[Bull got out!]

KHSAA sets football realignment plan for 2025-26 seasons; 24 schools to switch classes
Jason Frakes
Louisville Courier Journal


LEXINGTON — A total of 24 high school football teams — including three from Louisville — will move classes for the 2025-26 seasons as part of a draft realignment proposed by the Kentucky High School Athletic Association’s Board of Control on Tuesday.

The draft still must be approved during the board’s meeting in May.

Of the 24 schools moving, 15 will drop in class and nine will move up. The board previously voted to not allow teams to move up in class.

The board voted Tuesday that the initial draft would not include a district with fewer than four teams, which forced one change in Class 6A. Originally, Central Hardin, Daviess County, Meade County, North Hardin and South Warren were placed in District Two. Manual, Pleasure Ridge Park and St. Xavier were placed in District Three. The board voted to move North Hardin from District Two to District Three.

In Louisville, Jeffersontown will jump from Class 4A to 5A and DeSales and Western will drop from Class 4A to 3A.

As a result, Class 3A, District Three will include Bardstown, Central, Christian Academy, DeSales, Thomas Nelson and Western. Central, CAL and DeSales have all won state championships since 2014.

Here are the other schools moving up in class: Hopkinsville (4A to 6A), South Warren (5A to 6A), Franklin-Simpson (3A to 4A), Elizabethtown (3A to 4A), Marion County (3A to 4A), Murray (2A to 3A), Edmonson County (2A to 3A) and Carroll County (2A to 3A).


Here are the other schools dropping in class: Barren County (6A to 5A), Warren Central (6A to 5A), Highlands (5A to 4A), Harlan County (5A to 4A), Bardstown (4A to 3A), Thomas Nelson (4A to 3A), Henry County (4A to 3A), Letcher County Central (4A to 3A), Trigg County (3A to 2A), Hancock County (3A to 2A), McLean County (3A to 2A), West Carter (3A to 2A) and Belfry (3A to 2A).

Here’s the complete draft:


Class A
District One — Ballard Memorial, Caverna, Fulton County, Russellville

District Two — Bethlehem, Campbellsville, Kentucky Country Day, Louisville Holy Cross

District Three — Bellevue, Dayton, Newport, Newport Central Catholic

District Four — Bishop Brossart, Covington Holy Cross, Ludlow, Trimble County

District Five — Berea, Eminence, Frankfort, Sayre

District Six — Fairview, Nicholas County, Paris, Raceland

District Seven — Harlan, Lynn Camp, Middlesboro, Pineville, Williamsburg

District Eight — Hazard, Jenkins, Paintsville, Phelps, Pikeville

Class 2A
District One — Caldwell County, Crittenden County, Fort Campbell, Mayfield, Todd County Central, Trigg County

District Two — Fort Knox, Hancock County, McLean County, Owensboro Catholic

District Three — Clinton County, Green County, Metcalfe County, Monroe County, Somerset

District Four — Danville, DuBois, Lexington Christian, Shawnee, Washington County

District Five — Beechwood, Bracken County, Gallatin County, Owen County, St. Henry, Walton-Verona

District Six — Breathitt County, Jackson County, Morgan County, West Carter

District Seven — Floyd Central, Knott County Central, Leslie County, Martin County, Prestonsburg

District Eight — Belfry, Betsy Layne, East Ridge, Pike County Central, Shelby Valley

Class 3A
District One — Hopkins County Central, Murray, Union County, Webster County

District Two — Adair County, Butler County, Edmonson County, Glasgow, Hart County

District Three — Bardstown, Central, Christian Academy, DeSales, Thomas Nelson, Western

District Four — Casey County, Garrard County, LaRue County, Lexington Catholic, Mercer County

District Five — Bourbon County, Carroll County, Henry County, Lloyd Memorial, Pendleton County

District Six — Bath County, East Carter, Fleming County, Lewis County, Russell

District Seven — Bell County, Clay County, Knox Central, McCreary Central, Rockcastle County

District Eight — Estill County, Lawrence County, Letcher County Central, Magoffin County, Powell County

Class 4A
District One — Allen County-Scottsville, Calloway County, Franklin-Simpson, Logan County, Paducah Tilghman, Warren East

District Two — Breckinridge County, Elizabethtown, John Hardin, Marion County, Nelson County

