With the Michigan high school football regular season drawing to a close, teams across the state are focused on securing a spot in the playoffs. Qualification is not just about a winning record; it depends on a detailed playoff points system managed by the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) that rewards both victories and the strength of a team's schedule.
Key Takeaways
- The top 32 teams in each of the eight 11-player divisions qualify for the MHSAA football playoffs.
- Playoff qualification is determined by a team's average playoff points, not just their win-loss record.
- The formula includes points for a team's own wins and bonus points based on the performance of their opponents.
- Beating a team from a larger division yields more points, encouraging competitive scheduling.
The Foundation of the MHSAA Playoff System
The Michigan high school football playoffs represent the culmination of a nine-game regular season. To create a fair and competitive postseason, the MHSAA established a system that ranks teams based on more than just total wins. The goal is to reward teams that play challenging schedules and perform consistently.
In the 11-player format, the state is divided into eight divisions based on school enrollment size. Division 1 includes the largest schools, while Division 8 comprises the smallest. For each of these eight divisions, the top 32 teams based on their final playoff point average earn a postseason berth. This means a total of 256 teams statewide continue their season with the hope of reaching the championship games at Ford Field.
A System Built on Strength of Schedule
The MHSAA playoff points formula was designed to prevent teams from qualifying simply by playing weaker opponents. By incorporating bonus points tied to an opponent's success, the system incentivizes schools to schedule difficult non-conference games. A team with a 6-3 record against tough competition might rank higher than a 7-2 team that played a weaker schedule.
How Playoff Points Are Calculated
Understanding the playoff points formula is key to following a team's journey to the postseason. The final ranking is based on a team's average playoff points, which is calculated by dividing their total points by the number of games played. This total is composed of two main elements: Playoff Points from wins and Bonus Points from opponents' wins.
Part 1: Points from Team Wins
The first part of the calculation is straightforward. A team earns a set number of points for each victory, with the amount determined by the MHSAA classification of the opponent they defeated. The classification system is based on enrollment, with Class A being the largest and Class D the smallest.
Beating a larger school is worth more points. According to MHSAA rules, the point values for defeating an opponent are as follows:
- Class A Opponent: 60 points
- Class B Opponent: 55 points
- Class C Opponent: 50 points
- Class D Opponent: 45 points
No points are awarded for a loss. This structure directly rewards teams for challenging and defeating larger programs.
Part 2: The Crucial Bonus Points
The second, and often most critical, component is bonus points. This is where the strength of schedule has a major impact. Teams earn bonus points for every victory achieved by an opponent on their schedule, regardless of whether they won or lost against that opponent.
The bonus point values are also weighted by the opponent's classification:
- For each win by a Class A opponent on your schedule: 8 points
- For each win by a Class B opponent on your schedule: 7 points
- For each win by a Class C opponent on your schedule: 6 points
- For each win by a Class D opponent on your schedule: 5 points
"The bonus point system ensures that a team's entire schedule matters. Every game, even a loss to a strong team, can contribute positively to a team's playoff chances through the bonus points that opponent accumulates throughout the season," noted one long-time Michigan football analyst.
Example Calculation
Imagine Team A (Class B) beats a Class A opponent that finishes the season 8-1. Team A gets 60 points for the win. They also get bonus points for each of that opponent's 8 wins (8 wins x 8 bonus points/win = 64 bonus points). The total points from that single game would be 124 (60 + 64).
Putting It All Together: The Final Average
Throughout the season, a team's total points are the sum of their own win points and all the bonus points accumulated from their nine opponents. At the end of Week 9, this total is divided by the number of games played (usually nine) to get the final playoff point average.
This average is the number used to rank all the teams within a division. The 32 teams with the highest averages in each division are then seeded into a playoff bracket. This methodical process creates a dynamic where final playoff spots can change dramatically during the last week of the season, as bonus points shift with every game result across the state.
Why the System Matters
The MHSAA's system is designed to identify the most deserving teams for its 256-team playoff field. It aims to create a level playing field where a team's full body of work is considered.
For fans, coaches, and players, the final weeks of the season become a time for intense scoreboard watching. A victory by a team you lost to in Week 2 could be the very thing that pushes your team into the playoffs in Week 9. This interconnectedness makes the conclusion of Michigan's high school football regular season one of the most exciting in the country.