Earlier this winter, the CHSAA football committee presented early thoughts on football conference alignment for the new cycle starting with the 2020 season. Another meeting was held on Monday and some changes in the alignment were presented.
Conferences are listed below and teams in italics are in new leagues from the first proposal. To become official, these leagues must first be approved by the football committee at their December meeting and then again by the entire legislative council in April 2020.
Conferences and classifications were laid out based on the following criteria:
- Enrollment Numbers
- Competitive balance within each conference
- Geography
- Risk minimization
- Success/Non-Success
- School participation percentage
- Regular Season / Post Season Implications
SIX MAN
| NORTH | EAST CENTRAL | CENTRAL |
| Briggsdale | Arickaree/Woodlin | Hanover |
| Fleming | Flagler/Hi Plains | Deer Trail |
| North Park | Idalia | Edison |
| Peetz | Otis | Genoa Hugo |
| Prairie | Stratton/Liberty | Kiowa |
| Pawnee | Weldon Valley | Belleview Christian |
| SOUTHEAST | SOUTH CENTRAL | SOUTHWEST |
| Cheraw | Aguilar | Antonito |
| Cheyenne Wells | Kim/Branson | Cotopaxi |
| Eads | Colorado D&B | Cripple Creek |
| Granada | Manzanola | Mountain Valley |
| Kit Carson | Primero | Sierra Grande |
| Walsh | La Veta |
EIGHT MAN
| ARK VALLEY | PLAINS | MOUNTAIN |
| Fowler | Akron | Dove Creek |
| Holly | Denver Christian | Mancos |
| Crowley County | Caliche | Norwood |
| McClave | Dayspring Christian | Sanford |
| Springfield | Haxtun | Sangre De Cristo |
| Hoehne | Merino | Sargent |
| Wiley | Sedgwick County | Lake County |
| Las Animas | ||
| SOUTHERN | NORTHWEST | CENTRAL |
| Calhan | Gilpin County | Lyons |
| Custer County | Hayden | Elbert |
| Pikes Peak Christian | Plateau Valley | Front Range Christian |
| Miami Yoder (up from 6man) | Rangely | Justice |
| Simla | Soroco | Longmont Christian |
| Swink | West Grand | Rocky Mountain Lutheran |
| John Mall | Vail Christian | South Park |
| Dolores Huerta | Byers |
CLASS 1A
| NORTH CENTRAL | FOOTHILLS | SANTA FE |
| Holyoke | Jefferson | Banning Lewis |
| Wray | Sheridan | Rocky Ford |
| Yuma | Clear Creek | Peyton |
| Burlington | Manual | Ellicott |
| Wiggins | Ridgeview Academy | Trinidad |
| Limon | Platte Canyon | |
| WESTERN SLOPE | SOUTHERN PEAKS | TRI PEAKS |
| Olathe | Dolores | Florence |
| Paonia | Ignacio | Buena Vista |
| Hotchkiss | Center | Colorado Springs Christian |
| Cedaredge | Monte Vista | St Mary’s |
| Gunnison | Centauri | Rye |
| Meeker | Del Norte | |
| Grand Valley | ||
| Roaring Fork | ||
| NORTHERN | Â | Â |
| Strasburg | ||
| Highland | ||
| Cornerstone Christian | ||
| Prospect Ridge | ||
| Estes Park | ||
| Bennett |
CLASS 2A
| NORTH 1 | NORTH 2 | METRO 1 |
| Weld Central | Academy | Arvada |
| Fort Lupton | Eaton | Pinnacle |
| Valley | Severance | D’Evelyn |
| Sterling | Resurrection Christian | Faith Christian |
| Brush | University | Northfield |
| Platte Valley | Berthoud | Middle Park |
| METRO 2 | SOUTH | WEST |
| Alameda | Classical Academy | Delta |
