Eight weeks are in the books for the 2021 Florida high school football season and the FHSAA has released their latest look at the RPI football playoff rankings as we head into Week 9 of the season.
As such this update provides the entire state a glimpse of what the potential playoff matchups could be looking like come the second week of November, but remember things change, as we still have three weeks worth of games (including this week) to go, however, the playoff picture is starting to become much more clearer with few games left.
In Classes 5A-8A, district record was taken into consideration except on certain exceptions which are noted.
For Class 8A, 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.
REGION 1
| Rank | Team | Record | RPI |
| 1 | Lake Mary | 7-0 | 0.739 |
| 2 | Bartram Trail | 6-1 | 0.719 |
| 3 | Seminole (Sanford) | 7-1 | 0.706 |
| 4 | Winter Park | 5-2 | 0.633 |
| 5 | DeLand | 3-2 | 0.632 |
| 6 | Creekside | 6-2 | 0.618 |
| 7 | Ocoee | 5-1 | 0.613 |
| 8 | Apopka | 5-2 | 0.604 |
| 9 | Timber Creek | 6-2 | 0.595 |
| 10 | Mandarin | 4-4 | 0.578 |
| 11 | Oviedo | 5-3 | 0.556 |
| 12 | Lake Brantley | 4-3 | 0.553 |
| 13 | Oakleaf | 4-3 | 0.542 |
| 14 | Flagler Palm Coast | 2-4 | 0.519 |
| 15 | Hagerty | 3-4 | 0.457 |
| 16 | Sandalwood | 2-5 | 0.456 |
| 17 | University | 2-5 | 0.438 |
| 18 | Evans | 2-6 | 0.421 |
| 19 | West Port | 0-7 | 0.390 |
| 20 | Colonial | 2-5 | 0.358 |
PROJECTED DISTRICT CHAMPS
This is based on current district standings and taking the highest-rated team among the district standings if they have won district games. Should a district not have any district games played as of yet, the highest-rated team will be mythically slotted in as a district champion for projection purposes only. Teams highlighted in red have officially clinched their district championship.
8A-1: Bartram Trail – No. 2
8A-2: Lake Mary- No. 1
8A-3: Apopka – No. 3
8A-4: Timber Creek – No. 4
PROJECTED REGIONAL QUARTERFINAL PAIRINGS
No. 8 Creekside vs. No. 1 Lake Mary
No. 5 Seminole vs. No. 4 Timber Creek
No. 6 Winter Park vs. No. 3 Apopka
No. 7 DeLand vs. No. 2 Bartram Trail
QUICK THOUGHTS: There is still a lot that needs to happen in this region and a lot that can change with some big-time district games this week and next week that will decide a lot of the sending. For now, Lake Mary leads the way as the top team in the region, while Bartram Trail is not too far behind the Rams.
REGION 2
| Rank | Team | Record | RPI |
| 1 | Palm Beach Central | 6-0 | 0.707 |
| 2 | Treasure Coast | 5-1 | 0.660 |
| 3 | Boone | 5-2 | 0.621 |
| 4 | Vero Beach | 4-2 | 0.618 |
| 5 | Palm Beach Gardens | 5-2 | 0.586 |
| 6 | Forest Hill | 4-2 | 0.553 |
| 7 | Wellington | 4-2 | 0.538 |
| 8 | Park Vista | 5-1 | 0.536 |
| 9 | Centennial | 4-3 | 0.530 |
| 10 | Lake Nona | 4-3 | 0.521 |
| 11 | Jupiter | 3-4 | 0.451 |
| 12 | Freedom (Orlando) | 4-4 | 0.445 |
| 13 | Fort Pierce Central | 3-5 | 0.443 |
| 14 | Oak Ridge | 3-4 | 0.436 |
| 15 | Royal Palm Beach | 0-6 | 0.406 |
| 16 | Palm Beach Lakes | 0-7 | 0.380 |
| 17 | Tohopekaliga | 2-6 | 0.380 |
| 18 | Santaluces | 1-5 | 0.358 |
| 19 | Lake Worth | 0-6 | 0.326 |
| 20 | John I. Leonard | 1-6 | 0.316 |
| 21 | Cypress Creek (Orlando) | 2-5 | 0.302 |
PROJECTED DISTRICT CHAMPS
This is based on current district standings and taking the highest-rated team among the district standings if they have won district games. Should a district not have any district games played as of yet, the highest-rated team will be mythically slotted in as a district champion for projection purposes only. Teams highlighted in red have officially clinched their district championship.
8A-5: Boone – No. 3
8A-6: Treasure Coast – No. 2
8A-7: Palm Beach Central – No. 1
8A-8: Forest Hill – No. 4
PROJECTED REGIONAL QUARTERFINAL PAIRINGS
No. 8 Park Vista vs. No. 1 Palm Beach Central
No. 5 Vero Beach vs. No. 4 Forest Hill
No. 6 Palm Beach Gardens vs. No. 3 Boone
No. 7 Wellington vs. No. 2 Treasure Coast
QUICK THOUGHTS: We got some interesting things going on in this region with Palm Beach Central is leading the way at the No. 1 seed while No. 2 Treasure Coast is not far behind trying to content for that top spot. A lot of things are going to happen here in the next three weeks, so buckle for a wild ride with this region.
