We’re in the middle of basketball season, but the football committee at CHSAA has developed a new classification and conference structure for the 2020 and 21 cycle. The recommendations were made following two weeks of meetings.
Conferences and classifications were laid out, according to CHSAANOW.com, 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
The proposed conferences:
SIX MAN
| NORTH | EAST CENTRAL | CENTRAL |
| Briggsdale | Arickaree/Woodlin | Colorado D&B |
| 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 | Hanover | Cripple Creek |
| Granada | Manzanola | Mountain Valley |
| Kit Carson | Primero | Sierra Grande |
| Walsh | Miami Yoder | 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 |
| Byers | Rangely | Justice |
| Simla | Soroco | Longmont Christian |
| Swink | West Grand | Rocky Mountain Lutheran |
| John Mall | Vail Christian | South Park |
| Dolores Huerta |
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 | ||
| 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 | Platte Canyon |
| 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 | Riverdale Ridge |
| Valley | Severance | D’Evelyn |
| Sterling | Resurrection Christian | Faith Christian |
| Brush | University | Englewood |
| 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 |
| Pinnacle | Woodland Park | Basalt |
| Elizabeth | Coal Ridge |
CLASS 3A
| NORTH CENTRAL 1 | NORTH CENTRAL 2 | NORTH CENTRAL 3 |
| Skyview | Mead | Roosevelt |
| Evergreen | Holy Family | Northridge |
| Conifer | Frederick | Fort Morgan |
| Kennedy | Denver North | Mountain View |
| Lincoln | Northfield | Thompson Valley |
| Green Mountain | Riverdale Ridge (listed twice) | Niwot |
| CENTRAL WEST | SOUTHERN | SOUTHERN 2 |
| Palisade | Palmer Ridge | Harrison |
| Summit | Lewis Palmer | Discovery Canyon |
| Battle Mountain | Thomas Jefferson | Sand Creek |
| Glenwood Springs | Littleton | Sierra |
| Eagle Valley | Lutheran | Mitchell |
| Steamboat Springs | George Washington | Durango |
| SOUTHERN #3 | Â | Â |
| Pueblo South | ||
| Pueblo East | ||
| Canon City | ||
| Pueblo Central | ||
| Pueblo County | ||
| Pueblo Centennial |
CLASS 4A
| NORTHERN 1 | NORTHERN 2 | METRO 1 |
| Windsor | Monarch | Wheat Ridge |
| Broomfield | Loveland | Golden |
| Greeley West | Silver Creek | Dakota Ridge |
| Longmont | Skyline | Vista Peak |
| Erie | Mountain View | Standley Lake |
| Brighton | Greeley Central | Montrose |
| METRO 2 | SOUTHERN 1 | SOUTHERN 2 |
| Centaurus | Pine Creek | Pueblo West |
| Gateway | Vista Ridge | Mesa Ridge |
| Denver South | Air Academy | Fountain Fort Carson |
| Bear Creek | Ponderosa | Coronado |
| Aurora Central | Heritage | Rampart |
| Grand Junction | Grand Junction Central | Fruita Monument |
| I-25 | Â | Â |
| Palmer | ||
| Thornton | ||
| Liberty | ||
| Falcon | ||
| Widefield | ||
| Cheyenne Mountain |
CLASS 5A
| NORTH | JEFFCO | SOUTH |
| Fairview | Arvada West | Arapahoe |
| Horizon | Columbine | Chaparral |
| Legacy | Lakewood | Douglas County |
| Fossil Ridge | Pomona | Legend |
| Poudre | Ralston Valley | Regis |
| Rocky Mountain | Chatfield | 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 | Mullen | 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.
