Below are the average Maxwell Ratings in each classification for all teams (left) and for top-10 teams (right). It suggests that moving up or down a single classification is no big deal, as teams in the next-highest class are usually only about a field goal to a touchdown better on average, per Maxwell. The ratings also show that most top-10 teams would be competitive in any classification. For example, according to Maxwell, Brooks County and Irwin County of Class A Division II in typical years would be fair-to-middling even in Class 6A. They’d be 20-plus-point underdogs to the best 6A teams, but they’d be borderline playoff teams.
Class – All / Top 10
6A - 69.85 / 92.48
5A - 61.75 / 90.58
4A - 57.81 / 84.42
3A-A private - 54.02 / 62.24
3A - 51.97 / 75.31
2A - 48.66 / 71.65
A Div. I - 46.17 / 66.19
A Div. II - 37.82 / 61.83
GIAA – 32.92 / 49.85
Note: Class 3A-A private schools are not included in 3A, 2A and A.
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