District Three — Doss, North Oldham, Valley, Waggener

District Four — Franklin County, Shelby County, Spencer County, Western Hills

District Five — Covington Catholic, Grant County, Harrison County, Highlands, Holmes, Mason County

District Six — Ashland Blazer, Boyd County, Greenup County, Johnson Central, Rowan County

District Seven — Boyle County, Lincoln County, Russell County, Taylor County, Wayne County


District Eight — Corbin, Harlan County, Perry County Central, Whitley County

Class 5A
District One — Apollo, Graves County, Madisonville-North Hopkins, Marshall County, Muhlenberg County, Owensboro

District Two — Barren County, Bowling Green, Grayson County, Greenwood, Ohio County, Warren Central

District Three — Atherton, Butler, Iroquois, Seneca

District Four — Bullitt Central, Fairdale, Jeffersontown, Moore, North Bullitt

District Five — Boone County, Conner, Cooper, Dixie Heights, Scott

District Six — Anderson County, Collins, Scott County, South Oldham, Woodford County

District Seven — East Jessamine, Madison Southern, Montgomery County, West Jessamine

District Eight — North Laurel, Pulaski County, South Laurel, Southwestern




Class 6A
District One — Christian County, Henderson County, Hopkinsville, McCracken County

District Two — Central Hardin, Daviess County, Meade County, South Warren

District Three — Manual, North Hardin, Pleasure Ridge Park, St. Xavier

District Four — Bullitt East, Fern Creek, Male, Southern

District Five — Ballard, Eastern, Oldham County, Trinity

District Six — Campbell County, Great Crossing, Ryle, Simon Kenton

District Seven — Henry Clay, Lafayette, Paul Dunbar, Tates Creek

District Eight — Bryan Station, Frederick Douglass, George Rogers Clark, Madison Central




Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com; Follow on X @kyhighs.


https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sp...V6SeloX8wI

[BlackcatAlum]

Sign me up for that please

[Bull got out!]

Sign me up for that please

LOL.. It’s not free Cheese…

[OhYouDidntKnow]

The West in 3A and the East in 4A.

LOADED

[16 special]

They talk about doing away with the playing up for more rpi points issue?

[OutlawJoseyWales]

Belfry moving back down to 2A after 18 year run in 3A. Not surprised. Enrollment is way down. Will definitely set up some interesting potential matchups.

[hawg laig]

I would flip Betsy Layne and Leslie County in AA districts 7 and 8. Put all Floyd County teams in one district and not much of a geographic difference for Leslie County for it to be a financial burden.

[BlackAndYellow]

I would flip Betsy Layne and Leslie County in AA districts 7 and 8. Put all Floyd County teams in one district and not much of a geographic difference for Leslie County for it to be a financial burden.

Incorrect.

If Leslie is in District 7, they are looking at about 10 hours total (longer on a bus) going back and forth between those schools.

If Leslie is in District 8, they are looking at about 16 hours total (longer on a bus) going back and forth between those schools.

That is a HUGE difference and would be a much larger financial burden for them if they were put in District 8.

I guess I could have did mileage to make this simpler but the point stands and I don’t feel like going back to do that, lol

[Sportsfan4848]

Belfry moving back down to 2A after 18 year run in 3A.  Not surprised. Enrollment is way down.  Will definitely set up some interesting potential matchups.

Beechwood vs Belfry would be a very interesting matchup. 

[55RedDog]

KHSAA sets football realignment plan for 2025-26 seasons; 24 schools to switch classes
Jason Frakes
Louisville Courier Journal


LEXINGTON — A total of 24 high school football teams — including three from Louisville — will move classes for the 2025-26 seasons as part of a draft realignment proposed by the Kentucky High School Athletic Association’s Board of Control on Tuesday.

The draft still must be approved during the board’s meeting in May.

Of the 24 schools moving, 15 will drop in class and nine will move up. The board previously voted to not allow teams to move up in class.

The board voted Tuesday that the initial draft would not include a district with fewer than four teams, which forced one change in Class 6A. Originally, Central Hardin, Daviess County, Meade County, North Hardin and South Warren were placed in District Two. Manual, Pleasure Ridge Park and St. Xavier were placed in District Three. The board voted to move North Hardin from District Two to District Three.

In Louisville, Jeffersontown will jump from Class 4A to 5A and DeSales and Western will drop from Class 4A to 3A.

