Explaining the new RPI system for prep football playoff qualifiers

0
926
A brief overview of the six state title games on tap at the UNI-Dome.

BOONE — The IHSAA scrapped the old 17-point system for identifying playoff points for high school football in Iowa Wednesday and will now use a Ratings Percentage Index (RPI).

Used by the NCAA for many men’s and women’s sports, RPI generates a number between .000 and 1.000, with teams hoping to have a high number.

The RPI to be used by Iowa is weighted by three differing, but similar criteria. The first, accounting for 37.5 percent of the score, is the winning percentage (WP) for each team. Also weighted at 37.5 is the winning percentage of each opponent (OWP), with 25 percent of the score the OOWP, or opponent’s opponent’s composite winning percentage.

All games played in the regular season will count toward the RPI, and no value is added, or detracted, for cross-classification games: A win against a Class A school counts the same as a win against a Class 4A.

There is also no weighted value for road or home games — all will count the same. Margin of victory will also not be a factor; winning 17-16 will now count the same as winning 52-6.

The postseason for 2018-19 will include 16 teams from each class. District champions will advance, with the RPI used to generate at-large teams.

The first official RPI will be published Monday of Week 4 of the 2018 regular season and will be updated weekly at www.iahsaa.org.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.