REGION 3
| Rank | Team | Record | RPI |
| 1 | Venice | 7-0 | 0.755 |
| 2 | Riverview (Sarasota) | 6-1 | 0.718 |
| 3 | West Orange | 7-1 | 0.669 |
| 4 | Newsome | 5-2 | 0.633 |
| 5 | Osceola (Kissimmee) | 6-1 | 0.625 |
| 6 | Durant | 7-1 | 0.612 |
| 7 | Plant | 5-2 | 0.580 |
| 8 | Steinbrenner | 4-4 | 0.579 |
| 9 | Plant City | 4-3 | 0.577 |
| 10 | Sarasota | 4-3 | 0.550 |
| 11 | Olympia | 4-3 | 0.543 |
| 12 | Gulf Coast | 3-4 | 0.527 |
| 13 | Dr. Phillips | 2-6 | 0.526 |
| 14 | Alonso | 4-3 | 0.490 |
| 15 | East Lake | 2-6 | 0.489 |
| 16 | Celebration | 4-3 | 0.481 |
| 17 | Lakewood Ranch | 2-5 | 0.480 |
| 18 | Palm Harbor University | 3-4 | 0.471 |
| 19 | Riverview (Riverview) | 2-5 | 0.405 |
| 20 | Windermere | 2-5 | 0.395 |
PROJECTED DISTRICT CHAMPS
This is based on current district standings and taking the highest-rated team among the district standings if they have won district games. Should a district not have any district games played as of yet, the highest-rated team will be mythically slotted in as a district champion for projection purposes only. Teams highlighted in red have officially clinched their district championship.
8A-9: West Orange – No. 2
8A-10: Newsome – No. 3
8A-11: Steinbrenner – No. 4
8A-12: Venice – No. 1
PROJECTED REGIONAL QUARTERFINAL PAIRINGS
No. 8 Plant vs. No. 1 Venice
No. 5 Riverview (Sarasota) vs. No. 4 Steinbrenner
No. 6 Osceola vs. No. 3 Newsome
No. 7 Durant vs. No. 2 West Orange
QUICK THOUGHTS: Venice continues to dominate as the No. 1 overall team in the region and the only team that could catch them – if they defeat the Indians next week – is Sarasota Riverview. Otherwise, things are starting to shape up as to who we might see in the playoffs from this region. It should be noted that Steinbrenner will be in after clinching District 8A-11 last week.
REGION 4
| Rank | Team | Record | RPI |
| 1 | Miami Palmetto | 6-1 | 0.708 |
| 2 | Western | 5-2 | 0.672 |
| 3 | Boca Raton | 6-1 | 0.662 |
| 4 | Deerfield Beach | 5-2 | 0.617 |
| 5 | Columbus | 4-3 | 0.611 |
| 6 | South Dade | 3-3 | 0.574 |
| 7 | Dr. Krop | 5-1 | 0.573 |
| 8 | Coral Glades | 4-1 | 0.572 |
| 9 | Cypress Bay | 5-2 | 0.562 |
| 10 | Miami | 3-2 | 0.544 |
| 11 | Coral Reef | 4-3 | 0.523 |
| 12 | Monarch | 3-3 | 0.521 |
| 13 | Stoneman Douglas | 2-3 | 0.512 |
| 14 | Miami Beach | 3-2 | 0.481 |
| 15 | Flanagan | 3-3 | 0.459 |
| 16 | Southwest Miami | 1-5 | 0.433 |
| 17 | West Broward | 2-4 | 0.412 |
| 18 | Coral Springs | 1-5 | 0.397 |
| 19 | West Boca Raton | 1-4 | 0.349 |
| 20 | Coral Gables | 0-5 | 0.311 |
| 21 | Taravella | 0-8 | 0.311 |
PROJECTED DISTRICT CHAMPS
This is based on current district standings and taking the highest-rated team among the district standings if they have won district games. Should a district not have any district games played as of yet, the highest-rated team will be mythically slotted in as a district champion for projection purposes only. Teams highlighted in red have officially clinched their district championship.
8A-13: Boca Raton – No. 3
8A-14: Western – No. 2
8A-15: Dr. Krop – No. 4
8A-16: Miami Palmetto – No. 1
PROJECTED REGIONAL QUARTERFINAL PAIRINGS
No. 8 Coral Glades vs. No. 1 Miami Palmetto
No. 5 Deerfield Beach vs. No. 4 Dr. Krop
No. 6 Columbus vs. No. 3 Boca Raton
No. 7 South Dade vs. No. 2 Western
QUICK THOUGHTS: With two of the four districts now having secured district champions the fight is on for the remaining district to lock in place and with teams left fighting to get a wildcard spot. Miami Palmetto is by the No. 1 leader in the region and likely could stay that way depending on how things shape out the next three weeks.
