So, I know that there is no perfect system, but it would be great to see some more competitive state games and have more worthy champions. I think we have seen some great playoff football matchups in 7a and 8a in recent history (not that other classes haven't had some good matchups), but I have always felt that the middle classes (4a-6a) could use some more competition because there have been some lack luster playoff fields and champions in some of those classes. I think it is easily understood considering the amount of dynasties we have seen at those classes. With that being said I think limiting the amount of teams into the playoffs would allow more of these state contenders to run into each other in the playoffs or at the state championship. With that being said, lets take a look at my playoff guidelines:
We are going from 256 playoff teams to 192 playoff teams
Conference Champs received an Automatic Qualifier
Since I believe the weak tested CPS schools water down the competition and make for a boring opening round blowout, I decided I would only allow 8 CPS teams in. It is my understanding that there are 8 conferences that are able to qualify for the IHSA playoffs, so I decided to take the 8 conference champs. I know that might not be well liked by the CPS but there are way too many CPS schools with great records who get smoked in the first round for me
Since we are going down to 192 playoff teams, that means it is pretty much impossible to make the playoffs as a 5-4 team without winning a conference championship. This draft would then show that only one 5-4 team made the field and that is because they won their conference. I understand that there have been multiple 5-4 teams that have gone on a run and won a state championship, but when thinking deeper do we want a team in that potentially had a losing conference record (even though I do feel bad for 5-4 teams that schedule tough non cons and play in a competitive conference). Also, with a reduced field, that means that 6-3 teams are not 100% in the playoffs. In this system only 4 non CPS 6-3 teams did not qualify for the playoffs, and they all had 33 opponents wins and less than 15 defeated opponents wins (which makes me feel better about leaving them out)
These classes are all 1-32 seeding, this is more just laziness on my part because determining south and north teams would be tougher and more work especially with the small classes that I am not very familiar with.
I think that should be it with guidelines, sorry if my seeding is a little off, but I believe it should be pretty close to how the IHSA seeds their teams. Also I apologize for any typos.
Would love to see what your thoughts are! Click the link to a google doc and once you are there, look at the tabs to see all 192 qualifiers and then each class has its own tab. If you scroll to the right on each class tab you will see the potential bracket with these guidelines.
We are going from 256 playoff teams to 192 playoff teams
Conference Champs received an Automatic Qualifier
Since I believe the weak tested CPS schools water down the competition and make for a boring opening round blowout, I decided I would only allow 8 CPS teams in. It is my understanding that there are 8 conferences that are able to qualify for the IHSA playoffs, so I decided to take the 8 conference champs. I know that might not be well liked by the CPS but there are way too many CPS schools with great records who get smoked in the first round for me
Since we are going down to 192 playoff teams, that means it is pretty much impossible to make the playoffs as a 5-4 team without winning a conference championship. This draft would then show that only one 5-4 team made the field and that is because they won their conference. I understand that there have been multiple 5-4 teams that have gone on a run and won a state championship, but when thinking deeper do we want a team in that potentially had a losing conference record (even though I do feel bad for 5-4 teams that schedule tough non cons and play in a competitive conference). Also, with a reduced field, that means that 6-3 teams are not 100% in the playoffs. In this system only 4 non CPS 6-3 teams did not qualify for the playoffs, and they all had 33 opponents wins and less than 15 defeated opponents wins (which makes me feel better about leaving them out)
These classes are all 1-32 seeding, this is more just laziness on my part because determining south and north teams would be tougher and more work especially with the small classes that I am not very familiar with.
I think that should be it with guidelines, sorry if my seeding is a little off, but I believe it should be pretty close to how the IHSA seeds their teams. Also I apologize for any typos.
Would love to see what your thoughts are! Click the link to a google doc and once you are there, look at the tabs to see all 192 qualifiers and then each class has its own tab. If you scroll to the right on each class tab you will see the potential bracket with these guidelines.
Last edited: