EDITOR’S NOTE: This story was written before this weekend’s game and projects what the 2020 playoffs would look like using current standings, i.e., what they were before this weekend’s games. All pairings below are subject to change.
This year has looked vastly different than past in the sports world.
COVID-19 has changed how game preparations are made, how road trips are handled, etc. Those changes have filtered to high school football as well.
In a normal season, the Top 4 teams in each district make the playoffs. In Class 4A, where Weatherford competes, there are four districts, so that means 16 teams make the playoffs. In Class A, where Thomas-Fay-Custer competes, there are eight districts, so that means 32 teams make the playoffs. Like 4A, Class C, where Corn Bible Academy competes, its 16 teams.
But, this isn’t a normal year. These aren’t normal times. This season is vastly different than past ones.
Recently, the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association conducted a board meeting and that board made the choice to expand the playoffs so every team has the opportunity to play in the postseason. What that did for Class 4A and Class C is expand the field to 32 teams. What that did in Class A is expand the field to 62. Note, two districts in Class A only have seven teams.
So, that means an extra week of playoffs. So, Friday, November 13, more team will begin their playoff run. Teams do have the option to opt out of the playoffs, and some already have.
Keep in mind, this story was written before Thursday and Friday night’s games, so everything below is subject to change.
In 4A-1, Weatherford is the No. 1 seed, followed by Clinton, Newcastle, Cache, Bethany, Elk City, Chickasha and Elgin.
In 4A-2, the opponent of teams in 4A-1 for the first two rounds of the playoffs, Tuttle is the No. 1 seed, followed by Blanchard, Ada, Cushing Tecumseh, John Marshall and Harrah.
For reference point, Tuttle and Blanchard play this weekend, so those two teams could flip if Blanchard wins the game.
In 4A, that means Weatherford, which currently is the top seed in District 4A-1, would play the eighth seed in District 4A- 2. Since Classen SAS decided not to play this season, so Weatherford, if they win 4A-1, gets a first-round bye week.
The winner of Bethany at Cushing would play Weatherford in the next round. Chickasha would play at Blanchard and the winner would play the winner of John Marshall at Newcastle. The winner of Elgin at Tuttle would play the winner of Tecumseh at Cache. Harrah would play at Clinton and the winner would play the winner of Elk City at Ada.
Final playoff pairings will be released Sunday.
In District A-1, Thomas currently sits atop the standings. Like Weatherford, if they hold that position after the games this weekend, they will receive a bye for the first round.
Teams in A-1 face teams from A-2 in the first two rounds of the playoffs.
Thomas plays at Texhoma this weekend and would drop from the top spot if they lose. But, for the sake of this article, Thomas is the top seed in A-1. Fairview would play at Mangum with the winner facing Thomas in the second round. The winner of Sayre at Apache would face the winner of Carnegie at Hooker. The winner of Merritt at Hobart would face the winner of Mooreland at Cordell. The winner of Walters at Texhoma would face the winner of Burns Flat-Dill City at Minco.
In Class C, Corn Bible would travel to Maysville for the first round of the playoffs.