01/15/26 – Board of Control Discusses Football Realignment Considerations, Places Cornerstone Christian in 8th Region, Recognizes The Work of Frank Riherd

January 15, 2026 2025-2026 News Releases

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JAN. 15, 2026

The KHSAA Board of Control conducted its January 15th meeting, the fourth of the 2025-26 academic year, in Lexington, with in-depth back-and-forth dialogue on football realignment considerations for 2027, a drastic increase in eligibility cases, and movement of member schools within the 8th region necessitated by the placement of Cornerstone Christian in Shelbyville.

A spirited conversation addressing an upcoming football realignment, which occurs every two years, looking for new opportunities for schools in the playoff structure. The Board of Control will review bracketing.

One concept to consider is using RPI-based pairings starting in the second round. The first round could then either involve adjacent districts or be within a district, and the board will survey the membership on those options. The intent is to avoid repeated playoff matchups. The board will consider the survey results, and if any change is approved, it could be in place for the 2027 season.

The Board also asked for additional data on the potential adoption of multipliers, including their enrollments prior to classification, and for consideration of a “success factor” to be included in the realignment considerations. The Board will continue to study this information and consider options, with implementation no earlier than the 2029 season, using data from the 2027 and 2028 seasons.

The Board of Control voted 12-4 on Thursday to place Cornerstone Christian into district 29, beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, in the various team sports, in an effort to balance the district alignment in the 8^th region.  A proposal to send Collins to the 29th district was voted down 5-11 before the final motion was approved. 

During the Board reports section of the agenda, the Commissioner and the Board recognized long-time software engineer and developer Frank Riherd, Jr. Riherd plans to continue his work with the KHSAA on the Riherds/KHSAA scoreboard through June 30. He recently notified the KHSAA and also posted on social media his recent diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). “From the time Mr. Riherd told us nearly two years ago that he wanted to start to adjust his time commitment and focus primarily on the scoreboard after the transition of our data system to ArbiterSports, we have been very public in both our appreciation of his work and the need for that product to continue”, said Commissioner Julian Tackett. “We deeply love Frank and the great things he has done for the KHSAA, its member school administrators and coaches, and a generation of students, and want that legacy project to continue long into the future. While the future scoreboard may not be identical and could take on a different look or feel, we would not be acting responsibly if we didn’t work to continue this great project. We are committed to the scoreboard continuing in 2026-27 and beyond after Frank steps aside on June 30 this year, and we are forever indebted.”

 The Board approved the first-round sites for the golf state tournament for the next three years.

Adjust the standard regular season contract fee with an increase of $5 for regular season basketball officials, and review the postseason fee to increase that as well. Wrestling would be adjusted in its standard fees. These two sports were part of the routine review scheduled every four years for all sports.

Began a review of soccer, potentially adopting a 3-year pilot program moving into classes.

– KHSAA –

About the Kentucky High School Athletic Association

The Kentucky High School Athletic Association was organized in 1917 and is the agency designated by the Kentucky Department of Education to manage high school athletics in the Commonwealth. The Association is a voluntary nonprofit 501(c)3 organization made up of 290 member schools, both public and non-public. The KHSAA awards 229 state championships to 59 teams and 178 individuals in 13 sports and six sport-activities, funds catastrophic insurance coverage for its more than 109,000 rostered member school student-athletes, provides coaching education and sports safety programs for more than 12,000 coaches and licenses and facilitates the distribution of training material for over 4,000 contest officials.

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