The state football playoffs will have a different look for four classifications when they begin on Friday.

The playoff qualifications for Classes 3A to 1A changed this year. Instead of the top four teams in each region earning a spot in the postseason, the participants were determined by a points system.

The formula was based on winning percentage, opponent’s winning percentage and the opponent’s opponent’s winning percentage. That created a Post Season Rating (PSR).

Each region champion and runner-up automatically advanced to the state playoffs and were given “preferential treatment” for the seedings and ranked according to their PSR. The rest of the field was filled out by automatic qualifiers and at-large teams.

The change became necessary when the private schools, who competed against public schools during the regular season, were set aside to play in their own division for the championship.

Class A Division II did not include any private schools. Its brackets were determined the old-fashioned way, with the top four finishers in each region advancing to the postseason.

Here’s how the changes affected the four classifications.

Class 3A: Region 8 flexed its muscle here. Region champion Jefferson came away with the No. 1 overall seed with a 0.64604 PSR (Post Season Rating). Cherokee Bluff, the runner-up to Jefferson in Region 7, had the second-highest PSR (0.64468), but because region champions get preferential treatment in the seedings, the Bears will begin the playoffs as the No. 8 seed.

The top five eight seeds are: 1. Jefferson, 2. Harlem, 3. Peach County, 4. Sandy Creek, 5. North Hall, 6. Calhoun, 7. Stephenson and 8. Cherokee Bluff.

Class 2A: The No. 1 seed went to Rockmart, which had a 0.6258 PSR. The highest PSR belonged to Morgan County (0.6643), but the Bulldogs did not win their region championship, so they were the No. 8 seed, the best non-region winning position available.

The top five eight seeds are: 1. Rockmart, 2. Carver Columbus, 3. Callaway, 4. Burke County, 5. Hapeville Charter, 6. Appling County, 7. Columbia, 8. Morgan County.

Class A Division I: There were two undefeated teams in the classification. The No. 1 seed went to Region 8 champion Fannin County, which had a PSR of 0.69743. That was slightly better than Dublin, whose PSR was 0.67241.

The top five eight seeds are: 1. Fannin County, 2. Dublin, 3. Heard County, 4. Worth County, 5. Social Circle, 6. Toombs County, 7. Thomasville, 8 Northeast Macon.

Private Division: Savannah Christian (9-0) took the No. 1 seed with a PSR of 0.71573, with Fellowship Christian next at 0.66218. Because there are only 23 teams competing in the Private Division, nine schools received a bye for the first round.

The top five eight seeds are: 1. Savannah Christian, 2. Fellowship Christian, 3. Athens Academy, 4. Calvary Day, 5. Prince Avenue Christian, 6. Hebron Christian, 7. Christian Heritage, 8. North Cobb Christian.