Week 5 quickly approaches, and it is time to look closer at the playoff format for 2020, which will be very different than previous seasons.
All schools are eligible for the postseason, starting in Week Seven, and 664 schools have opted in, according to the OHSAA’s press release. The original press release can be found here: https://www.ohsaa.org/news-media/articles/ohsaa-announces-new-football-regions.
Let’s take a look at the break down division-by-division for what this all means for the Butler County schools:
Division V, Region 20 (Saturday games)
Total Teams In the Bracket: 24
Teams Earning a First-Round Bye: 8
Butler County Teams: Madison
Other Teams in the Bracket: Bethel, Blanchester, Brookville, Carlisle, CHCA, Clermont Northeastern, East Clinton, Finneytown, Greenon, Madeira, Madison-Plains, Mariemont, Meadowdale, North College Hill, Preble Shawnee, Purcell Marian, Reading, Roger Bacon, Springfield Shawnee, Summit Country Day, Taft, Versailles, West Liberty-Salem
Analysis: At 2-2, the Madison Mohawks actually sit at 4th in the Harbins. This is a region without a ton of heavyweights. Perennial powerhouse West Jefferson is down in Division VI and no longer in Madison’s way. Wheelersburg and the rest of the Southern Ohio Conference remain safely in Region 19 as well.
For comparison, Madison’s Harbin point total, good enough for 4th in this region, would have them at 11th if they were in Region 19.
This region is shaping up to be a two-team race: Brookville and Roger Bacon. Brookville has the opportunity to make a last sales pitch to the coaches vote if they can upend 4-0 Bellbrook in Week 5.
Roger Bacon doesn’t have near that quality of opponent, but the Spartans’ last sales pitch will be whatever massive highlights of Corey Kiner they can put on the local evening news. Expect those two schools to be 1 and 2 in either order.
Madison will have an 0-4 opponent to tangle with in Week 5, so the Mohawks won’t be turning a lot of heads, but the lack of depth in this region plays into the Mohawks’ hands.
West Liberty-Salem and CHCA could still be seeded ahead of the Mohawks, but I think Madison can safely plan on a first-round bye and second-round home game. Bonus if Madison is fortunate enough to be seeded 3rd-through-6th and not 7th or 8th, as it gives them the chance to avoid Brookville or Roger Bacon for one extra round.
SAMPLE BRACKET
