Seeding formula and rationale
The Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association announced that, beginning with the 2027‑28 season, the Division I boys and girls basketball state tournaments will be seeded, ending a decades‑long blind draw system.
The proposal, which secured a 10‑2 approval from the board, will rank teams based on a composite metric that includes each team’s winning percentage, the winning percentage of its opponents and the winning percentage of those opponents’ opponents.
The ranking approach mirrors the methodology used for TSSAA soccer championships, where strength of schedule is a key determinant of postseason placement.
Internal data compiled by the association shows that teams finishing at the top of the 2025‑26 RPI rankings most frequently earned a spot in the state tournament, suggesting the new formula could preserve competitive balance.
District third‑place games under review
The board also tabled a discussion on converting district tournament third‑place games into elimination rounds, under which the victor would advance to the regional bracket while the vanquished would be eliminated.
A final decision on that measure is slated for the board’s August meeting, where the implications for tournament structure will be examined.
If the changes are adopted, district champions would receive a quarterfinal bye in the regional tournaments, which would be reduced from eight to six participating teams.