As a result, Class 3A, District Three will include Bardstown, Central, Christian Academy, DeSales, Thomas Nelson and Western. Central, CAL and DeSales have all won state championships since 2014.

Here are the other schools moving up in class: Hopkinsville (4A to 6A), South Warren (5A to 6A), Franklin-Simpson (3A to 4A), Elizabethtown (3A to 4A), Marion County (3A to 4A), Murray (2A to 3A), Edmonson County (2A to 3A) and Carroll County (2A to 3A).


Here are the other schools dropping in class: Barren County (6A to 5A), Warren Central (6A to 5A), Highlands (5A to 4A), Harlan County (5A to 4A), Bardstown (4A to 3A), Thomas Nelson (4A to 3A), Henry County (4A to 3A), Letcher County Central (4A to 3A), Trigg County (3A to 2A), Hancock County (3A to 2A), McLean County (3A to 2A), West Carter (3A to 2A) and Belfry (3A to 2A).

Here’s the complete draft:


Class A
District One — Ballard Memorial, Caverna, Fulton County, Russellville

District Two — Bethlehem, Campbellsville, Kentucky Country Day, Louisville Holy Cross

District Three — Bellevue, Dayton, Newport, Newport Central Catholic

District Four — Bishop Brossart, Covington Holy Cross, Ludlow, Trimble County

District Five — Berea, Eminence, Frankfort, Sayre

District Six — Fairview, Nicholas County, Paris, Raceland

District Seven — Harlan, Lynn Camp, Middlesboro, Pineville, Williamsburg

District Eight — Hazard, Jenkins, Paintsville, Phelps, Pikeville

Class 2A
District One — Caldwell County, Crittenden County, Fort Campbell, Mayfield, Todd County Central, Trigg County

District Two — Fort Knox, Hancock County, McLean County, Owensboro Catholic

District Three — Clinton County, Green County, Metcalfe County, Monroe County, Somerset

District Four — Danville, DuBois, Lexington Christian, Shawnee, Washington County

District Five — Beechwood, Bracken County, Gallatin County, Owen County, St. Henry, Walton-Verona

District Six — Breathitt County, Jackson County, Morgan County, West Carter

District Seven — Floyd Central, Knott County Central, Leslie County, Martin County, Prestonsburg

District Eight — Belfry, Betsy Layne, East Ridge, Pike County Central, Shelby Valley

Class 3A
District One — Hopkins County Central, Murray, Union County, Webster County

District Two — Adair County, Butler County, Edmonson County, Glasgow, Hart County

District Three — Bardstown, Central, Christian Academy, DeSales, Thomas Nelson, Western

District Four — Casey County, Garrard County, LaRue County, Lexington Catholic, Mercer County

District Five — Bourbon County, Carroll County, Henry County, Lloyd Memorial, Pendleton County

District Six — Bath County, East Carter, Fleming County, Lewis County, Russell

District Seven — Bell County, Clay County, Knox Central, McCreary Central, Rockcastle County

District Eight — Estill County, Lawrence County, Letcher County Central, Magoffin County, Powell County

Class 4A
District One — Allen County-Scottsville, Calloway County, Franklin-Simpson, Logan County, Paducah Tilghman, Warren East

District Two — Breckinridge County, Elizabethtown, John Hardin, Marion County, Nelson County

District Three — Doss, North Oldham, Valley, Waggener

District Four — Franklin County, Shelby County, Spencer County, Western Hills

District Five — Covington Catholic, Grant County, Harrison County, Highlands, Holmes, Mason County

District Six — Ashland Blazer, Boyd County, Greenup County, Johnson Central, Rowan County

District Seven — Boyle County, Lincoln County, Russell County, Taylor County, Wayne County


District Eight — Corbin, Harlan County, Perry County Central, Whitley County

Class 5A
District One — Apollo, Graves County, Madisonville-North Hopkins, Marshall County, Muhlenberg County, Owensboro

District Two — Barren County, Bowling Green, Grayson County, Greenwood, Ohio County, Warren Central

District Three — Atherton, Butler, Iroquois, Seneca

District Four — Bullitt Central, Fairdale, Jeffersontown, Moore, North Bullitt

District Five — Boone County, Conner, Cooper, Dixie Heights, Scott

District Six — Anderson County, Collins, Scott County, South Oldham, Woodford County