| Machebeuf | Manitou Springs | Rifle |
| Kent Denver | Lamar | Moffat County |
| Denver West | La Junta | Aspen |
| Englewood | Woodland Park | Basalt |
| Elizabeth | Coal Ridge | |
| SOUTHWEST | ||
| Montezuma Cortez | ||
| Alamosa | ||
| Pagosa Springs | ||
| Bayfield | ||
| Salida |
CLASS 3A
| NORTHWEST | NORTH CENTRAL 1 | NORTH CENTRAL 2 |
| Green Mountain | Mead | Roosevelt |
| Evergreen | Holy Family | Fort Morgan |
| Conifer | Frederick | Mountain View |
| Littleton | Skyview | Northridge |
| Lutheran | Thompson Valley | Niwot |
| Lewis Palmer | ||
| CENTRAL WEST | Â DENVER | SOUTHERN 1 |
| Palisade | Â Denver North | Harrison |
| Summit | Â Lincoln | Discovery Canyon |
| Battle Mountain | Â Thomas Jefferson | Sand Creek |
| Glenwood Springs | Â Kennedy | Sierra |
| Eagle Valley | Â George Washington | Mitchell |
| Steamboat Springs | Â Riverdale Ridge | Durango |
| SOUTHERN #3 | Â | |
| Pueblo South | Â | |
| Pueblo East | Â | |
| Canon City | Â | |
| Pueblo Central | Â | |
| Pueblo County | Â | |
| Pueblo Centennial | Â |
CLASS 4A
| NORTHERN 1 | NORTHERN 2 | METRO 1 |
| Windsor | Monarch | Wheat Ridge |
| Broomfield | Loveland | Golden |
| Greeley West | Longmont | Dakota Ridge |
| Silver Creek | Skyline | Bear Creek |
| Erie | Mountain View | Standley Lake |
| Brighton | Greeley Central | Montrose |
| Grand Junction Central | ||
| METRO 2 | SOUTHERN 1 | SOUTHERN 2 |
| Centaurus | Chatfield | Pueblo West |
| Gateway | Vista Ridge | Mesa Ridge |
| Denver South | Air Academy | Pine Creek |
| Vista Peak | Ponderosa | Coronado |
| Aurora Central | Heritage | Rampart |
| Grand Junction | Palmer Ridge (up from 3A) | Fruita Monument |
| I-25 | Â | Â |
| Palmer | ||
| Thornton | ||
| Liberty | ||
| Falcon | ||
| Widefield | ||
| Cheyenne Mountain |
CLASS 5A
| NORTH | JEFFCO | SOUTH |
| Fairview | Arvada West | Ftn Fort Carson |
| Horizon | Columbine | Chaparral |
| Legacy | Lakewood | Douglas County |
| Fossil Ridge | Pomona | Legend |
| Poudre | Ralston Valley | Regis |
| Rocky Mountain | Mullen | Doherty |
| DOUGLAS COUNTY | CENTENNIAL | METRO 1 |
| Valor Christian | Cherokee Trail | Westminster |
| Highlands Ranch | Cherry Creek | Boulder |
| Mountain Vista | Eaglecrest | Mountain Range |
| ThunderRidge | Grandview | Adams City |
| Rock Canyon | Smoky Hill | Northglenn |
| Castle View | Arapahoe | Fort Collins |
| METRO 2 | Â | Â |
| Denver East | ||
| Far Northeast | ||
| Overland | ||
| Rangeview | ||
| Hinkley | ||
| Prairie View |
PLAYOFFS
In each classification, every conference champion would earn automatic playoff berths. Plus there are a few extensions to that rule:
In Class 1A, the top two finishers from the Western Slope would automatically qualify
In Class 4A, the league champion from the I-25 conference is the only team that can quality fro the post-season. And a 24-team playoff bracket has been proposed.
In Class 5A, the champions from the Metro 1 and 2 conferences are the only teams that can qualify for the playoffs from those leagues. There is also a proposal for the top eight teams in the RPI to move into a “6A bracket” for the post-season.
