Choctaw, they are not using media rankings in this equation at all.
A losing team really shouldn't make the playoffs when there are multiple 7-3 6-4 and even 8-2 teams missing the playoffs because they are in large competitive districts... There are teams that were 2-8 that made the playoffs because they were in 3 or even 2 team districts... This system will cut that out and it should
I am not sure how the Independent thing works... Maybe they are their own classification.
Truth be told there are several of sub .500 teams in the state that are playing in much better districts and harder scheduling:
Would you rather play the 2015 7A Reagan Storm (7-3) or 2015 7A Blanche Ely Tigers (2-9)? Who was the better team last year in reality? That said who was the more deserving team and who would represent a better playoff team 7 win Reagan or 2 win Ely? Ely was edged @ Dwyer last year in the playoffs - Reagan would have been raped @ Dwyer last year.
I can tell you who will likely have the better record over the next few years and I can clearly tell you who the better team is (regardless of record) over the next few years.
The opposing teams would fight over playing easy-money Reagan and avoid Ely at all cost. Who get's first dibs on Reagan and who gets screwed having to play Ely in the future?
The 6A Mitchell Mustangs (10-2 in 2015) could very well have a better record than the 6A Miami Northwestern Bulls (5-5 in 2015) over the next few years. I can tell you who the better team will be to infinity and beyond.
How about 2015 records in 5A you have a choice of playing 7-3 Lemon Bay, 3-6 Jackson or 3-6 Godby for future games? Sign me up for Lemon Bay for the next 3 years please - quickly! Easy$$$!
This system could turn into contract/bidding wars to play the cupcake teams in cupcake Districts around the state. Reagan, Mitchell and Lemon Bay's phones will be ringing of the hook!
No one will want to play the Elys, Jacksons or Miami Northwesterns of the FL HS Landscape though. Those teams would generally
run through some districts like a buzzsaw but do not have the fortune of a candyland schedule.