TENNERTON – The WVSSAC passed a new rule that will change their football playoff rating formula and how teams will now make the playoffs.

In the past, teams received rating points two ways, beating a Class AAA team was worth 12 points, beating a Class AA team was worth nine points and beating a Class A team was worth six points. A team also got a bonus point for each team they defeated that had won a game in their class or higher.

While that system will still be in place, the new rule change calls for teams to be rewarded for playing a tougher schedule.

Teams will now receive bonus points for every game their opponent wins in their class or higher regardless of if that team beats them.

Class AAA teams will get 1.2 bonus points, 0.9 for Class AA and 0.6 for Class A.

For example, hypothetically say Buckhannon-Upshur loses to Bridgeport this year and the Indians go 10-0. 1.2 times 10, so B-U would have picked up 12 bonus points for having an undefeated team on their schedule and the willingness to compete against stronger teams. In the past B-U would have simply gotten no points from the Bridgeport game because they lost it.

The new system is designed to entice teams to take on added challenges knowing they will be rewarded with more bonus points.

For Buckhannon-Upshur head coach Zach Davis, he views the new rule change as a positive and one that will help his Buccaneer program.

“I have been a proponent of including strength of schedule in the point system for years,” noted Davis. “I think it is a great change that has been needed for a long time. I think it will help our program because we will play anyone, anywhere at any time and I think it will help teams that play a quality schedule.”