There has been confusion across the state from fans, players and coaches this year on how playoff qualifiers are determined. The only two factors for getting into the bracket are league races and RPI standings. Conference champions along with the second place club in the 1A Western Slope earn automatic bids into the bracket. The remaining open slots are then filled by RPI standings at the end of the regular season. To help ease the confusion, Colorado Preps uses the RPI released on Sunday and current league standings to develop a list of current qualifiers.
Please note that the list below is not final. There’s one more week of games in all classes except for 3A (two weeks left there) so the RPI standings will be updated again next Sunday. League champions already crowned are marked in bold below.
Colorado Preps will also post new consensus rankings either Monday or Tuesday but they do not factor into playoff qualifying. They can be used by the football committee for seeding ONLY AFTER the playoff qualifiers are determined.
SIX-MAN
- Cheyenne Wells
- Granada
- Stratton
- Idalia
- Fleming
- Sierra Grande
- Cheraw
- Arickaree/Woodlin
- Prairie
- Genoa Hugo
- Kim/Branson
- Hanover
- Briggsdale
- Eads
- Hi Plains
- Mountain Valley
EIGHT MAN
- Mancos
- Haxtun
- Vail Christian
- Holly
- Sanford
- Akron
- Sedgwick County
- Calhan
- Dove Creek
- Merino
- Swink
- Dayspring Christian
- Pikes Peak Christian
- Crowley County
- Hayden
- Byers
NOTE: Byers is 18th in RPI but is a playoff qualifier as the Central league champion. All conference winners earn a spot in the bracket but are not guaranteed a home game in round one.
CLASS 1A
- Centauri
- Buena Vista
- Limon
- Wray
- Florence
- Meeker
- Wiggins
- Strasburg
- Gunnison
- North Fork
- Holyoke
- Monte Vista
- Highland
- Yuma
- Peyton
- Platte Canyon
NOTE: Platte Canyon is only 23rd in RPI but they are currently in the bracket as the Foothills champion as they’re alone in first after beating Bennett last week. They must beat Manual this week to win the crown outright.
CLASS 2A
- Eaton
- Resurrection Christian
- Classical Academy
- Moffat County
- Severance
- Delta
- Bayfield
- Basalt
- Alamosa
- Elizabeth
- Brush
- University
- Platte Valley
- Northfield
- Kent Denver
- Academy
CLASS 3A
- Roosevelt
- Fort Morgan
- Lutheran
- Holy Family
- Mead
- Palisade
- Pueblo East
- Durango
- Pueblo South
- Evergreen
- Discovery Canyon
- Northridge
- Frederick
- Pueblo County
- Steamboat Springs
- Thomas Jefferson
NOTE: Green Mountain is 16th in RPI and currently tied with Lutheran atop the North Central 1 conference so they could be considered a playoff qualifier this week but we gave Lutheran the league title since they’re higher in RPI. If they were alone in first, the Rams would be in the bracket and Steamboat Springs would be off the list.
CLASS 4A
- Montrose
- Pine Creek
- Palmer Ridge
- Erie
- Chatfield
- Dakota Ridge
- Vista Ridge
- Ponderosa
- Loveland
- Fountain Fort Carson
- Bear Creek
- Golden
- Pueblo West
- Denver South
- Fruita Monument
- Mesa Ridge
- Skyline
- Longmont
- Broomfield
- Cheyenne Mountain
- Aurora Central
- Windsor
- Vista Peak
- Brighton
NOTE: Falcon is 21st in RPI but would not be in the bracket this week as the I-25 conference gets only one bid this year. Cheyenne Mountain currently leads the race by one game over Falcon and Widefield but only one of those three teams can get in.
CLASS 5A
- Valor Christian
- Legend
- Ralston Valley
- Cherry Creek
- Arapahoe
- Grandview
- Regis
- Pomona
- Arvada West
- ThunderRidge
- Columbine
- Fort Collins
- Legacy
- Cherokee Trail
- Castle View
- Fairview
- Chaparral
- Douglas County
- Lakewood
- Smoky Hill
- Mountain Vista
- Mullen
- Fossil Ridge
- Metro 2 champion
NOTE: Even though the Metro 2 conference does not have a team in the top 24, the league will send its champion into the playoffs. Right now, Far Northeast and Overland have the conference lead and they’re currentl 31st and 32 in RPI. Denver East is #33 and Prairie View #37. All four remain alive for the league crown.
