Coaches used to cling to residuals on Cutoff Weekend, but they’re hard to find in 2024

In the glory days of power points, the definitive formula for decades for the NJSIAA when it came to seeding the playoffs, residuals were the quirky things that teams could bank on that final week of the season.

Even coaches whose teams were idle could gain points, and they were sometimes guaranteed when two teams they’d beaten were playing each other. Often, it was the make or break for bubble teams.

But not any more.

Several years ago with the UPR playoff system, the NJSIAA capped residuals at an opponent’s first seven games. The idea was to keep things fair for every team, since not everyone would play eight or nine games. So, some schools only had seven factoring into their power points while others had eight or nine.

That change may not be really necessary anymore, since power points are now an average rather than cumulative, but that’s the world we’re living in.

Many coaches have asked us, “Do I get residuals this week?” And the answer is no, more often than yes.

Under power points, teams are awarded quality points for their result, and residual points as a strength-of-schedule factor.

Winning teams get 6 quality points, ties earn 3, losses earn nothing.
For a win, teams get 3 residual points for every victory by their opponent, and 1.5 for every tie.
For a tie, teams get 1.5 residuals for every victory by their opponent, and 0.75 for every tie.
For a loss, teams get one residual for every victory by their opponent.

But with most teams having played seven or eight games already, few teams are playing their seventh game this weekend. Teams can only get residuals from an opponent’s first seven games.

Here’s a list, by conference, of all teams giving residuals this week around the state, based on current standings and schedules on Gridiron New Jersey, as well as this week’s opponent, if applicable. All games are Friday unless noted otherwise.

Big Central Conference