Week 8 FHSAA RPI Class 7A Football Rankings

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – With seven weeks of the 2019 season already in the books, the FHSAA has released its first RPI rankings for football that will determine the playoff brackets coming up in just a few weeks.

As such this update provides the entire state a glimpse of what the potential playoff matchups could be looking like in early November, but remember things change, even with four weeks to go.

In Classes 5A-8A, district record was taken into consideration except on certain exceptions which are noted.

For Class 7A, you will find a breakdown of RPI rankings for each team in every region and a projected seeding (including tiebreakers) based upon the guidelines as published by the FHSAA (click here to view), as well as quick thoughts about each region.

NOTE: Teams in RED have clinched their district championship

REGION 1

PROJECTED SEEDS

District Champions

No. 1 Edgewater (7A-3)
No. 2 Niceville (7A-1)
No. 3 Fleming Island (7A-2)
No. 4 Lake Howell (7A-4)

Wildcards

No. 5 Wekiva
No. 6 Lincoln
No. 7 Crestview
No. 8 Navarre

PROJECTED REGIONAL QUARTERFINAL PAIRINGS

No. 8 Navarre at No. 1 Edgewater
No. 5 Wekiva at No. 4 Lake Howell
No. 6 Lincoln at No. 3 Fleming Island
No. 7 Crestview at No. 2 Niceville

QUICK THOUGHTS: Not really any surprises here except that District 7A-2 would be shut out of sending more than one team to the playoffs with District 7A-1 looking to get four of their seven teams into the playoffs. However, I will say that plays to the strength of the teams in that district and how well they schedule games vs. the six teams that makeup District 7A-2.

REGION 2

PROJECTED SEEDS

District Champions

No. 1 Lakeland (7A-7)
No. 2 Armwood (7A-8)
No. 3 St. Cloud (7A-5)
No. 4 Winter Haven (7A-6)

Wildcards

No. 5 Bloomingdale
No. 6 Wiregrass Ranch
No. 7 Tampa Bay Tech
No. 8 Viera

PROJECTED REGIONAL QUARTERFINAL PAIRINGS

No. 8 Viera at No. 1 Lakeland
No. 5 Bloomingdale at No. 4 Winter Haven
No. 6 Wiregrass Ranch at No. 3 St. Cloud
No. 7 Tampa Bay Tech at No. 2 Armwood

QUICK THOUGHTS: This region is loaded with quality teams and there are going to be a few teams with some decent winning records that are going to get left out. I have said the magic number for most teams is seven — as in get seven wins to be sure you feel you can make the playoffs. It doesn’t apply to all teams, but for a majority, it does.

REGION 3

PROJECTED SEEDS

District Champions

No. 1 Palm Beach Lakes (7A-120
No. 2 Pinellas Park (7A-9)
No. 3 Venice (7A-10)
No. 4 Gulf Coast (7A-11)

Wildcards

No. 5 Mitchell
No. 6 Manatee
No. 7 Seminole Ridge
No. 8 Sarasota

PROJECTED REGIONAL QUARTERFINAL PAIRINGS

No. 8 Sarasota at No. 1 Palm Beach Lakes
No. 5 Mitchell at No. 4 Gulf Coast
No. 6 Manatee at No. 3 Venice
No. 7 Seminole Ridge at No. 2 Pinellas Park

QUICK THOUGHTS: Not sure what to make of this region because there is still some football left to play. The only clear cut team here that looks solid is Palm Beach Lakes. Just keep an eye on this region because there will be a lot of movement.

REGION 4

PROJECTED SEEDS

District Champions

No. 1 St. Thomas Aquinas (7A-14)
No. 2 Atlantic (Delray) (7A-13)
No. 3 Miramar (7A-15)
No. 4 Hialeah (7A-16)

Wildcards

No. 5 Plantation
No. 6 McArthur
No. 7 Blanche Ely
No. 8 Fort Lauderdale

PROJECTED REGIONAL QUARTERFINAL PAIRINGS

No. 8 Fort Lauderdale at No. 1 St. Thomas Aquinas
No. 5 Plantation at No. 4 Hialeah
No. 6 McArthur at No. 3 Miramar
No. 7 Fort Lauderdale at No. 2 Atlantic (Delray)

QUICK THOUGHTS: No real surprises here about the top teams in the region. Really to be honest it is going to be St. Thomas Aquinas and then everyone else. Some of the matchups could be competitive if they hold up to happening, but we will see how things move around the next few weeks.