Arizona HS Football Playoff Formula Set for Shake-Up: MaxPreps Rankings to Take Center Stage
The Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) has announced a significant change to its high school football playoff formula, with MaxPreps national rankings set to take center stage in determining seedings for the 2026 season.
The AIA executive board approved the measure during its monthly meeting on Monday, Aug. 10. This marks the first time the AIA won't rely on its own computer formula to rank teams, instead opting for the MaxPreps rankings that reward strength of schedule over wins against weak opponents.
The change was met with support from some coaches, including Gilbert Perry's Jeremy Hathcock, who said, "I think it's about time we get on board with what the majority of states are doing." Hathcock noted that the AIA already uses MaxPreps to seed regions and state teams in 6A, so this change will bring continuity to the system.
MaxPreps uses a data-driven approach to rank teams, with algorithms considering game results, margin of victory, and strength of schedule. Coaches' or media polls do not factor into the rankings, nor does program reputation and history, enrollment, or classification.
Glendale Copper Canyon coach Rodger Schenks supports the new system, saying, "You can’t have schools hiding from enrollment numbers and then cry when the results don’t go their way." Crismon coach Scott Hare also expressed optimism, stating, "Will it be perfect? No, but I think MaxPreps keeps it as fair as possible."
The MaxPreps formula will now be used to seed playoff teams at the end of the regular season. According to the AIA, the new system addresses a past concern regarding the ability to generate rankings specifically for playoff deadlines. MaxPreps has enhanced its system to provide rankings prior to playoff announcements, once all AIA member school game results have been submitted and entered.
This change aims to promote a fairer system, where teams are ranked based on their actual strength rather than their perceived reputation. The AIA's decision to adopt MaxPreps rankings is a significant shift in the way high school football teams are seeded in Arizona.
The implementation of the new system is set to begin in late August, when the 2026 season kicks off for the big schools. As the season unfolds, fans and teams will be closely watching how the MaxPreps rankings impact the playoff picture.
Source: Yahoo Sports