District Seven — East Jessamine, Madison Southern, Montgomery County, West Jessamine

District Eight — North Laurel, Pulaski County, South Laurel, Southwestern




Class 6A
District One — Christian County, Henderson County, Hopkinsville, McCracken County

District Two — Central Hardin, Daviess County, Meade County, South Warren

District Three — Manual, North Hardin, Pleasure Ridge Park, St. Xavier

District Four — Bullitt East, Fern Creek, Male, Southern

District Five — Ballard, Eastern, Oldham County, Trinity

District Six — Campbell County, Great Crossing, Ryle, Simon Kenton

District Seven — Henry Clay, Lafayette, Paul Dunbar, Tates Creek

District Eight — Bryan Station, Frederick Douglass, George Rogers Clark, Madison Central




Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com; Follow on X @kyhighs.


https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sp...V6SeloX8wI

They need to change the RPI or get away from it. 6 team bad districts will kill the RPI vs 4 team decent or good districts using the current format.

[#GoCougs]

Having Todd Co Central in 2A District 1 instead of District 2 seems odd. They've more recently been a District 2 team & having them in District 2 would give both 5 teams instead of a 6 team District 1 and a 4 team District 2. Its not a huge deal either way but that just stood out to me as odd.

[Bull got out!]

They talk about doing away with the playing up for more rpi points issue?

I don't know, but rpi can use some tweaking for sure.

[Redneck]

No offense to Phelps and Jenkins, but them coming back to district play is a mistake and will only hurt Pikeville, Paintsville and Hazard. They’ll end up not having enough to field a team, forfeit, leaving the other three teams scrambling to find a game or maybe even two more games, which will be dang near impossible, especially if the season has already started.

[Buffs19]

I expect Jenkins and Phelps to inform the KHSAA that they will not participate in district play again, which would leave Class A, District 8 the same as last season; Hazard, Paintsville, and Pikeville. That would also result in 32 teams in Class A, which would comply with the realignment policy.

[jetpilot]

^^^I was thinking same

[Rainmaker33]

Making 1A and 6A the smallest classes is the wrong answer.

Make 1A and 6A the biggest classes (or bigger) and fill out from there. You have some absolutely full classes in the middle. But then have 1A schools dropping out- take maybe the next 6 smallest 2A and 6 largest 5A and put them and 1 and 6A

Fill everything out from there.

I mean I’m loosely counting and all that so I may mess up the math but it’s the same principle:

221 schools
38 in 1A and 6A =76
145 divided by 4 is 36.25. Average around 36 for the 4 remaining classes- one class can have 37 and you’re golden.

Much better and more even that way.

[Panther88]

Belfry moving back down to 2A after 18 year run in 3A.  Not surprised. Enrollment is way down.  Will definitely set up some interesting potential matchups.

Beechwood vs Belfry would be a very interesting matchup. 

Beechwood would kill them, last couple of years anyway, and this year too

[sambo]

Class 4A

District Eight — Corbin, Harlan County, Perry County Central, Whitley County




What happened with the Perry going to 3A rumor? Thought that would be a better move for them

[Colonel4Life1999]

Class 4A

District Eight — Corbin, Harlan County, Perry County Central, Whitley County




What happened with the Perry going to 3A rumor? Thought that would be a better move for them

I'd say enrollment didn't drop like they expected it to

[HSFOOTBALL]

Belfry moving back down to 2A after 18 year run in 3A.  Not surprised. Enrollment is way down.  Will definitely set up some interesting potential matchups.

Belfry has chose to play up for most of those years. Mostly because 3A football since the late 2000s has been week and wide open with the exception of Central for a few years, and 2A football has been very competitive during that span.  Moving from 3a to 2a will hurt the Pirates chances at another championship anytime in the near future IMO.

Also RIP to the 4a District 5. Harrison, Grant, Mason and Holmes would have been a competitive District.  Making that a 6 team district with Highlands and Cov Cath makes it a tough year for those 4. On a side note, if I'm Cov Cath or highlands I would request to play up to avoid having to go through Boyle to win a championship every year.

[OutlawJoseyWales]

Belfry moving back down to 2A after 18 year run in 3A.  Not surprised. Enrollment is way down.  Will definitely set up some interesting potential matchups.

