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The high school football season is rolling, and here at SOTG we wanted to add something new to our coverage.
We watch games, talk to players and coaches and make our weekly picks. However, when it comes to rankings, we wanted something that went deeper.
So, we went to work.
Introducing the SOTG Performance Index — SPI.
The SOTG Performance Index (SPI) is SOTG’s proprietary 100-point ranking system, created exclusively by Students of the Game to evaluate what teams have earned on the field through their results and overall body of work.
SPI is recalculated weekly as new games are played and new information becomes available. The complete SPI formula, weighting system and calculation method are kept in-house by SOTG.
The system is designed to reward what teams accomplish on the field, not preseason expectations or reputation.
No preseason reputation points. No ranking a team high based on the name on the front of the jersey.
What have you done THIS season?
Who did you beat?
How did you perform?
What does your résumé look like?
That’s what matters.
We also wanted dominant performances to matter. A team winning 42-7 should receive more credit than a team surviving against a struggling opponent.
At the same time, running the score up on a struggling team isn’t going to break the system.
Another important part of SPI is that the rankings are recalculated every week.
That means a win that doesn’t look great today could become more valuable later if that opponent gets hot and starts winning games. On the other hand, a win we thought looked great early could lose some value if that opponent struggles.
So, understand this now:
THESE RANKINGS WILL MOVE.
That’s the fun part.
With three weeks of football in the books…
CLASS IS IN SESSION!
SOTG TOP 15
1. McMinn Central (2-0) — SPI: 71.00
The Chargers take the top spot in the first-ever SOTG SPI rankings. McMinn Central may have only played two games, but the SPI likes what the Chargers have put on the field so far.
2. Dalton (3-0) — SPI: 70.78
Dalton is off to a 3-0 start and is right on McMinn Central’s heels. The Catamounts have taken care of business through their first three games and have put together one of the area’s strongest early résumés.
3. Cleveland (3-0) — SPI: 70.11
Don’t sleep on Cleveland. The Blue Raiders are undefeated and have shown they can win different ways. They’re less than one SPI point behind Dalton and firmly in the conversation near the top.
4. Tyner (3-0) — SPI: 66.38
The Rams just keep handling business. Tyner is undefeated through three weeks, including a win over Silverdale that continues to look important as the season develops.
5. Meigs County (3-0) — SPI: 64.33
Another undefeated team cracks the Top 5. Meigs has already been tested in a close game and has also shown the ability to dominate.
6. South Pittsburg (2-1) — SPI: 62.33
And HERE is where the SPI gets interesting.
South Pittsburg is the highest-ranked one-loss team in our first Top 15. The Pirates’ only loss came by one point, and they responded by beating Sequatchie County 41-7.
This is exactly why record alone doesn’t tell the whole story.
7. East Ridge (3-0) — SPI: 60.79
If these rankings were based strictly on domination, East Ridge would be WAY up the board.
The Pioneers have been putting up huge margins through three weeks. Their competition has struggled, but East Ridge has done exactly what a good football team is supposed to do against struggling competition:
DOMINATE.
8. Ringgold (3-0) — SPI: 58.89
Ringgold enters the first SOTG Top 10 undefeated. The Tigers continue to win, and as the season develops, their SPI could move quickly.
9. Northwest Whitfield (2-1) — SPI: 57.96
This one might surprise some people.
Northwest Whitfield has a loss and still cracks our Top 10. That is exactly why we created SPI.
A team’s record matters, but so does the résumé behind that record.
10. Marion County (3-0) — SPI: 56.44
Marion has been DESTROYING people.
The Warriors are undefeated and have been one of the area’s most dominant teams through the first three weeks.
Now comes another opportunity for Marion to strengthen its résumé.
11. Grundy County (3-0) — SPI: 56.44
Yes, you read that correctly.
Marion and Grundy are tied at 56.44 SPI.
Marion gets the No. 10 position through the SOTG tiebreaker process, but Grundy is sitting right there at No. 11.
And guess what?
They meet later this season.
CLASS WILL DEFINITELY BE IN SESSION THAT WEEK!
12. Sequatchie County (2-1) — SPI: 54.89
Sequatchie started the season strong before running into South Pittsburg. Now the Indians have another opportunity coming to make some noise and potentially move in the rankings.
13. Bledsoe County (2-1) — SPI: 54.44
Bledsoe’s only loss came by one point against Sequatchie County. The Warriors have responded and remain firmly inside the first SOTG Top 15.
14. Sale Creek (2-0) — SPI: 54.17
Don’t forget about the Panthers.
Sale Creek is undefeated through two games. There is still plenty of football ahead for the Panthers to build their résumé and climb this board.
15. Walker Valley (2-1) — SPI: 49.89
Walker Valley grabs the final spot in our inaugural Top 15. After dropping its opener, the Mustangs responded with back-to-back wins and have played their way into the rankings.
⸻
JUST OUTSIDE THE SOTG TOP 15
The race for the final spots is already CLOSE.
16. Soddy-Daisy (2-1) — SPI: 49.11
17. Trion (2-1) — SPI: 49.11
18. Coahulla Creek (2-1) — SPI: 46.67
19. Rhea County (2-1) — SPI: 46.04
20. East Hamilton (2-1) — SPI: 43.00
Walker Valley sits at 49.89, while Soddy-Daisy and Trion are both sitting at 49.11.
That’s only 0.78 SPI points separating No. 15 from the teams immediately behind them.
So don’t get comfortable.
These rankings are going to change.
Teams will rise. Teams will fall. Résumés will get stronger, and wins will look different as the season continues.
This is only the beginning for the SOTG Performance Index.
STUDENTS OF THE GAMEEEEEEEE!
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