Since there is no statistically significant difference in the 2024 won-loss records of the 7 classes (by chi-square test), it implies that there are "good", "average", and "mediocre" teams within each class.  The first step to achieve competitive balance is to redistribute all the "good" teams into their own classes, the "average" teams into their own classes, and the "mediocre" teams into their own classes; either by past performance, computer rankings, promotion/relegation or, however.  Florida actually has more teams per class than just about any state besides Texas and California.  And for the reasons @nolebull813  correctly points out, the likelihood of the FHSAA reducing the number of classes is basically zero.  So let's at least try to be realistic, and move away from the enrollment-based classifications to improve competitive equity, which in the long run would be much better for the health of Florida high school football.

The 2 hardest things keeping Florida from cutting down the classes like they should are the FHSAA, because more brackets means more gate money from extra playoff games. And the coaches/AD’s who want an easier road. Coaches and AD’s are going to want the path to least resistance because it’s job security and legacy on the line. Hell they would probably all be for more classes!    The only positive I can find is the extra games with there being extra brackets is more exposure for kids for college.    The negative is it makes a lot more wasted blowouts and teams advancing further than they ever would if the brackets were trimmed down like they are supposed to be. So bottom line is the extra exposure for kids worth the poor product and wasted blowouts?

Miami Central  Cardinal Mooney Norland  Deland Columbia  Madison County Royal Palm Beach South Plantation Monsignor Pace Bartow 

Taking a look back to last season, there were 1540 interclass games played which I will show below. I decided to take a closer look at the games between Classes 1A thru 7A because outside of that it's difficult to determine school size. There are many independent schools that are very large. I took all the schools from 1A to 6A (Obviously no school from 7A is included) who beat larger schools from higher classifications, and this is what I found: In 2024 there were 360 schools in Classes 1A - 6A. Of that group, 228 "different" schools (63%) beat at least one team from a higher classification. This is a sure sign that there are way too many classifications. That number should be less than half of that.  Also, I have a list of those 228 schools and who they beat from higher classifications if anyone wants to see it. Anyway, here are the numbers from 2024. (1540 interclass games) 7A vs CL W - L     6A 50 - 52     5A 24 - 29     4A 31 - 31     3A 19 - 20     2A 13 - 12     1A 5 - 6     Rur 1 - 5     Ind 27 - 8     SSA 4 - 3       174 - 166             6A vs CL W - L     7A 52 - 50     5A 48 - 40     4A 42 - 33     3A 28 - 22     2A 13 - 18     1A 9 - 6     Rur 2 - 5     Ind 10 - 6     SSA 1 - 1       205 - 181             5A vs CL W - L     7A 29 - 24     6A 40 - 48     4A 36 - 37     3A 50 - 33     2A 17 - 19     1A 7 - 8     Rur 3 - 4     Ind 11 - 4     SSA 2 - 1       195 - 178             4A vs CL W - L     7A 31 - 31     6A 33 - 42     5A 37 - 36     3A 55 - 31     2A 23 - 26     1A 8 - 14     Rur 5 - 2     Ind 10 - 8     SSA 7 - 5       209 - 195             3A vs CL W - L     7A 20 - 19     6A 22 - 28     5A 33 - 50     4A 31 - 55     2A 24 - 28     1A 19 - 6     Rur 8 - 11     Ind 9 - 11     SSA 9 - 9       175 - 217             2A vs CL W - L     7A 12 - 13     6A 18 - 13     5A 19 - 17     4A 26 - 23     3A 28 - 24     1A 33 - 24     Rur 25 - 17     Ind 11 - 8     SSA 10 - 16       182 - 155             1A vs CL W - L     7A 6 - 5     6A 6 - 9     5A 8 - 7     4A 14 - 8     3A 6 - 19     2A 24 - 33     Rur 9 - 17     Ind 26 - 18     SSA 27 - 20       126 - 136             Rur vs CL W - L     7A 5 - 1     6A 5 - 2     5A 4 - 3     4A 2 - 5     3A 11 - 8     2A 17 - 25     1A 17 - 9     Ind 13 - 6     SSA 19 - 15       93 - 74             Ind vs CL W - L     7A 8 - 27     6A 6 - 10     5A 4 - 11     4A 8 - 10     3A 11 - 9     2A 8 - 11     1A 18 - 26     Rur 6 - 13     SSA 14 - 28       83 - 145             SSA vs CL W - L     7A 3 - 4     6A 1 - 1     5A 1 - 2     4A 5 - 7     3A 9 - 9     2A 16 - 10     1A 20 - 27     Rur 15 - 19     Ind 28 - 14       98 - 93

Miami Central Cardinal Mooney Cocoa Deland Columbia  Madison County Royal Palm Beach South Plantation Calvary Christian  Bartow