CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The high school football playoffs in West Virginia are set to kick off this weekend, but recent legal developments have stirred up the playoff standings across the state. The West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission (WVSSAC) reported that Wood and Cabell County Schools have filed two injunctions, questioning the playoff seedings based on the *strength of victory*.
In simple terms, if a lower-class team beats a higher-ranked team, they get more points than if they win against a team of their same or lower rank. This scoring system has been affected significantly after 23 schools in West Virginia were reclassified during the summer. This reclassification changed the point values for many teams, leading to confusion over the playoff matchups.
On Saturday, a court granted Wood County’s request for an injunction, compelling the WVSSAC to reallocate point totals in accordance with the teams’ original classifications. Because of this ruling, four schools were *bumped* out of the playoff picture, while four others got a boost and moved up into the playoffs. As for the Cabell County injunction, no hearing has been scheduled yet.
The WVSSAC released the updated rankings over the weekend, affecting all four classes: Class AAAA, Class AAA, Class AA, and Class A.
In addition to football, the landscape of high school volleyball has also felt the effects of these legal issues. The Class A girls’ volleyball tournament has been delayed as five injunctions have been filed across four counties in the last month and a half concerning playoff standings.
As teams prepare for the playoffs amid these uncertainties, the focus remains on the field where last-minute adjustments are being made. With the playoffs just around the corner, schools and players alike are eager to see how these rulings will impact their chances and what the future holds for their respective seasons.
