MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Five WVSSAC sports will expand from three classes to four classes, starting in the 2024-2025 academic year. Final approval came from the WVSSAC Board of Directors on Wednesday afternoon to add an additional class to football, cheer, volleyball, baseball and softball.
Basketball has been a four-class sport since the 2020-2021 academic year and it will remain that way going forward.
Final Copy of WVSSAC Competition Models – 2023 Version 3
Notably in football, Bridgeport, Princeton, Greenbrier East, Brooke, Ripley, Lincoln County and Hampshire will no longer be in the largest classification. Those seven schools will compete in Class AAA. The largest football classification will contract from 32 to 25 teams.
The WVSSAC Board of Control, which is comprised of representatives from member schools, gave initial approval to add a fourth class to some sports in April. The State Board of Education signed off on the WVSSAC recommendations in July.
Classifications have been determined by using a competitive balance formula, similar to what was in place for basketball. Enrollment is the dominant factor (80%), with location (10%) and economic (10%) scores included.
25 schools will comprise the new Class AAAA for the seven sports. The football playoffs will remain at 16 teams in each class. The new four-year cycle of classifications will be in place through the end of the of the 2027-2028 academic year. Regional and sectional alignments for each sport (excluding football) will be compiled and released at a later date.
Classifications for sports not expanding to four classes (cross country, golf, soccer, swimming, tennis, track and wrestling) will be released at a later date.