that finished ahead of them in the conference standings have qualified (Leap Frog Provision).
4.1.18 Seeding
(a) The pre-determined East and West Regions will be seeded independently of one another.
(b) The teams in each region will be seeded as follows:
(1) Seed all 1st place automatic berths by RPI rating (or other NCHSAA selected ranking system).
NOTE: The highest finishing team in its half of a split conference must finish in 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place overall and/or have an overall winning percentage of .500 or higher in order to be seeded as a #1. Otherwise, the team will be seeded with all other at-large teams.
(2) Seed all 2nd place automatic berths or conference tournament champions and at-large berths by RPI rating (or other NCHSAA selected ranking system).