The KHSAA will conduct a survey of every high school that fields a football team to determine the best playoff structure and gather input at the administrative level.
A recent survey conducted by 193 members of the Kentucky Football Coaches Association said 76-percent are in favor of changing the current postseason format back to the cross bracketing system between districts.
Two years ago, the KHSAA voted to change to a format that has teams playing other teams from within its districts in the first and second rounds of the playoffs. This move cuts down on travel in most instances. It’s a change from the cross-bracketing system that features the top four teams from one district facing the top four teams from another district in the first round.
The same inter-district format was used in 2006 and 2007 before the KHSAA switched back to the traditional format that a majority of coaches in the state favor.
Two years ago, the Kentucky Football Coaches Association said 90-percent of the coaches who responded to their survey said they were against inter-district play because of the potential quick turnaround of playing a team in the regular season and then seeing them in the playoffs two or three weeks later.
Commissioner Julian Tackett has said the current format saves schools money because it cuts down on travel costs.
The KHSAA will be seeking input from the superintendents, principals, and coaches with each school submitting a single vote either in favor of the current format or against the format back to the KHSAA.
Any change in the postseason format would not take effect until the 2023 football season. Several KHSAA board members said any decision should be made as part of the 2023 alignment decision.
