While the NJAC heads into its third season with its divisional lineup basically the same as a year ago, a few of the conference's schools will be looking at significant changes when it comes to state playoff time.

The NJSIAA's annual group reclassification shuffles the deck each year, as some schools change groups based on fluctuations in the size of their student bodies. Because of the method the association uses, some schools can also switch sections on an annual basis.

Roxbury and Randolph could meet in the state football tournament this year. (Photo by Paul Swenson)

The NJSIAA actually has many classifications for various sports; its general classification is now only used for soccer, basketball, baseball, softball and tennis. Here is a look at the significant changes for NJAC schools for the 2011-12 school year:

General classification

One school is seeing a double dose of change, as it drops down a group and also changes sections. Morristown, which was in North Jersey Section 1, Group IV last year, will switch to Group III and play in North Jersey Section 2. Morristown struggled in most of the general classification sports last year; the new section would appear to be slightly easier.

The other NJAC school switching groups in the overall classification is Vernon. A Group IV school for more than two decades, Vernon will drop down to Group III this year thanks to a sizeable dropoff in student enrollment. On the whole, the shift to North 1, Group III would seem to be a benefit to the teams in the general classification sports, especially the Vikings' basketball squads which could almost never get out of the first round in Group IV.

Switching sections but remaining in the same group is Dover, which shifts from North 2, Group II to Section 1 this year. The new section would appear to be slightly tougher, which isn't great news for the Tigers, who didn't make it past the first round in any of the general classification sports last year.

No NJAC school is moving up in group size this year, though Mount Olive came close, falling just a handful of students short of jumping into Group IV.

Football

Vernon's big change also carries over to the football field, where it will now compete in North 1, Group III. In this case, the move is not good news for the Vikings. While their old section (N1, G4) features a few solid teams, including defending champion Randolph, their new section is one of the toughest public-school brackets in the entire state, led by perennial powers like Wayne Hills and Ramapo.

Switching places with Vernon is Roxbury, which moves back up to North 1, Group IV after being in Group III last year. In an odd twist, the Gaels make the move up despite a small decrease in student population. Roxbury will be the smallest school in N1, G4, but would clearly appear to have a better chance to make some noise in the playoffs in its new bracket.

After three years in Group I for football, Hopatcong will jump back up to Group II this year. The Chiefs did not make the states in Group I, and qualifying this year will also be tough. But don't forget that Hopatcong's two state titles both came in North 1, Group II.

Another Sussex County team will take Hopatcong's place in Group I, as Kittatinny moves down to the smallest group for the first time. Since a remarkable 10-1 season in 2007, the Cougars have not returned to the playoffs; the switch probably won't make it any easier to break that streak.

Also dropping down for football is Pequannock. The resurgent Panthers made the state playoffs each of the last two years in North 1, Group II, but will now compete in Group I. The schools are smaller, but are hardly pushovers, and Pequannock may still need six wins to qualify for the states. But one would think the Panthers should have a better chance of competing for a sectional title in their new group.

One NJAC school will switch sections, as Parsippany moves from North 2, Group II to North 1, Group II. The two sections are similar in strength, and the move shouldn't really impact the Red Hawks as they attempt to build up their program.

On the Non-Public front, the NJSIAA will go back to four brackets for the state playoffs after combining the smallest two groups last year. Both Morris Catholic and Morristown-Beard are designated as Group I schools for football in 2011. South Jersey powerhouse St. Joseph of Hammonton appears to be the clear favorite to win that group title.

Field Hockey

In soccer's World Cup they call it the Group of Death--the one group that is clearly tougher than any other. After a one-year hiatus, field hockey's Section of Doom is back together. Madison and Chatham, which played last year in North 2, Group II, have shifted back to North 1, Group II. That puts the defending Morris County champions (Chatham) and the 2009 Group II state champs (Madison) in a section that also includes Sussex County's top program, Newton, and 14-time state champions West Essex.

Happy to escape the Section of Doom is Pequannock, which moves down to Group I this year. The Panthers struggled the last couple of years, but if the program can regain some of its traditional strength, Pequannock could be a factor in N1, G1.

As in other sports, Vernon is on the move in field hockey, dropping from Group IV to Group III. The Vikings' shift, along with other changes, helps create an extremely difficult section in North Jersey Section 2, Group III. Defending North 1, Group III champion West Morris makes the move, as does Morristown. Those solid programs join defending state champion Freehold Borough and perennial contender Warren Hills in a very tough bracket.

Wrestling

Looking ahead to winter, North Jersey Section 1, Group III loses one elite wrestling program but gains another top team. High Point drops to Group II this winter, but Roxbury moves back into Section 1 after winning the North 2, Group III title last year. The Gaels are the immediate favorite to take the section.

Meantime, High Point, the defending Group III state champion, lost a number of top athletes, but will still be strong, and surely becomes the favorite in North 1, Group II. While the Wildcats would have been an underdog had they remained in Group III, they must be considered a threat for another state title in the lower group.

Also, Boonton, which missed out on a sectional title by just a couple of points last winter, gets a bad break as it moves out of North 2, Group I. The Bombers will join the very tough North 1, Group I section that already includes Kittatinny, Newton, Pequannock and other strong programs.

Reclassifications for some sports, like ice hockey and lacrosse, have yet to be made public.