The crux of the NCHSAA playoff system is the RPI formula. This formula, used for all team-bracketed playoffs, consists of three components:
- Winning Percentage (WP): Calculated by dividing the number of wins by the total games played, with ties considered as half a win.
- Opponents’ Winning Percentage (OWP): This involves averaging the winning percentages of a team's opponents. It's essential to note that games involving the team whose RPI is being calculated are not included in this process.
- Opponents’ Opponents Winning Percentage (OOWP): Similar to OWP, this is calculated for the opponents of a team's opponents. There's a slight exception for out-of-state teams, which we'll delve into next.
**Handling Out-of-State and International Opponents**
Out-of-state opponents from Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia are treated the same as in-state opponents if they have a verified MaxPreps account and schedule. For all other out-of-state opponents, their direct winning percentage counts, but each of their opponents receives a .500 winning percentage in the formula.
International opponents, on the other hand, do not impact the RPI calculation, ensuring that the system remains focused on in-state competition.
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