Belfry has chose to play up for most of those years. Mostly because 3A football since the late 2000s has been week and wide open with the exception of Central for a few years, and 2A football has been very competitive during that span.  Moving from 3a to 2a will hurt the Pirates chances at another championship anytime in the near future IMO.

Also RIP to the 4a District 5. Harrison, Grant, Mason and Holmes would have been a competitive District.  Making that a 6 team district with Highlands and Cov Cath makes it a tough year for those 4. On a side note, if I'm Cov Cath or highlands I would request to play up to avoid having to go through Boyle to win a championship every year.

Actually ….for most of the time in 3A…Belfry’s male enrollment met the 3A parameters.  However….that hasn’t been the case just the past 2-3 seasons.   the numbers have dropped precipitously…..and many predicted that Belfry would decide to slide back to 2A.  IMO….most if not all of those championship teams Belfry had….would have won it in either class. Those teams in 2013-2016…and 2019 would have done quite well. 2021 may have been different.

[Shogun]

Is Pikeville’s enrollment increasing, how far are they from 2A?

[Khalisimo]

confirmed OJW.......... belfry has been in 3a enrollment every year except 2023 that has been played since going to 6 classes lol why lie?

[lcgrad2002]

Pikeville’s four year average is 177.5. In Class 1A it goes up to 190.

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Belfry’s four year average was 380.75. In Class 3A it goes from 315.5 to 420.75. They had a total of 531 students in 2022-23, down to 477 in 2023-24. They had 259 boys in 22-23, it dropped to 245 in 2023-24.

[Cat Daddy]

Breathitt got a big boost from the latest alignment. They should be the favorites for the foreseeable future. That means not having to possibly face Beechwood in the second round. Over the next few years Breathitt should be playing for a regional championship and depending on the draw, they could be in the state semi finals.

[lcgrad2002]

Yeah their district is very weak, that’s not saying much and I mean that respectfully. It’s saying they’re the best team in a horrible district. The competition they play outside of their district will be vital to prepare them for the playoffs.

[Buffs19]

Is Pikeville’s enrollment increasing, how far are they from 2A?

By the recently released numbers, Pikeville has the 6th largest enrollment in Class A, so they won't be leaving any time soon.

[4AKentuckyBoy]

Anyone know how to see the largest and smallest enrollments statewide to see who is at risk for moving down/up a class?

[OutlawJoseyWales]

confirmed OJW.......... belfry has been in 3a enrollment every year except 2023 that has been played since going to 6 classes lol why lie?

I think the poster HSFootball was trying to devalue Belfry’s championship teams….which we all know is ludicrous.   That’s why I reminded him the facts.  I appreciate you actually looking it up.    While 3A seems to have been watered down as of late….there have been good quality teams over the l15 years in 3A.   Belfry, Corbin, Boyle, Cal, DeSales, Ashland, Paducah Tilghman, Lex Cath.    Just some Jealousy coming to the forefront

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Is Pikeville’s enrollment increasing, how far are they from 2A?

By the recently released numbers, Pikeville has the 6th largest enrollment in Class A, so they won't be leaving any time soon.

As a Belfry fan….i don’t blame them for staying in 1A.  If they meet the standard….then they have every right to stay there.   The onus isn’t on them to move….the onus is for other programs to get better.   I know it may seem unfair because of their dominance….but it is what it is.  Legitimately a 1A team….playing 1A.

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Pikeville’s four year average is 177.5. In Class 1A it goes up to 190.

---

Belfry’s four year average was 380.75. In Class 3A it goes from 315.5 to 420.75. They had a total of 531 students in 2022-23, down to 477 in 2023-24. They had 259 boys in 22-23, it dropped to 245 in 2023-24.

LC is going to feast on the district in  2025 and 2026.   Y’all got a lot of talent coming thru.   It will be interesting too see how they mature and develop.

[Redneck]

I expect Jenkins and Phelps to inform the KHSAA that they will not participate in district play again, which would leave Class A, District 8 the same as last season; Hazard, Paintsville, and Pikeville.  That would also result in 32 teams in Class A, which would comply with the realignment policy.

Per the KHSAA article, both teams are rejoining. My statement was referring to the possibility of getting halfway through the season then one or both having to forfeit the remainder of the season due to not having enough players left to participate.