Rationale: The cancellations of multiple games during the regular season has caused a concern regarding the accuracy of seedings of each district entering the playoff series. Schools needing to make up multiple canceled contests and the concerns from member schools regarding playing multiple contests in a relatively short time frame was also a factor to considering modifying the current OSSAA plan. Adding a “play-in round” so that all schools may, if they desire, qualify for the playoff series can address potential inaccuracies in the seeding process.
Rankings: To facilitate possible seeding scenarios, all districts will begin ranking teams in their district beginning the weekend of October 23 through the OSSAA Rankings platform. The ranking process would include three rankings beginning the weekend of October 23, the second ranking during the weekend of October 30 and last ranking concluding the weekend of November 6. Rankings will open noon each Friday and close noon Saturday.
Seedings within the district for advancement: Districts that have not canceled any district games would use the seeding process for advancement from the OSSAA Football Manual. “Flagged districts,” districts that have had canceled games, could choose to use the ranking process to determine final district places for advancement. A majority of the schools within each district may elect to use the ranking process through the OSSAA Rankings site. District Chairman of currently flagged districts must notify OSSAA by 10 am on Friday, October 23 that the flagged district has chosen to use the ranking process.
Absent notification by 10 a.m. October 23, the district will use the flagged district standing for seeding advancement by default. Districts which are not currently flagged but become flagged after October 23, will have until 10 a.m. Friday of the week they become flagged to notify OSSAA of their intention to use the ranking process for seeding advancement. Absent a notification, the district will use the modified seeding process for districts that have had games cancelled.
Adding a play-in round: Week 19 in the OSSAA calendar, the 11th week of the football season, would be designated as the date for a “playin round.” Games will be scheduled on a Friday or Saturday based on the availability of officiating crews. Teams may mutually agree to move the game to Thursday. All member schools currently in district play would be offered an opportunity to join the playoff bracket. Playin games would be paired between Districts 1 and 2; 3 and 4; 5 and 6; 7 and 8. Teams would be paired, crossing districts, with 1-8, 2-7, 3-6, 4-5 with the higher seed hosting. (Member schools may “opt-out” of the play-in round by notifying the District Chairman as soon as possible; deadline of noon on November 7. District Chairman will notify OSSAA by 1 p.m. November 7 what teams have opted out.