Forget the MaxPreps rankings that we shared yesterday.
The real deal is here now. The first Florida High School Athletic Association region rankings have dropped, providing even more insight as to what the playoffs might look like. These are the official ones, and will determine at-large teams that make the region playoffs at the end of the year.
Even more important football starts now – yes, the first five weeks did matter – as teams begin district play to start Week 6.
The numbers are going to look different compared to MaxPreps – and in some cases, there's a huge change – with some teams benefiting from the FHSAA rankings more heavily than others.
Just as with the MaxPreps rankings, the district rankings don't matter all that much. District champions with the best head-to-head record earn the automatic bid into the regional playoffs.
We'll also have the playoff bubble watch, as we have every week, that has more certainty as the football season continues. For this week, the presumed district champion will be the team highest-ranked (until records become more clear).
REGIONAL RANKINGS
Class 6A rankings
- Pace (12.463) – first in District 1-6A, third in Region 1-6A, 10th in Class 6A, 54th overall
- Tate (11.095) – second in District 1-6A, fourth in Region 1-6A, 12th in Class 6A, 66th overall
- Navarre (-3.939) – fourth in District 1-6A, 16th in Region 1-6A, 50th in Class 6A, 314th overall
Region 1-6A playoff watch
- 1. Nease (3)* vs. 8. Bartram Trail (3)
- 2. Buchholz (3) vs. 7. Fletcher (2)
- 3. Pace (1)* vs. 6. Oviedo (4)*
- 4. Tate (1) vs. 5. Mandarin (2)*
Playoff notes: Tate, despite being seeded fourth, would lost out on hosting in the first round of the playoffs since the Aggies would go against the District 2 champion, Mandarin. All four district champions – Nease (3), Pace (1), Mandarin (2) and Oviedo (4) – are within the top eight teams of the region.
Class 5A rankings
- Gulf Breeze (-4.389) – third in District 1-5A, 10th in Region 1-5A, 45th in Class 5A, 325th overall
- Milton (-12.557) – fourth in District 1-5A, 14th in Region 1-5A, 59th in Class 5A, 419th overall
Region 1-5A playoff watch
- 1. Niceville (1)* vs. 8. Matanzas (4)*
- 2. Lincoln (2)* vs. 7. Fleming Island (3)
- 3. Ponte Vedra (3)* vs. 6. Middleburg (3)
- 4. Mosley (1) vs. 5. Beachside (3)
Playoff notes: Escambia and Santa Rosa counties don't have any representation in Region 1-5A, as the closest team, Gulf Breeze, is currently ranked 10th in the region. All four presumed district champions – Niceville (1), Lincoln (2), Ponte Vedra (3) and Matanzas (4) – are within the top eight teams, though Matanzas would still be on the road.
Class 4A rankings
- Pine Forest (3.516) – first in District 1-4A, seventh in Region 1-4A, 31st in Class 4A, 184th overall
- Escambia (3.504) – second in District 1-4A, eighth in Region 1-4A, 32nd in Class 4A, 185th overall
- Booker T. Washington (1.127) – third in District 1-4A, 10th in Region 1-4A, 39th in Class 4A, 229th overall
Region 1-4A playoff watch
- 1. St. Augustine (3)* vs. 8. Escambia (1)
- 2. Choctaw (2)* vs. 7. Pine Forest (1)*
- 3. Rickards (2) vs. 6. Riverside (4)
- 4. Ed White (4)* vs. 5. Arnold (2)
Playoff notes: Despite being a presumed district champion, Pine Forest would still be on the road at Choctaw, the District 2 champion. The other pair of district champs – St. Augustine (3) and Ed White (4) – are in the top eight-ranked teams. Escambia would go on the road to a strong St. Augustine squad. Booker T. Washington, ranked 10th, is just on the outside looking in.
Class 3A rankings
- Pensacola (-2.444) – first in District 1-3A, seventh in Region 1-3A, 33rd in Class 3A, 288th overall
- West Florida (-6.807) – third in District 1-3A, 12th in Region 1-3A, 48th in Class 3A, 359th overall
Region 1-3A playoff watch
- 1. Raines (3)* vs. 8. Bay (1)
- 2. Baker County (2)* vs. 7. Pensacola (1)*
- 3. Bishop Kenny (4)* vs. 6 Menendez (4)
- 4. Wakulla (2) vs. 5. Godby (2)
Playoff notes: All four presumed district champions – Raines (3), Baker County (2), Bishop Kenny (4) and Pensacola (1) – are within the top eight teams of the region. However, Pensacola would still have to travel as it would head to Baker County out of District 2.
Class 2A rankings
- Pensacola Catholic (14.559) – first in District 1-2A, fourth in Region 1-2A, sixth in Class 2A, 37th overall
Region 1-2A playoff watch
- 1. Taylor County (3)* vs. 8. Freeport (1)
- 2. Gadsden County (3) vs. 7. Walton (1)
- 3. Bolles (4)* vs. 6. Florida High (3)
- 4. Pensacola Catholic (1)* vs. 5. Marianna (2)*
Playoff notes: All four presumed district champions – Taylor County (3), Bolles (4), Pensacola Catholic (1) and Marianna (2) – slot in the top eight-ranked teams of the region. Pensacola Catholic would at least host the first round against District 2 champion Marianna.
Rural rankings
- Jay (16.381) – first in Region 1-Rural, first in Rural overall, 17th overall in state
- Northview (-4.366) – fifth in Region 1-Rural, 24th in Rural overall, 324th overall in state
- Central (-15.757) – seventh in Region 1-Rural, 31st in Rural overall, 443rd overall in state
Rural playoff watch
Play-in Round
- 13. Blountstown vs. 20. Port St. Joe
- 14. Baker vs. 19. Lafayette
- 15. Jefferson County vs. 18. Marathon
- 16. Moore Haven vs. 17. Williston
First Round
- 1. Jay vs. Moore Haven-Williston winner
- 2. Union County vs. Jefferson County-Marathon winner
- 3. Madison County vs. Baker-Lafayette winner
- 4. Cottondale vs. Blountstown-Port St. Joe winner
- 5. Chiefland vs. 12. Pahokee
- 6. Hawthorne vs. 11. Holmes County
- 7. Chipley vs. 10. Fort White
- 8. Aucilla Christian vs. 9. Franklin County
Playoff notes: Jay, the top ranked team in the region, would earn a first-round bye and have to wait and see which team it would play. Remember, the rural playoffs are different without regions this year, so the top 20 teams get in overall. Northview, ranked No. 24, is on the outside looking in.
