North Carolina high school football underwent a dramatic transformation this season, expanding from four classifications to eight. With this change comes a new playoff structure that coaches, players, and fans need to understand. Here's your comprehensive guide to how teams will qualify and be seeded for the 2025 postseason.
How Teams Qualify: Understanding RPI
The North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) uses a Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) formula, calculated through MaxPreps, to determine which teams make the playoffs and where they're seeded. This computer-based system removes subjectivity and focuses purely on wins and strength of schedule.
The formula breaks down as follows:
RPI = (0.4 × WP) + (0.4 × OWP) + (0.2 × OOWP)
- WP (Winning Percentage): Your team's win-loss record accounts for 40% of the rating
- OWP (Opponents' Winning Percentage): The combined record of teams you've played makes up another 40%
- OOWP (Opponents' Opponents' Winning Percentage): The records of the teams your opponents played contributes the final 20%
One crucial note: point differential doesn't matter. Whether you win by 1 or 50 points, it counts the same in the RPI calculation.
Breaking Ties
MaxPreps displays RPI values to four decimal places. If two teams are tied at that level, the system will extend to additional decimal places until the tie is broken. This ensures every team has a precise ranking.
Playing Out-of-State Opponents
North Carolina teams frequently schedule opponents from neighboring states, and these games can count toward your RPI—but there are important distinctions.
Border State Opponents (Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee): These games count fully in the RPI formula, provided the opponent has a verified MaxPreps account with their schedule properly entered. Schools are responsible for ensuring their out-of-state opponents' data is correctly listed on MaxPreps.
Non-Border State Opponents: Games against teams from states that don't border North Carolina are calculated differently. The opponent's actual winning percentage counts in the formula, but each of their opponents is assigned a .500 winning percentage regardless of their actual record. This significantly reduces the potential RPI benefit from these contests.
The New Playoff Brackets
The expansion to eight classifications brings different bracket sizes depending on which class your team competes in.
Classifications 2A-7A: These will feature 48 teams placed on a 64-team bracket. The top 16 teams receive first-round byes, with additional byes awarded when necessary to balance the bracket. In 1A, brackets may be reduced to 32 teams when needed, with byes adjusted accordingly.
Classifications 1A and 8A: The state's smallese and largest schools will have 24 teams on a 32-team bracket, with the top eight teams earning first-round byes. Additional byes will be awarded as necessary.
What This Means for Teams
The new system rewards teams that schedule challenging opponents. Since 80% of the RPI formula is based on strength of schedule (your opponents' records and their opponents' records), a loss to a strong team may hurt your ranking less than expected, while wins against quality opposition provide significant boosts.
Teams must also be proactive about their MaxPreps data, especially when playing out-of-state opponents. A game that could help your RPI won't count properly if the opponent's information isn't verified in the system.
As North Carolina enters this new era of eight classifications, understanding the RPI system will be crucial for teams planning their schedules and tracking their playoff positioning throughout the season. The formula may seem complex, but it ultimately rewards teams that win games and challenge themselves against quality competition.
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