(Dustin Price/DustinPricePhotography.com)
The football committee representatives met over the past two weeks to look at creating classifications and conference structure.
To do that, they used the following criteria:
- Enrollment numbers
- Competitive balance within each conference
- Geography
- Risk minimization
- Success/non-success
- School participation percentage
- Regular season/postseason implications
During this process, the committee saw that certain teams had to be placed up to a higher classification other than what they requested. This was done to help balance classifications and leagues. Although geography was one of the considerations, at times, other factors were used to place teams in order to create the competitive balance within each conference.
The committee tried to minimize changes from the previous cycle, but certain changes were necessary due to bullet points above, as well as natural changes in classifications that occur on two-year cycle.
Due to scheduling difficulties with the Western Slope in 4A, those teams will continue to be placed into separate individual conferences. This is per their request.
Any proposals for new football alignment must address each of the above bullet points and use the approved template for submission which has been sent out to schools. Any proposals that do not address each bullet point, or which are not in the required template, will not be considered.
Proposed football alignment
| Class 5A |
|---|
| North |
| Fairview |
| Horizon |
| Legacy |
| Fossil Ridge |
| Poudre |
| Rocky Mountain |
| Jeffco |
| Arvada West |
| Columbine |
| Lakewood |
| Pomona |
| Ralston Valley |
| Chatfield |
| South |
| Arapahoe |
| Chaparral |
| Douglas County |
| Legend |
| Regis Jesuit |
| Doherty |
| Douglas County |
| Valor Christian |
| Highlands Ranch |
| Mountain Vista |
| ThunderRidge |
| Rock Canyon |
| Castle View |
| Centennial |
| Cherokee Trail |
| Cherry Creek |
| Eaglecrest |
| Grandview |
| Smoky Hill |
| Mullen |
| Metro 1 |
| Westminster |
| Boulder |
| Mountain Range |
| Adams City |
| Northglenn |
| Fort Collins |
| Metro 2 |
| Denver East |
| Far Northeast |
| Overland |
| Rangeview |
| Hinkley |
| Prairie View |
Notes:
- The leage champions from the Metro 1 and Metro 2 are the only teams that can qualify from those leagues. They can only qualify for the 5A bracket. They may only schedule one non-conference game against the other conference.
- All league champions automatically qualify for the postseason.
Potential proposals:
- 6A football bracket, taking the top 8 teams (league proposal)
| Class 4A |
|---|
| Northern 1 |
| Windsor |
| Broomfield |
| Greeley West |
| Longmont |
| Erie |
| Brighton |
| Northern 2 |
| Monarch |
| Loveland |
| Silver Creek |
| Skyline |
| Mountain View |
| Greeley Central |
| Metro 1 |
| Wheat Ridge |
| Golden |
| Dakota Ridge |
| Vista PEAK |
| Standley Lake |
| Montrose |
| Metro 2 |
| Centaurus |
| Gateway |
| Denver South |
| Bear Creek |
| Aurora Central |
| Grand Junction |
| Southern 1 |
| Pine Creek |
| Vista Ridge |
| Air Academy |
| Ponderosa |
| Heritage |
| Grand Junction Central |
| Southern 2 |
| Pueblo West |
| Mesa Ridge |
| Fountain-Fort Carson |
| Coronado |
| Rampart |
| Fruita Monument |
| I-25 |
| Palmer |
| Thornton |
| Liberty |
| Falcon |
| Widefield |
| Cheyenne Mountain |
Notes:
- The league champion from the I-25 League is the only team that can qualify for the postseason from that league.
- All league champions automatically qualify for the postseason.
Potential proposals:
- 24-team playoff (league proposal)
| Class 3A |
|---|
| North Central 1 |
| Skyview |
| Evergreen |
| Conifer |
| Kennedy |
| Abraham Lincoln |
| Green Mountain |
| North Central 2 |
| Mead |
| Holy Family |
| Frederick |
| Denver North |
| Northfield |
| North Central 3 |
| Roosevelt |
| Northridge |
| Fort Morgan |
| Thompson Valley |
| Niwot |
| Central West |
| Palisade |
| Summit |
| Battle Mountain |
| Glenwood Springs |
| Eagle Valley |
| Steamboat Springs |
| Southern |
| Palmer Ridge |
| Lewis-Palmer |
| Thomas Jefferson |
| Littleton |
| Lutheran |
| George Washington |
| Southern 2 |
| Harrison |
| Discovery Canyon |
| Sand Creek |
| Sierra |
| Mitchell |
| Durango |
| Southern 3 |
| Pueblo South |
| Pueblo East |
| Canon City |
| Pueblo Central |
| Pueblo County |
| Pueblo Centennial |
Notes:
- All league champions automatically qualify for the postseason.
