"• The highest finishing team from a given classification in a split conference will automatically qualify, regardless of
overall conference finish (minimum of 2 schools per classification)"
If I understand this rule correctly there is only one conference champion doesn't matter 2A or 1A they will be seeded base on their RPI along with other conference champions in whichever classification they play in. In a one class 6+ conference the conference champion and 2nd place team are atuo qualified and the champion is seeded with the other Champs by their RPI but a split say the 1A win the championship they will be seeded as conference champ in 1A playoffs and the second best 1A school will be automatic and the first two 2A schools but not as a champion....my brain hurts lol
There can be two conference "champions" for playoff seeding purposes as long as they meet the criteria.
The teams in each region will be seeded as follows:
(1) Seed all 1st place automatic berths by RPI rating.
NOTE: The highest finishing team in its half of a split conference must finish in 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place overall and/or have an overall winning percentage of .500 or higher in order to be seeded as a #1. Otherwise, the team will be seeded with all other at-large teams.
(2) Seed all 2nd place automatic berths or conference tournament champions and at-large berths by RPI rating.
So for example, in this conference:
Avery
Draughn
Mitchell
Mountain Heritage
Rosman
Madison (2A)
Owen (2A)
Say Mitchell wins overall going 6-0. Madison or Owen would have to finish above .500 overall or top three in conference in order to be seeded with the conference champions in 2A. If they don't meet either of those requirements, they would still automatically qualify (since there are at least 2, 2A teams in conference) but would be seeded with all of the 2nd place automatic qualifiers and at-large teams.