| Class 2A |
|---|
| North 1 |
| Weld Central |
| Fort Lupton |
| Valley |
| Sterling |
| Brush |
| Platte Valley |
| North 2 |
| The Academy |
| Eaton |
| Severance |
| Resurrection Christian |
| University |
| Berthoud |
| Metro 1 |
| Arvada |
| Riverdale Ridge |
| D’Evelyn |
| Faith Christian |
| Englewood |
| Middle Park |
| Metro 2 |
| Alameda |
| Bishop Machebeuf |
| Kent Denver |
| Denver West |
| The Pinnacle |
| Elizabeth |
| South |
| The Classical Academy |
| Manitou Springs |
| Lamar |
| La Junta |
| Woodland Park |
| West |
| Delta |
| Rifle |
| Moffat County |
| Aspen |
| Basalt |
| Coal Ridge |
| Southwest |
| Montezuma-Cortez |
| Alamosa |
| Pagosa Springs |
| Bayfield |
| Salida |
Notes:
- All league champions automatically qualify for the postseason.
| Class 1A |
|---|
| North Central |
| Holyoke |
| Wray |
| Yuma |
| Burlington |
| Wiggins |
| Limon |
| Foothills |
| Jefferson |
| Sheridan |
| Clear Creek |
| Manual |
| Ridge View Academy |
| Sante Fe |
| Banning Lewis |
| Rocky Ford |
| Peyton |
| Ellicott |
| Trinidad |
| Western Slope |
| Olathe |
| Paonia |
| Hotchkiss |
| Cedaredge |
| Gunnison |
| Meeker |
| Grand Valley |
| Roaring Fork |
| Southern Peaks |
| Dolores |
| Ignacio |
| Center |
| Monte Vista |
| Centauri |
| Del Norte |
| Tri-Peaks |
| Florence |
| Buena Vista |
| Colorado Springs Christian |
| St. Mary’s |
| Rye |
| Platte Canyon |
| Northern |
| Strasburg |
| Highland |
| Cornerstone Christian |
| Prospect Ridge Academy |
| Estes Park |
| Bennett |
Notes:
- All league champions automatically qualify for the postseason.
- The Western Slope’s top two finishers automatically qualify for the postseason.
| 8-man |
|---|
| Arkansas Valley |
| Fowler |
| Holly |
| Crowley County |
| McClave |
| Springfield |
| Hoehne |
| Wiley |
| Las Animas |
| Plains |
| Akron |
| Denver Christian |
| Caliche |
| Dayspring Christian |
| Haxtun |
| Merino |
| Sedgwick County |
| Mountain |
| Dove Creek |
| Mancos |
| Norwood |
| Sanford |
| Sangre de Cristo |
| Sargent |
| Lake County |
| Southern |
| Calhan |
| Custer County |
| Pikes Peak Christian |
| Byers |
| Simla |
| Swink |
| John Mall |
| Dolores Huerta |
| Northwest |
| Gilpin County |
| Hayden |
| Plateau Valley |
| Rangely |
| Soroco |
| West Grand |
| Vail Christian |
| Central |
| Lyons |
| Elbert |
| Front Range Christian |
| Justice |
| Longmont Christian |
| Rocky Mountain Lutheran |
| South Park |
Notes:
- All league champions automatically qualify for the postseason.
| 6-man |
|---|
| North |
| Briggsdale |
| Fleming |
| North Park |
| Peetz |
| Prairie |
| Pawnee |
| East Central |
| Arickaree/Woodlin |
| Flagler/Hi-Plains |
| Idalia |
| Otis |
| Stratton/Liberty |
| Weldon Valley |
| Central |
| Colorado D&B |
| Deer Trail |
| Edison |
| Genoa-Hugo |
| Kiowa |
| Belleview Christian |
| South East |
| Cheraw |
| Cheyenne Wells |
| Eads |
| Granada |
| Kit Carson |
| Walsh |
| South Central |
| Aguilar |
| Branson/Kim |
| Hanover |
| Manzanola |
| Primero |
| Miami-Yoder |
| South West |
| Antonito |
| Cotopaxi |
| Cripple Creek-Victor |
| Mountain Valley |
| Sierra Grande |
| La Veta |
Notes:
- All league champions automatically qualify for the postseason.